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St. Mary Immaculate- Terekeka

St. Mary Immaculate- Terekeka

Historical Background:

Location and People

St. Mary’s Immaculate Parish Terekeka is situated 52 miles north of Juba, the capital city of the Republic of South Sudan. The parish serves the Mundari people, who are predominantly agro-farmers cultivating crops such as groundnuts, dura, and small beans. In recent years, cattle keeping has become a priority for the Mundari community.

Parish Statistics

  • Largest Parish: St. Mary’s Immaculate is the largest parish in the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba.
  • Coverage: Covers a vast land of 120 villages.
  • Chapels: 87 chapels divided into 11 administrative sub-parishes (centres).
  • Furthest Reach: Approximately 48 miles from the main parish centre.
  • Catechists: About 229 catechists.
  • Faithful: Approximately 136,796 believers.

The Mundari people are devout Catholics, although some denominations are rising within the main township and in a few villages, alongside a small Muslim population.

Foundation and Early History

  • 1948: The foundation of a bush school / elementary school at Ku’dile was established.
  • 1952: St. Mary’s Immaculate Parish was officially inaugurated as a parish by the Comboni missionaries.
  • The Ku’dile school became famous and contributed to the education of many South Sudanese, including:
    • Late Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro
    • Fr. Abel Mödi Nyörkö (RIP)
    • And many more elites in South Sudan

Challenges During the Civil War

  • 1964: Missionaries were expelled from Southern Sudan by the then Sudan government, leaving the parish vacant.
  • Fr. Quiriko Kudro was assigned to reside in Ku’dile, assisted by Fr. Okelo. However, a year later, Fr. Quiriko deserted the parish, leaving it vacant again.
  • 1979: Fr. Michael D. Barton Mccj was named Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Parish Kworijik, with Terekeka as an outstation annex.
  • 1989–1994: Mass displacement of the Mundari people to camping centres in Jebel Kujur and Tomping in Juba occurred due to the civil war.
  • 1992: A second missionary expulsion from Juba to Khartoum took place. Fr. Mödi Abel Nyörkö, Fr. James Oyet, and Fr. Mauro Lopolo served as visiting priests for the outstations of Terekeka, Tali, and Rokon.

Faithful Catechists Who Sustained the Faith

Despite the challenges, the Catholic faith was sustained by dedicated catechists:

  • Catechist Cornelio Könyi – Now above 82 years old, he is likely the oldest long-serving catechist in the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba.
  • Catechist Richard Loku
  • Catechist Pasiente Yebin

During the revolutionary years of Anyanya One (1955) and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement/Army (1983), and following the expulsion of missionaries in 1964 and 1992, St. Mary’s Immaculate Parish was left under the hands of Catechist Cornelio Könyi. He sustained the parish with local efforts until the return of calm in 1996.

Re-opening and Re-activation of the Parish

  • 1996: The administration of the Archdiocese of Juba, viewing some relative calm, requested Fr. James Lodu Loro and Fr. Methodius Lomude to lead the re-opening and re-activation of St. Mary’s Immaculate Parish Terekeka.
  • They were later joined by Fr. Gabriel Asida (who was then a deacon).
  • This second re-opening of St. Mary’s Immaculate is what brought us to where we are today.

Structure of the Parish

The Parish is divided into four (4) zones, which are broken into eleven (11) administrative sub-parishes (centres) headed by coordinators.

1. Main Parish

Composed of two (2) sub-parishes (centres):

a. St. John Paul II Wujungani Centre

Chapels:

  1. St. John Paul II (Wujungani)
  2. St. Matthew (Longa)
  3. St. Henry (Bukö Miduk)
  4. St. Calisto (Lokweni)
  5. St. Philip & James (Kokgi)
  6. St. Charles Luwanga (Bura)
  7. St. Martha (Nan Ti-Kö)

b. St. Joseph Lojora Centre

Chapels:

  1. St. Joseph (Lojora)
  2. St. John (Umbili)
  3. St. Francis of Assisi (Kuru ku Bangi)
  4. St. Cornelio & Supriano (Siliwa)
  5. St. Robert (Bukö Muduk)
  6. St. Mary Magdalene (Piru)
  7. St. Benedict (Lopuja)
  8. St. James (Gondi)

2. Central Zone

Composed of four (4) sub-parishes (centres):

a. St. Kizito Kutu-na-woko Centre

Chapels:

