Pastoral Education Milestone
Saturday’s graduation at Bishop Yeremiah Theological Institute marked its 30th cohort, seeing 18 candidates ordained after three years of study. Applause rippled through Yambio’s cathedral grounds as families celebrated fresh pastors charged with guiding congregations across Western Equatoria.
Challenges Facing the Institute
The principal reminded guests that the campus still relies on diesel lamps and handwritten records. “Computers, clean water and a reliable grid remain urgent priorities,” he said, inviting partners to close the digital and infrastructure gap that hampers research and student life.
Government Support and Donations
State Minister of Cabinet Affairs John Bariona answered the appeal with a contribution of five million South Sudanese Pounds, describing the institute as “a seedbed for moral leadership”. Local officials pledged to explore additional budget lines, signalling steady cooperation between church and government.
Call for Peace in Western Equatoria
During his address, Bariona urged youths to abandon revenge cycles. “When you kill others, you lose,” he cautioned, noting that conflict drains communities of talent and resources. Graduates later lit symbolic candles, committing sermons to reconciliation efforts along county borders.
Legacy of Nearly Five Decades
Founded in 1978 by the late Bishop Yeremiah Datiro, the institute has trained more than 500 clergy, according to diocesan archives. Archbishop Samuel Enosa Peni said its longevity proves “education can flourish even in hardship”, praising faculty resilience through civil war and pandemic disruptions.