By Waure Eddy
Christians at Corpus Christi Catholic Parish in Gangura Payam gathered in joy on Thursday to witness the official launching of a new parish house construction project, supported by the Sudan Relief Fund and implemented by Vision Company Ltd in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio under the leadership of Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala.
Speaking at the event, Parish Priest Reverend Father Ezekiel Sungerukuari James expressed heartfelt gratitude to Bishop Hiiboro and the Sudan Relief Fund for their unwavering support. He thanked the Bishop and SRF for supporting the parish, declaring that God is great and noting that SRF has consistently assisted the diocese in many ways.
Father Charles Mbikoyo, Director of the Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, praised the initiative, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between Christians, the parish priest, and the construction team. He said the community is happy to witness the launching of the parish house which will help the parish, noting that this is not the first time SRF has supported the diocese, as they have been helping substantially over time.
Operation Manager Mr. Mori also thanked Bishop Hiiboro and SRF for entrusting the project to Vision Company Ltd. He assured the community of quality work and transparency, expressing happiness that SRF trusted the company with this important project. He pledged to do the work well and give clean accountability after the work is completed.
Mr. Mori added that local workers from Gangura and Yambio would be engaged in the construction, ensuring that the project benefits the local community not only through the completed building but also through employment opportunities during the construction phase.
Representing Bishop Hiiboro at the ceremony, Vicar General Reverend Father Thomas Bagbiowia officially launched the parish house construction. He highlighted the significance of the project for the faithful in Gangura Payam, saying the diocese is blessed to have this program through the effort of the Bishop and Sudan Relief Fund plus the construction team.
Father Bagbiowia invoked God’s blessing on the work and urged Christians to cooperate with priests and engineers for smooth operations, recognizing that successful completion of the project requires collaboration between all stakeholders.
The new parish house is expected to benefit communities in Gangura Payam, Gitikiri, and Rimenze, marking another milestone in Bishop Hiiboro’s ongoing efforts to bring development and strengthen the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio. The facility will provide improved accommodation for priests serving the parish, enabling them to minister more effectively to the growing Catholic community in the area.
The construction of a parish house represents an important investment in the infrastructure necessary for effective pastoral ministry. A proper parish house provides priests with suitable living quarters, office space for administrative work, and facilities for receiving parishioners who come for pastoral care, counseling, or sacramental preparation.
In rural areas like Gangura Payam, where basic infrastructure is often limited, the construction of a parish house demonstrates the Church’s commitment to maintaining a stable and dignified presence in the community. It signals that the parish is not a temporary presence but a permanent institution committed to serving the spiritual and social needs of the people.
The Sudan Relief Fund’s support for this project continues its pattern of partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio in addressing both humanitarian needs and institutional development. SRF has been a consistent partner in supporting the diocese’s various initiatives, recognizing the critical role the Catholic Church plays in providing services and promoting development in areas where government capacity is limited.
The decision by Vision Company Ltd to engage local workers from Gangura and Yambio reflects best practices in development projects, ensuring that construction activities contribute to the local economy through employment and skills transfer. When projects hire locally, they not only complete buildings but also build community capacity and generate income that circulates within the local economy.
Gangura Payam has faced significant challenges in recent years, including the collapse of the education system due to decades of conflict, with illiteracy rates standing at nearly 80 percent. The launching of this parish house construction, along with the recent quality education initiative at St. Peter Nursery and Primary School, demonstrates renewed investment in the area’s development and the Church’s commitment to serving communities that have suffered from prolonged neglect and conflict.
As construction proceeds on the new parish house, Corpus Christi Catholic Parish and the wider community in Gangura Payam look forward to the completion of a facility that will strengthen the Church’s capacity to serve, provide dignified accommodation for priests, and stand as a visible sign of hope and stability in a region rebuilding after years of hardship.
The Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio continues its mission of integral human development under Bishop Hiiboro’s leadership, addressing both spiritual needs through pastoral ministry and material needs through investments in infrastructure, education, health, and social services that improve the quality of life for communities across Western Equatoria State.
