More than four hundred sixty new faithful received the sacrament of confirmation during the commemoration of St. Daniel Comboni in St. Theresa Cathedral, in Juba on Monday.
The Christians were from eight centers; Comboni Secondary School, St Vincent, St Daniel chapel, Holy family, Couple for Christians, English group, Bari group, and St Peter and Paul.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba Diocese urged the newly confirmed Christians to open themselves to God with faith and always ask for the spirit of God to strengthen them in the new covenant they had established with Jesus Christ.
Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, said the miracles and gifts of Christ are possible to people who open themselves with faith and actively participate in expanding the Church.
He said sometimes Christians failed to grow in faith and spiritual things because they tend to close themselves down.
“All the miracles of Christ are possible only with people who open themselves with faith and all the gifts we receive are possible through our openness and participation,” Mulla stated.
Archbishop Ameyu said people should seek and ask the guidance of the Holy Spirit to get empowered and be able to live together so that they grow the church and also build the nation equally.
He said people should profess themselves to be good shepherds in a way that they lead other people to goodness in a Godly way.
The archbishop said anyone can be a good shepherd as long as they impact the lives of others positively.
“We must profess ourselves to be good shepherds. We must be good shepherds as teachers, doctors, mothers, fathers, and leaders,” Archbishop explained.
The archbishop also called on the Christians to proclaim the good news of Christ through sacrifice and self-discipline; without discipline, people cannot succeed in life.
Archbishop Ameyu further added that the people who brought the faith to the people of Africa like St. Daniel Comboni did sacrifice their souls and much more.
He urged Christians to emulate the life of St. Daniel Comboni and avoid the easy ways of succeeding in life. Ameyu stated that there is no easy path to success because the easy ways are only meant to bring confusion among the people of God.
The archbishop said, “My dear people of God, you must discipline yourselves and the sacrifice must come from us because those who brought for us faith have sacrificed Soul after soul.”
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba Diocese warned Christians against practicing division among the people of God. He said such divisions are improper for the church.
Bishop Ameyu urged the faithful to use the church as center for forgiveness and reconciliation rather than using it to divide the people of God.