• Working Hours - Mon - Fri: 8:30 - 17:30

Mary Queen of the Apostles Parish – Gurei

Mary Queen of the Apostles Parish – Gurei

Historical Background

t was in the year 2012 MMI fathers took charge of Gurei chapel led by Rev.Fr. John Britto MMI and thereby we started to build the church and construct the Presbytery for Missionaries. On the 14th of September 2012, the Vicar General Rev.Fr blessed the foundation of the church. Nicola Kiri and thanks to Fr. James Pitia for his guidance during the initial stages of the construction of the church building. In the year 2014, Mary Queen of the Apostles Parish was officially declared as New Parish by His Grace Archbishop Poulino Lukudu Loro and it became 13th Parish in the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba. This Parish was officially handed over to MMI Fathers and was inaugurated on 22nd August 2014 by the Auxiliary Bishop His. Lordship Santo Loku pio.

Main Centre – Mass Timings:

  • Weekdays (Monday – Thursday): 6:30 AM

  • Friday: 3:30 PM (Rosary, Holy Adoration, Holy Eucharist)

Sundays:

  • English Mass: 7:00 AM

  • Bari Mass: 9:00 AM

  • Arabic Mass: 11:00 AM

Mass Timings at Chapels on Sundays:

Chapels Locations Time Activity Feast Day
St. Peter Jebel Yesua 9.30am Rosary and Holy Mass Jun- 29
Holy Family Gurei 8.30am Rosary and Holy Mass Dec-27
St. Dominic Jebel Dinka 8.00am Rosary and Holy Mass Aug- 08
Mary Immaculate Kapuri 9.30am Rosary and Holy Mass Dec-8
St.Philip Kabu 9.30am Rosary and Holy Mass  
Holy Cross Luri 9.30am Rosary and Holy Mass Sep – 14
St. Josephine Bakhita Somba 9.30am Rosary and Holy Mass Feb-8
St. Agatha Makargole 9.30am Rosary and Holy Mass April -25
Sts. Philip and James Bilingi 9.30am Rosary and Holy Mass  
St. Patrick Kuda 10.am Rosary and Holy Mass Mar – 17
The Resurrection Logo Gorom 10.am Rosary and Holy Mass  

Regular Activities

  • Catechism Classes: Monday – Thursday, 3:30 PM

  • Infant Baptism: Given once every three months

  • Adult Baptism: Given once a year

  • First Holy Communion: Once a year

  • Confirmation: Once a year (celebrated on Easter Vigil)

  • Youth Office Meeting: Monthly basis

  • Training for Altar Boys: Weekly basis

  • Practice for Crusaders: Weekly basis

  • PPC (Parish Pastoral Council) Meeting: Monthly basis

  • Groups Meeting and Practice: Regularly scheduled

  • Legion of Mary Prayer and Meeting: Every Wednesday

  • Sports and Cultural Programs: Organized for youth and children

Pastoral and Spiritual Groups in the Parish

  • PPC (Parish Pastoral Council)

  • Legion of Mary

  • Youth Groups

  • Altar Boys and Girls

  • Crusaders

  • Catholic Charismatic Group

  • Peace and Justice Group

  • Daughters of Jerusalem Group

  • Basic Christian Communities (BCCs)

 

Historical Evolution & Leadership
Though a relatively young community, the parish has rapidly structured its leadership and expanded its physical and spiritual footprint.

  • Elevation to Parish Status (June 1, 2014): Decreed by the late Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro, the community transitioned from a local chapel under the Munuki parish to a fully-fledged independent parish.
  • Official Inauguration (August 2014): The parish was formally inaugurated by Auxiliary Bishop Santo Loku Pio as part of an archdiocesan strategy to accommodate Juba’s growing population.
  • Titular Feast Day: Celebrated annually on August 22, coinciding with the universal Catholic Feast of the Queenship of Mary.

Pastoral Lineage
The spiritual administration of the parish has been defined by two primary eras:

  1. Fr. John Bristo (Founding Parish Priest): Appointed in June 2014 under the pastoral care of the Franciscan Fathers and the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) Missionaries. He built the initial structural layout and formalized early lay ministries.
  2. Fr. Vino Kumar (Current Parish Priest): Has steered the parish through its recent years of rapid expansion. He is highly recognized for scaling up youth ministries and spearheading the church’s extensive local humanitarian programs.

Major Milestones & Archdiocesan Role
Because of its spacious grounds and strategic location on a major transit road, the parish regularly hosts large-scale archdiocesan events.

  • The 10-Year Jubilee (August 2025): The parish celebrated its landmark 10th anniversary with a massive celebration mass presided over by His Eminence Stephen Ameyu Cardinal Mulla, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba. The jubilee operated under the global Catholic theme “Pilgrims of Hope” and synchronized with the church’s Synod on Synodality.
  • Eucharistic Congress & Processions: The parish functions as a primary launching ground or vital station for wide-scale archdiocesan processions that march across major city parishes from Gudele/Gurei to St. Theresa’s Cathedral in Kator.
  • Spiritual Rallies: It frequently hosts the Archdiocese’s “12 Popular Missions” and intensive, multi-day spiritual recollections.

Humanitarian & Community Impact
Beyond its sacramental duties, Mary Queen of Apostles Parish serves as a vital safety net for vulnerable families in the Gudele and Gurei neighborhoods.

Maternal & Child Nutrition Support: Through a close partnership with international religious organizations—specifically Italy’s Usratuna Lay Missionaries—the parish operates vital weekday nutrition projects. These initiatives distribute supplemental milk and essential food to hundreds of malnourished infants, young children, and mothers in the local community.