By Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
As many Catholics have quietly stepped away from the Eucharist, often burdened by personal struggles, or painful life experience, bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala in his June 21st letter themed “A loving Invitation Back to the Table of the Lord” has appealed to all Christians of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY) who have stopped receiving the Holy Communion to come back to the “Table of the Lord”.
“Grace and peace in the tender love of Jesus Christ, our Eucharistic Lord! With a heart full of joy and compassion, I write to you this gentle invitation: Come back to the Table of the Lord. Come and receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, your food for the soul, your healing for the heart, your strength for the journey,” bishop Eduardo said.
He urged “Dear friends, if you’ve been away from Communion, know this: returning is not about proving you’re flawless, but about saying ‘yes’ to love. Yes, to Jesus. Yes, to healing. Yes, to beginning again. What tomorrow holds is not in your control, but receiving Christ today brings the strength to face it. quoting the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta, “Jesus is there in the tabernacle just for you, He longs for you”, he urged them to come not because they are perfect but because they are deeply loved.”
Referencing the Gospel of Mathew 11:28, the local ordinary of CDTY noted that “Jesus offers Himself to us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity as a fountain of Mercy, a balm for wounds, and wellspring of peace.
The prelate also stressed that the Eucharist is not a prize for saints but a gift for the striving soul, a medicine for the weak, hope for the struggling, and a light for the path a head, therefore whatever has kept them away even if it is sin, shame, questions or pain can be laid at His feet.
With the words of Pope St. John Paul II, “It gives meaning and strength to all I do”, bishop Eduardo reminded them that they are not alone and they are not far gone.
Giving his own testimony he said, “As your bishop, I share this not from a pedestal but from my own heart. Each time I receive the Eucharist, I am moved to tears inside because I know how unworthy I am, yet how much my Jesus wants to feed me, dwell in me, and love through me. For me, the Eucharist is a daily thermometer of grace, a quiet check on how I’m living, and how close I am to the Lord who loves me so.”
In his letter dated 21st June 2025, he stressed to them “So come, beloved of God. Come back to the altar. Come to the feast of mercy. Come and be filled with love that never ends. Jesus is waiting with a pierced heart full of tenderness, with healing in His hands, and with joy in welcoming you home.”
