2011-03-30 11:34:28

Bishop leads prayer for unity in South Sudan


In January of this year, the citizens of Sudan’s semi-autonomous south voted overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum that was the culmination of a peace agreement, which brought more than two decades of civil war to an end. Since then, government and civil society have been working to chart the nation’s future – a complex, arduous enterprise that involves building the country’s infrastructure almost entirely from scratch. The Catholic Church is offering spiritual support, most recently through a special prayer for national unity composed by the bishop of the diocese of Rumbek, Caesar Mazzolari, who discussed the initiative with Radio Good News Rumbek. “We felt the need that we should begin to pray for unity,” he said, adding, “we sometimes fail to understand that we have the capacity to forgive, to put the past behind us, and constructively work for the future.” The prayer initiative comes amid reports this month of continued border clashes between North and South in which hundreds of people have been killed, as well as concern over the possibility of renewed infighting among former Southern rebel groups. Meanwhile, the Church is playing a leading role in the practical side of building the new nation, especially in the areas of education and health care: founding, running, staffing and supporting schools at every level from elementary to university, and medical facilities from clinics to hospitals.

Text of Bishop Caesar Mazzolari’s Prayer for Unity in South Sudan:

Father of all Mercies,

We Thank you for the Grace of a New Nation, South Sudan.

May the gift of Independence bring us closer to you and to one another in a spirit of service, unity and peace.

Grant us a new vision and a new spirit.

Instil concern for people in the governance of our leaders.

Renew in us the will for honest and hard work, and give us courage and wisdom to render justice and equality to everyone.

We ask you this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Listen to Chris Altieri's report: RealAudioMP3







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