Sudan’s Archbishop consecrates three Bishops
By Isaac Vuni
April 22, 2007 (JUBA) — The Archbishop of Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Marona has today consecrated three Bishops at All Saint Cathedral in Juba.
Speaking at the colouful consecration ceremony, the ailing but jubilant prelate said it was high time that the youth takes up responsibility of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the present sand future generation of southern Sudan as they bishops are getting old.
The most Rev. advised the new bishops to be good shepherds and to leads their flocks to embrace love for one another irrespective of their ethnicity.
Archbishop Dr. Marona led six bishops (Nathaniel Garang, Daniel Deng, Michael Lugor, Levi Hassan, Bismark Mande and Hillary Luwate to lay their hands on the three bishops elect who were later pronounced Bishops at 1.05pm.
The consecrated Bishops are; Rt. Rev. Canon John Zawo Bishop of Ezo diocese, Rt. Rev. Anthony Pogo, Bishop of Kajokeji diocese and Rt. Rev. Bernard Oringa Balmoi, Bishop of Torit diocese.
In the same ceremony, the prelate promoted a lay man, Col. James Mande of police, Rev. Juwana Uddai and Rev. Enock Tombe, who is also the provincial secretary of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan to the orders of Canons, the most respectable position achieved through hornour and trust from cross section of the Episcopal church clergies and bestow upon an individuals whose contribution towards promotion of church are notable among the community.
In their appreciation remarks, the newly consecrated bishop of Torit, Rt. Rev. Bernard Oringa Balmoi, appeal to the government of southern Sudan to help in stopping the bleeding of his congregations in the hand of Ugandan Lord Resistance army, whom, the bishop says has rendered his diocese a place of fears where development could not be implemented since the CPA was signed two years ago.
Bishop Poggo appeal to his congregations to continues with the spirit of a team work since it was they who gave him the mandate with the help of God the Almighty while Canon Bishop Zawo appeal for unity of all people of southern Sudan.
The GoSS Minister of Gender, Social Service and Religious affairs, Mrs. Mary Kiden says ECS should take development seriously; otherwise, faith without deed is nothing. Therefore, she advised ECS authorities to emulate the Catholic Church by not necessarily sending a particular bishop to his home area rather should rotate in the whole areas of the Episcopal provinces of the Sudan. She thanks the people from the three dioceses of Ezo, Torit and Kajokeji for having selected people of faith; adding that the people of Kajokei in particular are very lucky to have Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo whom she described as being honest and humble.
Giving homily to thousands of congregations that gathered to witness the ceremony, Rt. Rev. Daniel Deng says the Vision of ECS is being fulfilled today in the present of the three new young but energetic bishops of new generations. “Three of you can change the whole Sudan if not the world through implementation of vision of the church”
However, he advised the new bishops to disassociate themselves from tribalism rather preach peace to all through reconciliation and uniting them as one national of south Sudan.
“As you go out, it’s your responsibility and duty to bring those nursing tribalism against each other back to reconciliation and unity as stipulated in the holy bible that love your neighbor as you love yourself”.
He appeals to all southern Sudanese to reconcile and unity for one cause of getting a new nation of south Sudan.
The Commissioner of Juba County, Mr. Peter Gerkis says government of Central Equatoria has recognized the role being played by churches in southern Sudan as their partner in development and also in educating masses in observing general hygiene in the capital of southern Sudan. “We need the church to help us and if we go wrong its they the church personnel to devise appropriate ways of addressing grievances than criticizing those of us in the government of the day”
Present among the faithful were Mr. Elija Malong, President of Southern Sudan Bank,Canon Clemment Janda.
(ST)