Feast Day Sets a Hopeful Stage
All Saints Parish in Rajaf burst into hymns as hundreds gathered for the Jubilee of Hope. The moment offered a rare pause from daily uncertainties, framing faith as a springboard for broader social renewal across Central Equatoria.
Governor Emmanuel’s Message of Resilience
Governor Lt. Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel reminded congregants that hope fuelled South Sudan’s liberation and must now guide its peace agenda. “It sustained us through struggle and will steer us toward stability and development,” he told reporters (local press briefing).
Church Cast as a Moral Compass
Mujung praised churches for nurturing moral values and social cohesion, calling them indispensable partners in reconciliation. He urged clerics to expand dialogue platforms where grievances can surface safely and forgiveness can take root among rival communities.
Security Hurdles Persist
The governor acknowledged hold-out armed groups, rising youth violence and suicide cases as urgent threats. He pledged stronger law enforcement and open channels with faith leaders to address distress before it erupts into broader conflict.
Grass-Roots Voices Echo Unity
Juba County Commissioner Emmanuel Tete Ezbon invoked the parish’s 106-year legacy to stress land and faith as anchors that will outlast turmoil. Auxiliary Bishop Santo Loku Pio urged believers to embody repentance and forgiveness so “citizens and leaders alike may be counted among the saints.”
Shared Roadmap for Peace and Development
Officials and clergy now eye renewed collaboration to rebuild communities, curb violence and consolidate peace. By positioning churches at the heart of civic dialogue, authorities hope to translate weekend sermons into sustained reconciliation programmes throughout South Sudan.