Father Innocent Bizimana, the newly elected Regional Councillor for the newly established East and Southern Africa Region of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has arrived in South Sudan for a key pastoral visit. The tour marks one of his first major initiatives since taking office following organizational updates enacted by the Congregation, which consolidated Salesian ministries across the continent into a vast geographic region.
The expanded jurisdiction now unites nine provinces across 21 nations: Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Mauritius.
Arriving in Juba, Fr. Bizimana underscored that the primary objective of his itinerary is first-hand accompaniment and assessing the welfare of the religious community and its local impact.
“I came to South Sudan to visit the Salesians and to see, through this short visit, how life is going and how our pastoral work is progressing,” Fr. Bizimana shared. “May God bless you.”
Engaging with Local Catholic Media
Fr. Bizimana described the Radio Maria South Sudan, or Catholic radio network, as an indispensable spiritual and social asset for the country as it continues its path toward stability.
“I thank Radio Maria South Sudan for the good work they are doing,” he stated during his address. “It is a big power for the Church, and even for the country. You have to prepare yourselves to give a good message and to strengthen the people.”
A Blueprint for Impact: Prayer and Peacebuilding
The regional leader reminded the broadcast team that their programming carries a profound social responsibility, urging them to keep prayer and the promotion of national unity at the heart of their broadcasting identity.
“The first thing is to pray, because the topic of the radio is to keep the people in peace and to go ahead in the faith,” Fr. Bizimana emphasized, pointing out that the media remains a vital lifeline for fostering hope.