Kator Church | File photo

Pope Francis has appointed Father Thomas Oliga, of the congregation of the Apostles of Jesus as an Apostolic Administrator for the Catholic Diocese of Torit, Eastern Equatoria State.

The appointment comes two months after the passing on of Bishop Akio Johnson Mutek, who died on 18th March.

The Caretaker Administrator of Torit Diocese, Father Dario Hakim, told Eye Radio that Christians in Torit are happy because they have a leader now:

“The people needed a leader and I am sure they are happy now because that Father Thomas Oliga has been appointed at least the Christians should know that there is someone who can lead them.”

This is the first appointment of a highest ecclesiastical authority for South Sudan by Pope Francis, who was elected on 13th of March following the resignation of Pope Benedict on the 16th in February.

The congregation of the Apostles of Jesus was the first missionary religious institute to be founded for Africans on the African continent.

It was founded in 1968 by two Italian Comboni Missionaries, Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi who was then the bishop of Moroto Diocese in Northern Uganda, and Fr. John Marengoni.

Bishop Mazzoldi died in 1987 and Fr. Marengoni in 2007. Both are buried at the cemetery of the Congregation in Langata near Nairobi, Kenya, where the institute has its Headquarters.

The Members of the Apostles of Jesus have been working in Eastern Africa for more than 30 years.

The Apostles of Jesus work in over 60 communities in over 30 dioceses in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, South Africa, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.

The Congregation also works in Europe and in the United States, present in 20 dioceses in 15 states, from Alexandria, Louisiana to Seattle, Washington.

The Apostles serve as parish pastors, assistant pastors, and chaplains in hospitals and schools. The Congregation is currently formed by 370 members and priests.

During the 21-year war, members of the Apostles of Jesus from South Sudan mainly worked in Kenya, and in the liberated areas under the SPLA control.

Father Thomas Oliga worked mainly in Juba and has also worked in Torit for some time till his appointment by Pope Francis last week to serve as Apostolic Administrator.

He will bear the title of Monsignor.   Monsignor, in Roman Catholic Church, is an ecclesiastical title of honor bestowed on some priests.