By Otto Abut.
The outgoing Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, and Kenya, His Excellency Bert Van Megen bid farewell to South Sudan after 30 years of Service.
This came after the appointment of a new Apostolic Nunciature, His Excellency Mgr. Séamus Patrick Horgan by Pope Francis, on May, 14th, 2024 as a Predecessor to Hubertus van Megen who served since August 5th, 1994.
His Excellency Bert Van Megen said that in every visit to the Vatican, he kept on requesting the Holy See to dispatch a Permanent Representative to South Sudan because the Church in South Sudan has reached its maturity.
His Excellency Bert Van Megen commended his Predecessor His Excellency Mgr. Séamus Patrick Horgan, being an excellent diplomat will surely guide the Church to greater heights.
He added that his Predecessor will further strengthen the friendly relations between the Holy See and the Republic of South Sudan.
“Dear brothers in Christ, it is time for me to leave this beautiful country, South Sudan, child of the Nile, land of Kush. However, I will not forget you”
He quoted from the book of Colossians 1: 9-12
“We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience.”
He said a resident Apostolic Nuncio will furthermore contribute to more effective relations with the State.
The outgoing Apostolic Nuncio stated that whatever he did was for the good of the Church and the good of the People of God in South Sudan as a servant.
“Everything I did, I did for the good of the Church and the good of the People of God in this great country. However, “I am just a useless servant, I have done what my duty was to do” (Luke 17: 5-10).
The prelate reflected on the good times he had in Khartoum and Juba including the weather, hospitality, and the people he met during his tenure since August 5th, 1994