VATICAN - Cardinal Sepe in Wau: “Let us thank God together for founding his Church on the rock of Peter. As the opening prayer suggests let us pray intensely that amid the upheavals of the world, she may not be shaken but advance with courage and trust.”

Rumbek (Fides) - Before departing for the diocese of Wau on Wednesday 22 February Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe celebrated mass in the Catholic cathedral in Rumbek. In the feast of the Chair of Peter the prefect of the Missionary Congregation said on this day Catholics thank God especially “for building his Church upon Peter the rock”, and to pray “intensely that amid the upheavals of the world, she may not be shaken but advance with courage and trust.… for the Pope and all those who support him and collaborate in this grave duty of conserving the apostolic faith and unity in the Church.”. Recalling that fifty years have passed since Rumbek became an Apostolic Vicariate an anniversary celebrated last year, the Cardinal said : “since the arrival of Comboni Missionaries in Wau to begin their work of evangelisation, the local church has not ceased to expand and develop. The inexhaustible and clearly heroic apostolate of the missionaries, who undertook and fostered their pastoral work with a keen sense of social justice, has produced many numerous and praiseworthy blessings that remain a lasting heritage of spiritual and cultural value for the faithful of today”. Although the seed of the Gospel planted by the missionaries has borne much fruit, Card. Sepe stressed the need to consolidate the faith.
In the diocese of Wau, where he went immediately after the Mass in the Catholic cathedral in Rumbek, the Cardinal met first with a delegation of the local civil authorities and then had a meeting with the local Catechists urging them to strive for ever deeper communion in Christ. “if we want our ministry to bear fruit, fruit that will abide, according to the expressed desire of Christ (Jn 15:16), then our union with him is not an option; it is a must. And it is a union rooted in the totality of our being. We are called to live a life of love for Christ and to love all that is in and of Christ in the world”. And he encouraged them to “continue to deepen your Christian life through an ever more personal union with Christ, in the Eucharist, who will constantly strengthen you for the missionary work you have to carry out”.
In his homily during Mass in the Catholic cathedral in Wau Cardinal Sepe stressed the importance of the feast of the Chair of Peter and he said: “I invite you to pray for the Holy Father and all those who collaborate with him in the apostolic work of transmitting faith to the ends of the earth. Let us ask the Lord to give to the Church, dedicated ministers who are ready to confirm the faithful in their faith and to guide their way in truth and love, so that they may survive the storms of the world and become an ever more effective sign and instrument of unity for the entire human race (cf. Lumen gentium, n. 1).”
The last meeting was with the clergy, religious and laity: “my principal aim in meeting with you today is to express the gratitude of the Church for the many good works, which you have already accomplished in the name of Christ - the Cardinal said - At the same time, I wish to turn your common pastoral attention to the future, asking especially for a concerted effort in the formation of the pastoral agents, for the ministry of proclamation and evangelisation. The Lord once again, invites all of you, Priests, religious men and women, and the lay faithful to unite yourselves closely with him, and he sends you to every town and village in Wau to announce his Kingdom of love and peace.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 23/2/2006, righe 39, parole 591)