Catholic Bishops in South Sudan Promise Collaboration with Episcopal Church’s Archbishop Elect

Catholic Bishops in South Sudan Promise Collaboration with Episcopal Church’s Archbishop Elect

Catholic Bishops in South Sudan Promise Collaboration with Episcopal Church’s Archbishop Elect

CANAA || By Father Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 25 January 2018

newly elected justin badi aramaThe Catholic Bishops of South Sudan have expressed their readiness to collaborate with the newly elected Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Archbishop-elect Justin Badi Arama who, until his election last Saturday, January 20, has been the Bishop of Maridi.

In a January 23 statement shared with CANAA, the President of Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC), Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro described the responsibility ahead of the Archbishop-elect as “difficulty.”

“On behalf of the clergy, faithful and Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC), we express to you our most sincere greetings as you begin this certainly difficult, but spiritually and fundamentally important mission in the life of the clergy and faithful entrusted to your spiritual care,” Bishop Barani stated.

According to the Anglican Communion News Service,Archbishop-elect Badi won by a single vote in a tightly contested election that saw him get 80 votes against Bishop Abraham Yel Nhial of Aweil who garnered 79 votes.

“The Catholic Church and above all Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference looks forward to working with you in fostering greater tolerance, peace, unity, development and respect across the diverse South Sudanese community,” Bishop Barani told the new Primate.

Bishop Barani thanked the outgoing leader of Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, “Archbishop Daniel Bull for his great pastoral programs.”

Below is the full text of the letter by the President of Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference to newly elected Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan

January 23, 2018

Most Rev. Justin Badi  
Primate Archbishop Elect of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan

Your Grace: GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST UPON YOUR ELECTION!

The month of January 2018 in Episcopal Church of South Sudan and beyond her borders will always be treasured in history as the month when the faithful of the Episcopal Church were blessed with a new Spiritual Father in the person of your Grace.

On behalf of the clergy, faithful and Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC), we express to you our most sincere greetings as you begin this certainly difficult, but spiritually and fundamentally important mission in the life of the clergy and faithful entrusted to your spiritual care.  Your election takes place just when the country is desperately looking out for peace by revitalizing all process!

Dear Brother in Christ, we hope in the depth of our hearts that the joyful Light of the Risen Lord will always accompany you in your Service.  We pray that your pastoral activity will positively influence the progression of contacts between Episcopal Church of South Sudan also in Catholic Christians and all people of good-will. 

We look forward to continuing to work with you, Archbishop-elect Justin Badi in you a new and exciting role. You have been very successful in promoting active youth engagement in the Church by many ethnic communities. Maridi has so many tribes living there and they have always managed to stay and hold on together, this is of course a process insisted on by you Arch-Bishop Badi. Now this new role extending the same for the people of South Sudan as whole is a great accomplishment.

The Catholic Church and above all Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference looks forward to working with you in fostering greater tolerance, peace, unity, development and respect across the diverse South Sudanese community. Growing up in Maridi, Archbishop-elect Justin Badi you have experienced firsthand a multicultural and multi-faith community and have worked closely in the Diocese of Maridi in supporting young people of ethnic backgrounds. This has also been reflected in your national outlook. We look forward to doing this together.

I am delighted that Body of the Bishops have elected you Bishop Justin Badi as Archbishop of Juba. You have done phenomenal work for the building up of Youth, women, elderly, but also in your day to say role as a shepherd of souls. I join the Christian family in congratulating you and offering prayers for your ministry. Your Election Archbishop at a time in which South Sudan badly needs holiness of life and peace more than anything, you surely going to be truly Archbishop of Peace!

I seize this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the outgoing Archbishop Daniel Bull for his great pastoral programs.  He has been a good and faithful servant of the Lord and a good and faithful servant of this community. He has been generous. He is great company. He is a good friend. I extend to our appreciation for duty well done, I pray for next relaxed moment of prayers and advisory role.

We wish you much success in the spiritual mission of the salvation of souls.  We know that alone, human strength is insufficient to fulfill this service to which you are called.  May your real strength come from God the Creator, for He is Good and Merciful. Great compliments dear Bishop Badi!

With prayers in Christ our Lord,

Barani Eduardo Hiiboro KUSSALA

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio &

President of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference

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