Remember our friends from Yei Diocese this Christmas

Friday December 21st 2018

Bishop Hilary of Yei speaking at the CMSI Peace and Reconciliation Conference in Arua in October.

As we approach Christmas, please remember in your prayers our friends in Yei Diocese, South Sudan, many of whom are spending yet another Christmas in exile in northern Uganda.

Connor and Yei have been in partnership for more than 10 years. Earlier this year, Connor Diocese sent funding to Bishop Hilary of Yei via the Rev Amanda Adams, rector of Ballyrashane and Killdollagh, who attended the CMSI Peace and Reconciliation Conference in Arua, Uganda.

There will be a full report on Amanda and her team’s visit in the February issue of the diocesan magazine Connor Connections.

The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, has received a letter of greeting from Bishop Hilary, expressing his ‘profound appreciation’ to the Bishop and the Diocesan Council for the generous gift which had been sent to Yei Diocese through the Rev Amanda.

These children living in exile in Arua. photographed by Rev Amanda Adams and her team from Ballyrashane and Killdollagh, don’t have much materially but don’t they have wonderful smiles!

Bishop Hilary explained that some of the money had been used immediately to support hundreds of internally displaced families recently arrived in Arua. Some of the funds were also earmarked for the Bishop Allison Theological College.

“We are grateful that now we are able to offset some of the urgent needs of my ministry, key among this is relief response to the needy,” Bishop Hilary said.

He added that the conference had been a great success. “The bishops under partnership with CMS lreland went back to South Sudan very encouraged and changed,” Bishop Hilary said.

“The team from Belfast and Albany Diocese was a great blessing. From Connor Diocese, Rev. Amanda, like all of them, was an effective individual at the conference and made all of us very pleased with the conference.

“Together with the rest, their facilitation had a tremendous impact in supporting us in our search for how to deal with a complex war situation.

“The conference was graced by our two leaders, Archbishop and Primate, Justin Badi Arama and the Archbishop of Central Equatoria Internal Province, Paul Yugusuk. Both attended but at different times. Again thank you so much for the support.”

Bishop Hilary sent Bishop Alan his prayers and best wishes for good health and a fruitful ministry.

You can read more about the CMSI conference and news from South Sudan in CMSI’s South Sudan Update for December 2018.