The opening of the Eucharistic Congress and the Golden Jubilee of the Hierarchy took place in the Diocese of Wau on the 26^th of November 2023 and the Closing of the Eucharistic Congress will be celebrated in the Archdiocese of Juba on the 24^th of November 2024.

Bishop Nyodho announced that the two celebrations will take place over the course of a year with the theme ‘One Body and One Spirit in Christ’. He called on Catholic priests, nuns, religious men and women, the government, and all Christian communities to consecrate themselves to Christ for the two countries: “I would like to appeal to all our priests, religious men, and women, our young people, all Christian communities, our brothers and sisters in government to join us in this historic event, we want to consecrate ourselves and our country, South Sudan, to Christ the King”.

According to the Bishop of Malakal, this opportunity must be seized for the Church and the people of Sudan and South Sudan to come together as one family to pray for their problems and the country.[1]

Bishops, priests, sisters, and lay faithful braved the nearly 6-hour processional walk from 7 am to 12:30 pm, bringing Jesus to all road encroachments, praying the rosary, singing hymns and praise, with some selected bishops ' eucharistic meditation and intentions for peace in Sudan and South Sudan, all people, and all sectors of the society.

One touching moment was the encounter of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament with the prisoners, who sang with all their hearts in honor of the King. After their song was an impressive applause with ululation.

His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Ameyu was also present to pray, to share his intentions and with his co-priests, to bend his knees to adore Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe

 

Testimony from IT Vy Tran, from the "come and see" group of Wau

 "When I heard the sharing of the Cardinal Stephen, I was touched a lot. Nowadays, all the bishops in South Sudan and Sudan are new. It means that their lives aren't like Cardinal Gabriel - who is representative of the ancients - because of faith, he was put in prison, he was "persecuted", and he became a witness for the faith during the war.

 This is his mission and his heritage for the new generation. At present, the new bishops have received his heritage, and they have a new mission: make the heritage - the faith - improve and deepen in Christ for all the young people - the new generation - who are living in peace and searching for the meaning of the ancients' faith."

   

[1] Reference: Alice, Officer, Eucharistic Congress to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the local Church in Sudan and the Hierarchy of South Sudan, Solidarity with South Sudan, https://solidarityssudan.org/2023/10/30/eucharistic-congress-to-coincide-with-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-establishment-of-the-local-church-in-sudan-and-the-hierarchy-of-south-sudan/#:~:text=The%20opening%20of%20the%20Eucharistic,Juba%20on%2024%20November%202024.30 October 2023