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Uganda and South Sudan Celebrate the Joyful Conclusion of the SVD 150th Jubilee Year
SSD–Uganda Communication Team
Throughout the Jubilee Year, a variety of missionary and community activities were organized to honor our congregation and to strengthen faith among the people we serve. These included football tournaments for youth and children, the drilling of water wells at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel in Bidibidi and at St. Arnold Janssen Parish, choir competitions for Holy Childhood groups under the theme of St. Arnold Janssen, the opening of the first parish dedicated to St. Arnold Janssen in Ariwa, Uganda, and the reopening of Holy Family Parish in Lainya, South Sudan.
A major highlight was the closing Mass of the Jubilee Year, celebrated in both South Sudan and Uganda. On the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Eucharist took place at St. Arnold Janssen Chapel in Longwili, Lainya, gathering nearly 400 Christians from the chapels of Holy Family Parish. On Saturday, 21 September, another solemn celebration was held at St. Arnold Janssen Parish in Ariwa, with many faithful walking long distances from the five zones of the Bidibidi settlement to participate. Together, with deep joy and missionary zeal, we prayed, sang, and danced to God, giving thanks for our congregation, for peace in the world, and especially for our brothers and sisters living as refugees.
After the Mass, Catholic groups presented dramas about the life and missionary vision of St. Arnold Janssen and the work of the Divine Word Missionaries. Youth and children’s choirs also performed songs in his honor. With heartfelt enthusiasm, all joined in singing and dancing, celebrating our founder and the grace of the 150th Jubilee Year. The festivities concluded with a shared meal, filled with stories, laughter, and reflections about our founder and the mission of our congregation. Truly, it was a moment of grace, unity, and joy for our communities in South Sudan and Uganda.
As we bring the Jubilee Year to a close, we pray that many more people will come to know and cherish the charism and mission of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD). We express our deep gratitude to God, to our benefactors and friends who support us through prayer and generosity, and to everyone who helped make these celebrations possible. In a special way, we thank the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), who share in our mission and contributed so beautifully by preparing the altar, decorating the statue of St. Arnold Janssen, and designing the Jubilee logo. Through their creativity and collaboration, they helped all who participated to enter more deeply into the spirit of our founder and the meaning of the Jubilee Year.
