St. Martin congregation celebrates Golden Jubilee in South Sudan

By Isaac Vuni

March 25, 2007 (JUBA) — The Catholic Archbishop of Juba diocese, Rev. Paulino Lokudu Loroo said Christians of southern Sudan particularly in Juba, should thank God for the gift of St Martin de Porres, religious congregation that has dedicated themselves in availing vocational training and teaching of youth and women empowerment at all levels.

As we celebrate the golden jubilee, we are proud to have among us the first southern Sudanese St. Martin de Porres religious Brother who hails from Kapoeta Noth County of eastern Equatoria state, Rev. Bro. Agusto Lopeta, born in 1922 and too his first religious vow on March 19th 1975 along with other four southern Sudanese at Okaru.

We should thank God for this gift of vocation through St. Martin brothers. He challenges all Christians to be witness of Christ wharves they may be to prove themselves by being proactive Christians.

He was speaking at the celebrate marking the fifty year of St. Martin de Porrous Brothers, catholic religious congregation, whose lifestyle are surrounded with vows of poverty that makes them to be poor as Jesus Christ, chastity makes them to be chase as Jesus Charist and obedience makes them to be obedient as Jesus Charist and hence they became the rock of poorer people especially among southern Sudanese during the dark era of National Islamic led government of Omar Hassan el Bashir.

Nevertheless, the Catholic Diocese of Yei bishop, Rev. Erkulano Lodu Tombe says the Almighty God is full of Marcy, love and forgiveness to all humanity therefore would avail itself at any center of Christian’s celebrations at any time. That is why we are celebrating the golden jubilee of the congregation at a time when southern Sudan is experiencing relative peace.

Bishop Tombe appeals to suspected corrupt government officials that might be contemplating to commit suicide in order to end their life because of shame and fears of going to prison to seek solace with God.
(Rev. Bro. Agusto Lopeta, renewing his50 years of religious vows today at st Teresa Cathedral Kator Juba pic by Isaac Vuni)

He says God loves all his creatures and willing to receive them irrespective of crimes they might have committed. Therefore apple to such people to refrain from evil thoughts and instead confessed their sins and God will forgive them.

He further said corruption and injustice are cardinal sins that Christians should refrain from, especially looting their own resources that render developmental services to all southern Sudanese.

Bishop Tombe also appeals to those civil servants who are entrusted to take care of public fund to be responsible and apply the norm of transparency and be accountable to the people because whatever they are getting are in the name of the people of southern Sudan including church personnel.

“It’s better for them to confess their sins and they will be forgiven by southern Sudanese people and the Almighty God”, pleaded Bishop Tombe.

He urges all southern Sudanese Christians not to abundant business management because he said it’s the sound basis for economy empowerment of southern Sudanese. The bishop further rule out allegation that Catholic are running away from politic, rather, its part en parcel of humanity, therefore, it would be naïve for anyone to think of that.

Bishop Lodu declared that that individual who wants to swallow public funds are murders.

If they are people who have southern Sudan in their hearts, the better be advised to repents than running away ,otherwise, they are not the true sons of southern Sudan, he cautions.

The Bishop caution came at a time when some five senior government officials of southern Sudan are arrested on cases related to corruption with some involved in smuggling money to neighboring countries.

On the other hand, archbishop Paulino Lokudu Loroo, the main celebrant, pleaded to Almighty God, “What do you now wants of St. Martin brothers congregation who have, in our natural eyes, accomplished 50 years of service to the people centered on their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience among southern Sudanese and Ugandan?, he questioned.

We should thank God for the gift of St. Martin congregation in southern Sudan particularly in the archdiocese of Juba where they are involved in various promotional activities for the youth and women empowerment. In southern Sudan, there are tow brothers congregations, St. Martin Brothers based in Juba and St. Joseph Brothers based in Wau. Lord gives them more strength and wisdom to continue serving our people, he concluded.
(Members of St. Martin Brothers at St. Teresa Kator Cthedral renewing their religious vows to day, pic by Isaac Vuni)

The congregation was founded by late bishop Sisto Mazzoldi. Currently the community has 50 professed brothers serving in various parts of catholic Archdiocese of Juba and Mpigi district in Uganda .The brothers are mould in taking oath of obedience, poverty, charity, chastity, humility and bringing joy and faith to people.

The occasion was witness by Major General Peter Cirilo, member of State Council of minister at government of national Unity Khartoum, Justice Ambro Riink Think, chief Justice of southern Sudan ,deputy governor of eastern equatoria state, Allan Locurh, minister of health ,state of central equatoria ,cabinet ministers and hundreds of thousands faithful Christians. As I file this report, the colorful celebration is going on t St. Teresa cathedral Juba.

(ST)