Sudan, South Sudan Catholic Bishops Launch Capacity-Building Drive to Strengthen Church Institutions

The Catholic Priest urged participants to share their experiences, challenges and lessons learned during the training, stressing that the effectiveness of the programme should ultimately be measured by improvements in the way Church institutions operate.

“A training is successful when it changes the way we work,” Fr. Ochaya said.

He called on the facilitators from CORAT Africa to provide participants with practical knowledge and tools capable of responding to the specific challenges Catholic institutions in Sudan and South Sudan face.

These challenges include conflict, limited resources and financial constraints, which can affect the ability of Church institutions to effectively carry out their pastoral and social missions.

The Secretary General described institutional strengthening as a continuous process requiring commitment, learning, reflection and a willingness to improve existing systems.

He encouraged participants to use the training to strengthen leadership practices, accountability mechanisms and resource-management skills within their respective institutions.

The initiative is expected to enhance the professional capacity of Church personnel and strengthen institutional structures while supporting the effective implementation of the Conference’s three-year strategic plan.

The capacity-building program opened on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, observed on September 1.

Reflecting on the 2026 theme, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:4), Fr. Ochaya connected the Church’s call for peace and environmental stewardship with the realities communities in Sudan and South Sudan face.

The theme, he noted, carries particular significance in a region affected by conflict and humanitarian challenges, highlighting the need to promote peace while responsibly managing resources entrusted to humanity.