Dear Leaders in the Bahr El Ghazal Region,

On the eve of Christmas and of the Jubilee year 2000, I greet you all in the name of our merciful and loving God on my part and that of the members of the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek.

I welcome all of you, chiefs and traditional leaders, civil leading servants and military commanders and all your constituents, active servants and population on the occasion of our Reconciliation Celebration and Christmas Festivities with the Diocese of Rumbek.

The year 2000 is being acclaimed and celebrated in many different ways by everyone in the world.  We, the churches want to make the celebration of the year 2000 a Holy Year.  Namely; a year of Reconciliation, Renewal and practical commitment to being involved as church with every branch and aspect of life in the Sudanese community in dedicated quest for Justice and Peace in the Sudan.

Chiefs and Traditional Leaders

During the year 2000, the Bishop of Rumbek and his church leaders will work with the chiefs and traditional spiritual leaders in quest for Unity. As written in the last letter of the Sudanese Bishops (August, '99): "We will encourage and urge all tribal leaders and elders to use their traditional methods of conflict resolution as a valid contribution on their part to the peace process in the Sudan".

Civil and Humanitarian Leaders

The Diocese will co-operate in the work of development of services for the people of its area in response to the orientation taken by the bishops of Sudan (letter of August, '99): "We will strengthen and improve our existing social, educational and health services, and make them available to as many more people as possible.  We will place greater emphasis on services that educate people for life."

Military Leadership

The Diocese of Rumbek in its '99 Pastoral Guidelines”: Recommends the introduction of a priest and/or catechist chaplain to visit regularly the army to instruct the soldiers on catechesis, the moral and social teaching of the church, sanctity of life and an awareness that they are fighting a just war that demands respect for human dignity. 

"In the Jubilee and Centenary year 2000, DOR will prepare to make a commitment to be available to offer courses of catechesis and lead Sunday prayers among soldiers in our mission areas either through our priests or prepared catechists.  Furthermore the Bishop and his consultors will look into the possibility of training prepared catechists to do chaplaincy service among the SPLA/M militants" (DOR Consultors' meeting, September 18-19, '99).

It is in this spirit of involvement with every person in all branches of life that the church wants to begin the New Century.  The church  wants to lead all the people of Sudan to the light of God, our Father in spirit of Unity, Justice and lasting Peace.

As we celebrate Reconciliation, we ask the Lord to forgive the wrongs we have done as individuals and as groups against God and against one another. We also commit ourselves to undo the culture of war that defies our traditional moral tenets and many Christian moral principles.  As we reconcile, we must decide to make a new beginning by restudying our moral traditions, Christian and Biblical teachings and coming to pray more as communities with our spiritual leaders.

Today we ask for your full co-operation in the effort to re-establish the observance of the commandments of God, His law of love and especially respect for the human rights of every individual in the heart of each person in Sudan. Work with your constituents to achieve this goal in spirit of harmony with all people regardless of their race, creed or colour.

Have a Blessed Christmas and a great Year 2000 while we wait for peace in Sudan.

Cordially in Christ, 

+  Caesar Mazzolari 
Bishop of Rumbek