The Catholic Bishop of Rumbek commissioned 32 lay faithful to the ministry of Lector, including a woman, and administered the sacrament of Confirmation to nine adults at St. Josephine Bakhita mission in Mapuordit.
Bishop Caesar Mazzolari told Good News Radio that the lectors, drawn from different chapel centres, will prepare Sunday scripture readings, and proclaim the Word of God in words and deeds.Fr. Danielle Moschetti, one of the two Comboni priests involved in preparing the 32 lectors, said the training took 10 sessions of two hours each in September and October.
Fr. Moschetti added that there were initially 40 candidates from different parishes of the diocese.
He explained that the course involved reading practices and evaluation.
Bishop Mazzolari said this was his very first time in his 29 years as a missionary in the Sudan to commission so many lay people to be official readers of the Word of God.
He added that it was another step forward in understanding the duties of the Catholic faithful.
Bishop Mazzolari also confirmed nine adults who, as he put it, became the backbone of the Sudanese church.