The Auxiliary Bishop of Juba said they are planning to open 25 new parishes in addition to the existing 12 in the Catholic Archdiocese.
Bishop Santo Loku Pio broke the news on Friday while installing a new parish dedicated to Mary Queen of Apostle at Gurei along Juba-Yambio road, saying the Archdiocese started this year by raising Holy Trinity Holy and Gurei Chapels into parishes.
He called on the faithful of the Archdiocese to work hard to help the administration realize the plan, saying opening a parish is serious responsibility of parishioners.
The Auxiliary Bishop encouraged the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate to be strong in facing challenges of developing a new parish in a new environment.
Bishop Loku Pio charged Gurei parishioners to teach the missionaries their local languages for better evangelization, encouraging the youths to utilize the experiences they got from St Kizito and Sacred Heart Kwörijik parishes for building their new parish.
Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro declared creation of the two parishes during the Archdiocesan pastoral council in late May with effect from June 1 bring all parishes to 14.