Author: Simon Ali
The Catholic Diocese of Wau ushered in the New Year with a solemn celebration of the Feast of Our Mother, the Virgin Mary, and urged the faithful to pray for peace worldwide. Special prayers were focused on countries suffering from conflict and unrest.
His Lordship Bishop Matthew Remijo Adam emphasized the importance of peace, calling on all people to focus their prayers at the start of the year. “We must pray for peace, as Pope Francis has been doing since 1968,” said Remijo Adam during his sermon.
He went on to remind the congregation that the New Year began under the protection of the Virgin Mary and that all should express gratitude for this divine blessing.
The bishop encouraged people to bring blessings into their lives, extending them to their families and communities. He emphasized the need to embrace both the good and bad moments of the year, placing all under the loving care of the Virgin Mary.
The Feast of Mary, Mother of God, coincides with the International Day of Peace in the Catholic Church, marking a global call for harmony. Bishop Remijo Adam urged the faithful to make peace their central theme for the year ahead.
Fr. Papi Ready, the Parish Priest of St. Joseph Worker Sika Hadid in the Catholic Diocese of Wau, also urged Christians to embrace change as they entered the New Year.
“If we do not change, then we have no reason to celebrate,” he remarked, highlighting that the New Year offers an opportunity for spiritual and personal growth.
He also encouraged the faithful to adopt a spirit of forgiveness and love. “This feast is not just about new clothes or celebrations, but about new life.
“Are you truly prepared to celebrate this New Year with your family?” he challenged the congregation. Fr. Papi further pointed out that change must come from within, urging individuals to transform themselves through God’s guidance.
“Let us not wait for others to change. Let us seek God in every aspect of our lives, reconciling with each other and praying for peace and good health,” he said.
He stressed that the New Year would bring both joys and challenges, but with faith and love, people could overcome any hardship.