The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, the Most Reverend Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, has published a deeply personal prayer of thanksgiving on the occasion of his birthday, expressing profound gratitude to God and to the countless people who have blessed him with their love, prayers, and support.
In the prayer released on March 23, 2026, Bishop Hiiboro addressed God as the Eternal Giver of life, Author of days and Keeper of nights, describing himself as standing in quiet wonder, held not by his own strength but by the love God has poured through countless hearts.
The Bishop acknowledged receiving what he described as a thousand voices of blessing, some spoken, some written, and many whispered in the silence of prayer, all wrapped in what he called the gentle jewelry of love, kindness, goodness, respect, and grace upon grace. He asked God how he could repay such abundance, noting that his words fall like dust before this ocean of love and questioning what he can offer when God’s blessings multiply beyond measure.
Describing gratitude as the memory of the heart, Bishop Hiiboro said that on his birthday, his heart remembers everything. He expressed thanks for every soul God placed along his path, for every hand that lifted him when he was weak, for every voice that encouraged him when he doubted, and for every silent sacrifice made for his growth. In these people and their actions, he said, he sees not just human kindness but God moving among them.
The Bishop acknowledged his human frailty, suggesting that had he not been clothed in such weakness, perhaps the goodness of others would shine even brighter through him. Yet even in his brokenness, he said, their love has become his light. He affirmed that where love is given, God is present, and on this day he has touched that presence abundantly.
In a moment of profound humility, Bishop Hiiboro lifted his hands, describing them as weak yet grateful, and spoke of walking on feet that are tired yet faithful. He acknowledged that his body may falter, but his heart burns with a quiet fire of thanksgiving for each person who has loved him into being.
The Bishop expressed awareness that many people prayed for him on his birthday and confidence that in the days to come, more prayers will rise like morning incense before God’s throne. He asked God to receive these prayers and return them a hundredfold in blessings, affirming that no act of love is ever lost before God.
A Prayer for Eternal Salvation
In what he described as his deepest prayer, Bishop Hiiboro interceded for all whom he has met, for all under his pastoral care, and for every life that has touched his in this passing world. He prayed that none would be lost, that none would walk in darkness forever, and that none would taste the sorrow of eternal separation from God.
The Bishop asked God to grant that at the end of their earthly journey, all might behold God face to face in the fullness of joy and in the home of eternal peace. He asked what greater gift he could desire for people than Heaven itself, revealing the depth of his pastoral heart and his ultimate concern for the eternal welfare of those entrusted to his care.
Bishop Hiiboro concluded by returning everything to God, describing every message, every prayer, and every act of love as drops gathered into one great river of thanksgiving. For all those he described as his family, friends, and faithful companions on the journey, he offered a blessing that the God who sees in secret would reward them openly, that their kindness would return to them as overflowing grace, and that their lives would shine as stars that never fade.
In a beautiful concluding reflection, the Bishop said that those who give love never lose but become eternity in motion. With a heart he described as full beyond words, he thanked all who have blessed him, promised to carry them in his prayers, and expressed hope that together they may meet one day in the everlasting embrace of God.
The prayer reveals the deeply spiritual and pastoral heart of Bishop Hiiboro, who even on his own birthday turned his attention to gratitude for others and prayer for their eternal salvation. His words reflect the theological conviction that human love is a manifestation of divine love and that all acts of kindness participate in God’s redemptive work in the world.
The Bishop’s birthday message has been widely shared across the diocese and beyond, with many faithful expressing appreciation for his humility, his prayerfulness, and his consistent focus on the spiritual welfare of others even during personal celebrations. The prayer serves as a powerful reminder of the vocation of Christian leadership, which finds its deepest expression not in receiving honor but in grateful service and intercessory prayer for those entrusted to one’s care.
As Bishop Hiiboro continues his pastoral ministry in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, leading the faithful through challenges of conflict, displacement, and social transformation, his birthday prayer reveals the spiritual foundation that sustains his work and the profound gratitude that marks his relationship with both God and the people he serves.
