Bishop Carlassare installed to shepherd ‘‘Rumbek flocks’’
Bishop Christian Carlassare has finally taken over the reins of the Rumbek Diocese after a coaxed armed group attacked him at his residence last year to block his installation.
Carlassare was installed by Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, the Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Khartoum, Sudan.
Present were Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of the Archdiocese of Juba and the other four bishops, the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, who represented President Salva Kiir, the governor of Lakes State, Lt Gen Rin Tueny Mabor,
Addressing the congregation, Dr Marial said President Kiir had urged the people of Rumbek to take care of the bishop to avoid any repeated attack on him.
“I would like to be pleased to see our good Bishop of Rumbek, Bishop Christian Carlassare. You are a great ceremony gift to the people of Rumbek.
‘‘Your presence here signifies how the church is cooperating with the government.” We are glad to have our Bishop of Rumbek, and what happened when our Bishop was shot, those were not the true sons of Rumbek who did, they are criminals,” Dr. Marial said.
“Lakes State is a state where people love one another. It is a place where people wish themselves well. [Just know that ] being shot does not paint a picture of Rumbek.”
Peaceful people
He hailed the people of Rumbek as law-abiding and people who observe the pillars of Christianity, including peace and reconciliation, love and unity, among others.
“I have come here in the name of our president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan. His message to you is that, take care of the bishop,” Dr. Marial added.
“Pope Francis had always prayed for the people of South Sudan, if something happens to this bishop of ours, then God will see what to do to these bad people who are among us. This is what your President Kiir Mayardit, has told you.”
Also, Governor of Lakes State, Lt Gen Rin Tueny Mabor, said the Catholic Church had stood with the people of South Sudan through conducting peace conferences in the 50 years’ struggle for independence.
“Lakes State has come a long way together with the Church through the 50 years of our struggle. The Catholic Church lobbied with the international community on the South Sudanese course, and for assistance to the civil population during the war, participating in peace conferences that made it possible for our people to unite. “Church leaders, worked tirelessly to help South Sudanese to work for peace, reconciliation, and unity,” Rin said.
He noted that the consecration of the new Bishop of Rumbek Diocese was dawn to Lakes State as a whole.
“Today, we are marking one of the remarkable occasions in Lakes State. We are blessed to have the consecrated bishop, which is a new beginning and a new chapter for the diocese of Rumbek after our beloved Bishop Caesar Mazzolari was called by God on July 16, 2011. “
Carlassare ”virtuous”
On his arrival at Juba International Airport last week, Carlassare received a joyous reception and pledged to offer satisfactory services to the church and the people of South Sudan without any partiality.
“Also, I am grateful to the government, the local government of Lakes State and the national government for their common effort with the church to make this day possible,” he stated.
“I am really happy to be adopted by this country, to be a brother to everyone, to exclude no one but to serve everyone, (including) this community that has welcomed me, and made me a brother.”
When asked for a comment about his shooting, he didn’t comment on it, and rather said that he was just glad to celebrate his return to South Sudan with the church and the people of South Sudan.
Verdict
The consecration of Bishop Carlassare was done concurrently with the submission of the court documents by both the prosecution team and the defence team to the court concerning the case of his shooting on April 26, 2021.
The High Court Judge, Alexander Sabor Subek, noted that the court verdict on the case would take place on April 15, 2022.
Bishop Carlassare was appointed as Rumbek Diocese Bishop-elect on March 8, 2021, to be consecrated in place of the late Bishop Caesar Mazzolari who passed away in 2011.
But before his consecration on May 23, 2021, he was wounded by attackers at night on April 26, 2021, in the church compound in Rumbek. Out of the six suspects who were presented before the high court, two were acquitted due to lack of evidence while the remaining four will get the verdict on April 15, 2022.
