The new Catholic church of Yirol will be blessed and officially opened tomorrow after seven years or planning and hard work.
The ceremony that begins with the celebration of theMass is presided by bishop Caesar Mazzolari of Rumbek.Fr. Joseph Parlade, a Comboni Missionary from Spain, is the parish priest of Yirol and was behind the construction of the new church that many describe as “a cathedral”.
He told Good News Radio that the need for a big permanent church structure in Yirol came from the growing number of faithful gathering for prayer in the small temple built in local material.
Fr. Parlade said that the beginning was very difficult, but an Italian priest helped with the initial financial support.
The dream of a church able to house a big community came true with the help of his friends and compatriots in Spain.
Fr. Parlade said that the Church has a seating capacity of 500 to 700 people, but on Sundays there are at least 1000 people.
Fr. Parlade is also involved in the construction of schools.
He told Good News Radio that in the last eight years he built 27 schools that he handed to the government.
Yirol Mission, in Lakes State, serves a huge population and the majority is Christian, mainly Catholic and Protestant.
The Catholic parish has 42 chapels and prayer centres.