South Sudanese Bishop Paride Taban. (-)

Hundreds of former seminarians and beneficiaries of the Torit Catholic Diocese In Eastern Equatoria State on Saturday gathered to thank the church and its founder Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban for the support they received while in displaced and refugee camps following the Sudanese war.

The event followed two-month fund-raising activities.

Some of them are currently politicians and workers in various Non-Governmental Organizations and Government institutions.

Others have established themselves as enterprises and learning institutions.

The Catholic Diocese had played an instrumental role in sponsoring thousands of students of then-Southerners in neighboring Uganda and Kenya.

Dozens of them this weekend traveled to the Eastern Equatoria capital, Torit, and joined the payer event.

“This arrangement is an initiative that has been brought up by former seminarians of the Catholic Diocese of Torit and the beneficiaries who are sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Torit in different schools,” said Francis Asam who was the event organizing committee chairperson.

“We sat together and said, if today we are successful in life serving the country in various capacities, is because of the foundation that we got from the Catholic Diocese of Torit, either in the seminary or in the various schools that the Catholic Diocese of Torit supported us in,” added Asam.

according to Mr Asam the diocese invested in their education and produced resourceful people who are apparently contributing in building the country.

Another ex-seminarian, Loboi Maurice, a citizen of the state, would be making 7 years in the priesthood this year if he had proceeded with the call.

“All of us who went to the seminary with the intention to become priests. But most of us dropped on the way, however, leaving the seminary does not mean you are a sinner, you can still serve God in many ways,

Nonetheless, he said “The rest of us got into various ways and now they are serving in different institutions with the government and NGOs,”

Lujang John who hails from Terekeka County of Central Equatoria recently attained a doctorate from an Asian country.

A former seminarian of the diocese John said “I wanted to use my Ph.D. to inspire others that if an orphan can reach up to the Ph.D. level, what about you the son of the governor, the minister, and the rich people,

He went on to say “One of the persons who did not attend is Bishop Emeritus, I recognize his efforts and also thought that we need to come to Torit, not going to Jonglei.

Dr. John, a former child soldier of the SPLA further said “My Ph.D. is like interstate because the commanders who released me to go to the seminary belong to Bor.’

For his part, Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore recognized the immense role the Catholic Church played in supporting South Sudanese during the liberation struggle.

“The diocese of Torit has contributed a lot in human resources, building human capacities,

“It also provided physical infrastructure, schools,  health facilities, and even roads. It also provided services for the people of this country and particularly people of this State,

“It also contributed during the struggle for the freedom of our people of South Sudan.,

“The Diocese of Torit was the one doing most of the services to the people while the SPLM/SPLA was fighting and was also supporting the forces,

“If it is today I am a governor before they said I am a long serving governor, it is because of the spirit, it is because of the discipline that I got from the Church,” he said

Due to the civil war from 1984 to 2005, the diocese operated from Nairobi, and after the signing of the peace agreement, the diocese opened in Torit.

Torit Catholic Diocese serves 15 parishes, 36 Eucharistic Centers, and 240 other stations not regularly visited by priests, but by lay leaders and catechists.

The Diocese was first served by Bishop Paride Taban from July 1983 – to 2004.

He was succeeded by the late Bishop Akio Johnson Mutek who served between  2007 and 2013 when he passed on.

Bishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla was later appointed in as the Bishop of Torit before becoming the  Archbishop of Juba.

At present Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta is currently the Bisbishop of Torit after his appointment on November 8, 2022.