The Catholic Church plans to launch a two-month prayer initiative to promote unity leading to the official declaration of independence of South Sudan slated for July 9 2011.
Bishop Caesar Mazzolari told the congregation at Holy Family Cathedral in Rumbek yesterday that the Catholic Bishops of Sudan held a meeting in Juba on Monday, Good News Radio reported.The issues the bishops discussed included the need to pray for unity while preparing the independence of South Sudan.
The prayer initiative will be called “Ten steps to Unity in South Sudan” and runs between May and Independence Day.
Bishop Mazzolari said that the program of prayer for unity will include instructions based on the Social Teaching of the Church on nation building.
Bishop Mazzolari explained that the prayer initiative will be built upon weekly themes.
He expressed hope that the prayer program contributes for the unity of South Sudan well beyond Independence Day.
The Ten Steps to Unity in South Sudan programme will be developed with the assistance of personnel from Solidarity with Southern Sudan in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services.