By Waure Eddy.
Two religious sisters have solemnly renewed their vows for one year each during the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with formal vow declarations signed by Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio.
Sister Ruth Akurut of the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Sister Bernadette Bayote of the Akampurira community reaffirmed their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in a celebration connecting their renewed commitment to Mary’s intercession and fidelity to Christ.
Bishop’s Encouragement and Blessing
Bishop Hiiboro expressed gratitude to the sisters for their renewed dedication, urging them to remain steadfast in their religious mission and to follow the footsteps of the Virgin Mary, whose example leads the faithful toward heaven.
The Bishop grounded his encouragement in Scripture, invoking Isaiah 41:13: “For I, Yahweh, your God, grasp you by your right hand. Do not be afraid, I shall help you.”
Sister Ruth Akurut’s Renewal
Sister Ruth Akurut formally renewed her vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience for one year within the congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In her declaration, Sister Ruth stated: “In response to the divine call to follow Jesus Christ in the fullness of charity, and in pursuance of the Constitutions of the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I renew my vows… I beg you, O Lord, to accept my vows and grant me, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Lucy, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Daniel Comboni, and our Holy Uganda Martyrs, the grace of perseverance.”
Her invocation of saints reflects the spiritual communion connecting her vows to a cloud of witnesses spanning both universal Church history and specific communities.
Sister Bernadette Bayote’s Renewal
Sister Bernadette Bayote similarly renewed her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to the Constitutions of the Akampurira community.
In her declaration, Sister Bernadette affirmed: “In response to the divine call to follow Jesus Christ… I vow and promise to accept my life through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Perpetua, St. Josephine Bakhita, and by the grace of perseverance.”
Her invocation of St. Josephine Bakhita, herself a South Sudanese saint and former slave, connects her vows to African witness and liberation through Christ.
Bishop’s Affirmation of Religious Life
Bishop Hiiboro praised the sisters’ courage and devotion, reminding them that their commitment strengthens the Church and inspires the faithful. He emphasized that religious vows represent more than personal acts of faith—they constitute powerful witness to the wider community of God’s enduring love.
The Bishop’s affirmation reflects the Church’s recognition that consecrated religious life serves essential pastoral and spiritual functions, providing models of radical discipleship and intercession for communities.
Feast Day Significance
The celebration during the Feast of the Assumption carried particular spiritual significance, as the Marian feast emphasizes Mary’s assumption into heaven and her role as mother and intercessor for the Church.
By renewing vows on this Marian feast, the sisters positioned their religious commitment within the context of Mary’s motherhood and intercession, invoking her protection and guidance as they continue their vowed lives.
Witness to Vocations
The vow renewal ceremony provides witness to the broader community about the enduring call to consecrated religious life. In contexts where religious vocations are fewer and challenges to community life are significant, public affirmation of sisters’ renewed commitment strengthens community awareness of and appreciation for religious vocations.
The Diocese’s provision of formal episcopal blessing and signature affirms the importance of vow renewals and demonstrates diocesan support for religious communities serving within the diocese.
Spiritual Renewal and Community
The celebration represents a moment of spiritual renewal for both individual sisters and the broader diocesan community. Through the sisters’ renewed commitment and the Bishop’s blessing, the diocese affirms its commitment to nurturing vocations and deepening devotion to Mary throughout Western Equatoria State.
The Feast of the Assumption thus became occasion for celebrating religious commitment, strengthening community bonds, and witnessing to the transformative power of vowed life lived in service to Christ and His Church.
