The Bishop of Tombura Yambio Catholic Diocese, Barani Eduardo Hiiboro has referred to the late Bishop Emeritus of El Obeid Macram Max Gassis as a man who fights for justice and supported the people in need.
Bishop Emeritus of El Obeid Macram Max Gassis died in the United States on Sunday, 4th June 2023 due to a heart illness that he had been suffering for years.
The head of the Catholic Diocese in Tombura Yambio says Bishop Macram is a man of God indeed who spent many hours daily and weekly in his little Bishop’s chapel.
His fidelity to a life of prayer remained through all the dark days in the end, where his breviary and some prayer books were the only companions he kept with him for his reading and prayer life.
“One could talk of his administrative skills and his erudition, his courage or braviness, his love for the poor and needy, his fight for justice, and his profound understanding of canon law and his knowledge of history but it was his love for the Church, especially the leadership of the Church, that marked him,” Bishop Hiiboro said.
Bishop Hiiboro who formerly been Priest in El Obied described Late Macram as talented and his gifts all pointed towards him playing a role of significant leadership in the Church, especially as his relationship with his priests grew stronger. A good human rights defender.
Late Bishop Macram was a former Nobel Peace Prize nominee, who testified before the U.S. Congress in 1988 about the human rights abuses committed by the Sudanese government against the innocent people of his country, including enslavement, air raids, forced starvation, and rape at the hands of the government’s army.
Bishop Hiiboro send a condolence message to the family and diocese of Elobeid,
“On behalf of the Social Communication in our Bishop conference and above all in the Board of Governors for Catholic Radio Network, Board member of the University Council of Eastern Africa, Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, Bishop Trile Tombe our sincere sympathy for Bishop Macram.”
Hiiboro said he has a fond memory of the deceased bishop, and his great admirer, in most of his responsibilities he has stepped into them to replace this great veteran. We shall truly miss him.
“All this was cut short and several years of suffering injustice were inflicted upon him with false accusations by the then president of Sudan of supporting the rebellion of South Sudan and Nuba Mountain, this expelled him from Sudan to date,” he said.
May His Gentle Soul Rest with our Creator, the Highest God.