“Currently, we have more than 70 young men in our formation houses, and I will ordain six new young priests this year,” said the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of El-Obeid.
Newsroom (01/22/2025 6:54 PM, Gaudium Press) – There is a notable growth in priestly vocations in Sudan, Africa, said the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of El-Obeid, testifying to God’s work in a country experiencing a brutal civil war that has forced millions to flee.
In a report by the international organization Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali described the events since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023.
According to Bishop Tombe, the Catholic Church in this predominantly Muslim country continues to manifest Jesus Christ’s presence amid the suffering and brutality of war. He noted, “There are more workers being prepared to serve in the vineyard.”
“Currently, we have more than 70 young men in our formation houses, and I will ordain six new young priests this year,” Bishop Tombe told ACN.
“Vocations are growing! God is at work,” added the bishop, who recently shared his harrowing experience with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Since April 15, 2023, the RSF has been engaged in armed conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Both groups had previously cooperated to depose the transitional regime established after the fall of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Once this goal was achieved, the Sudanese army and RSF clashed over control of the country’s wealth, especially gold and oil.
The U.S. Treasury Department froze President al-Burhan’s assets, accusing his army of attacking civilians and using food blockades. These sanctions aim to pressure Sudan’s leadership to end hostilities and allow humanitarian aid to reach affected populations.
Bishop Tombe recounted his experience on the day the war began. He explained that after the initial bombing, he entered the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of Africa in his episcopal see and prayed before the Blessed Sacrament, only to receive “unexpected visitors.”
He noted that the cathedral, located near military and security facilities, became a direct target in the early stages of the conflict and suffered significant damage.
The bishop said he was praying in the cathedral when bullets and shrapnel struck it. He also recounted how members of the SAF unexpectedly sought refuge in the cathedral. “After three hours, the fighting subsided, and everyone left. However, one of them returned, pointed to the tabernacle, and said, ‘Monsignor, this candle is strong and powerful. It protected us.’”
Bishop Tombe told ACN that the testimony of this SAF member strengthened his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, which he describes as his source of strength and joy. He revealed that he now organizes adoration of the Blessed Sacrament four times a day and encourages the remaining 300 Catholic families in El-Obeid to deepen their faith.
The bishop described the challenging conditions in El-Obeid, a city controlled by the SAF but besieged by the RSF, with severe shortages of water, electricity, and communication for months.
“Some people live under trees, others in schools due to the bombings. For 19 months, we have had no water in the church, no electricity, no internet, and only scarce phone communications,” he explained.
He added, “Those who remain here are pale with hunger but are strengthened by God’s presence. Despite these difficult circumstances, faith is stronger, and more sacraments are being administered. More people are coming to the Church; there is a greater need for priests and the bishop.”
According to ACN, although Catholics are a minority in Sudan, the Church continues to serve the community. In El-Obeid, it runs the only schools still open, including six kindergartens, six primary schools, and one high school.
With information from ACI Africa.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