  1. St. Kizito (Kutu-na-woko)
  2. St. Margret (Böjör)
  3. St. Paul Miki (Kwörinyang)
  4. St. Francis (Gwolosa)
  5. St. Rita (Lowirja)
  6. St. Sisto (Ligi)

b. St. Stephen Gwulukuk Centre

Chapels:

  1. St. Stephen (Gwulukuk)
  2. St. Martin of Tour (Mokamagor)
  3. Gwulukuk Two
  4. St. Margret (Morja-Jur)
  5. Holy Rosary (Wongki)

c. St. Philip Bura Centre

Chapels:

  1. St. Philip (Bura)
  2. Holy Trinity (Bobone)
  3. St. Dominic
  4. Tibari
  5. Gwele
  6. Salam Lumasi
  7. Kuruse lokele (Jongor)
  8. St. Rose of Lima (Löngi)
  9. St. John the Baptist (Nan-Tapar)

d. St. Ereneo Rijong Centre

Chapels:

  1. St. Ereneo (Rijöng)
  2. St. Marko (Loputu)
  3. SS. Timothy and Titus
  4. Gwerke
  5. Langi One
  6. St. Andrew (Langi Two)
  7. Jobur
  8. Kuru ku yöyö

3. Southern Zone

Composed of one (1) administrative centre:

a. St. Peter Nyori Centre

Chapels:

  1. Annunciation of the Lord (Nyori Eucharistic Centre)
  2. St. Bakhita (Meridi)
  3. All Saints of Africa (Bariarie)
  4. St. Daniel Comboni (Muruti)
  5. St. Thomas Aquinas (Monoja)
  6. St. Anthony (Bambari)
  7. St. Peter & Paul (Ku’da)
  8. St. Josephath (Jongkok)
  9. St. Elizabeth & Zechariah (Dungköyö)
  10. St. John Bosco (Mayong)
  11. St. Paul (Mangkaro)

4. Northern Zone

Composed of four (4) sub-parishes (centres):

a. St. Michael Tukörö Centre

Chapels:

  1. St. Michael (Ku’di’yso)
  2. St. Monica (Nyikabur)
  3. St. Dominic (Aporong)
  4. St. Margret (Wösule)
  5. St. Gregory (Kwörinit)
  6. St. Elizabeth (Bo’dok)
  7. St. Simon (Muduk)
  8. St. Peter Clever (Görö)

b. Sacred Heart of Jesus Jai Eucharistic Centre

Chapels:

  1. Sacred Heart of Jesus (Jai)
  2. St. Theresa Gabuta (Lwoki)
  3. St. Charles Borromeo (Gwele Gabuta)
  4. St. Chrisphino (Baisek Gabuta)
  5. St. Agata (Koka Gabuta)
  6. St. Vincent (Mijur)
  7. Assumption of B.V.M (Marakak)

c. St. Luke Yukara Centre

Chapels:

  1. St. Augustine (Bekat)
  2. Holy Family (Marakak 2)
  3. St. Thomas (Pojur)
  4. St. Martin De Porres (Böri)
  5. St. George (Jai 2)
  6. Christ the King (Jungunamasi)
  7. St. Cecilia (Awang)
  8. St. Joseph Chalaza (Bakgo)

d. St. Joseph the Worker Wudu Centre

Chapels:

  1. St. Joseph the Worker (Wudu)
  2. St. Margret Böri (Dendakiteng)
  3. All Saints (Tombek)
  4. St. Pio (Mula)
  5. St. Lawrence (Giging)
  6. St. Alberto (Bukö Bakgo)
  7. St. Buruno (Diarabala)
  8. St. Hillary (Nawunguli)
  9. St. Cosmas & Damian (Bukö Jologo)
  10. St. Ernesto (Swakle)

Historical Milestones

  • 2017: St. Mary’s Immaculate Parish hosted the first Episcopal Vicar, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Asida Andrew, of Terekeka Vicariate.
  • 2022: Following the first visit of the third Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, current Cardinal Stephen Martin Ameyo Mulla, four (4) administrative centres were elevated to Eucharistic centres:
    • Nyori
    • Jai
    • Bura
    • Kutu-na-woko

Summary of Organization:

ZoneNumber of CentresCentre Names
Main Parish2St. John Paul II Wujungani, St. Joseph Lojora
Central Zone4St. Kizito Kutu-na-woko, St. Stephen Gwulukuk, St. Philip Bura, St. Ereneo Rijong
Southern Zone1St. Peter Nyori
Northern Zone4St. Michael Tukörö, Sacred Heart Jai, St. Luke Yukara, St. Joseph the Worker Wudu
TOTAL11