South Sudan’s Tombura–Yambio Diocese Seeks Prayers to Sustain Growing Missionary Outreach

Bishop Hiiboro underscored the significance of Missionaries from South Sudan to the world expressing happiness about the growth of CDTY in producing servants of God.

“Today, by God’s grace, we have become a missionary Church ourselves. Our priests, religious, and lay faithful are now serving the Gospel beyond our borders in different parts of the world,” he added.

He announced that during his recent engagements, he held meetings with missionary communities from different parts of the world, including South Korea, the Philippines, and Jamaica, who expressed their willingness to consider serving in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura–Yambio. 

“They have said yes. We now begin the necessary process of discernment, consultation, and preparation before these missionary commitments can become a reality,” he said.

The Local Ordinary of CDTY since his Episcopal Consecration in June 2008 also highlighted the recent Silver Jubilee celebration of the Holy Family Community in Egypt by members of the Diocese as evidence that the missionary legacy received over a century ago is now bearing fruit in other countries.

“It is a beautiful sign that the Church continually receives and continually gives,” he said.

“As a Diocese, we therefore remain committed not only to welcoming missionaries but also to sending missionaries from the Catholic Diocese of Tombura–Yambio to wherever the Lord calls. A Missionary Church is a living Church; a Church that shares Christ with others continues to grow in faith and hope,” he added.

Reflecting on the Diocese’s history, Bishop Hiiboro paid tribute to the pioneering Missionaries who first arrived in the region in 1912, saying their sacrifices laid the spiritual and institutional foundations of the Catholic faith in Tombura–Yambio.

“The Missionary vocation remains the heartbeat of our local Church. We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the courageous Missionaries. They planted the seed of the Gospel, nurtured the Catholic faith with great sacrifice, and laid the strong foundations upon which our Diocese stands today,” he added.

He urged the people of God entrusted to his pastoral care to continue praying for the growth of the Diocese.