A Catholic Bishop in South Sudan has expressed concern over lack of vocations and commitment to pastoral duties by some priests and religious women and men.
Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak of Wau said the rate at which priests and the religious were abandoning their pastoral duties was alarming.He warned the delegates at the National Symposium that history is going to judge this generation severely if the trend does not stop, adding that it would be a shame especially at a time when people are in dire need of the Good News of Christ.
Thomas Arik, a long serving catechist in the diocese of Rumbek, agreed with the bishop. He said the diocese has been sending young people to major seminaries but very few have been ordained to the priesthood.
He wondered whether this was due to poor formation or lack of vocation among the young people.
Mr. Arik decried the low number of local priests in the diocese of Rumbek, arguing that this fact is hindering evangelization.
The diocese of Rumbek has a handful of local priests, the rest being from East Africa and from various missionary and religious congregations serving in its 12 parishes.