17/11/2025
Catholic Diocese of Rumbek Conducts five-day workshop on Financial management and sustainability
The Catholic Diocese of Rumbek, on Friday, wrapped up a five-day workshop aimed at strengthening financial management and ensuring long-term sustainability of the Diocese amid declining donor support.
The workshop, held at Palica from Monday November 10 to Friday November 14, 2025, brought together Parish Priests, heads of departments, Principals of Diocesan schools, religious, and the clergy.
The sessions focused on practical strategies to improve financial accountability, boost local resource mobilization, and enhance the Diocese’s ability to run its pastoral and developmental programs independently.
Rev. Fr. Andrea Osman Okello, Parish Priest of Holy Cross Parish in Yirol, expressed his gratitude to the participants from various parishes, heads of departments, and the Social Communication Coordinator for organizing the workshop and coming together to discuss the future sustainability of the Diocese.
Fr. Andrea encouraged participants to build healthy working relationships with their colleagues and to promote unity, reconciliation, respect, and understanding among themselves. He emphasized that sisters, priests, and departmental heads are all pastoral agents of the Diocese.
Sr. Anne Muthoni, Principal of Rumbek Comboni Primary School, also in attendance, thanked the facilitators for giving them the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge on sustaining themselves and their institutions.
She urged participants to help the Diocese work toward self-sustainability and not to take their roles for granted—whether in pastoral work, schools, or health centers.
Fr. Peter Abodo Adelio, Parish Priest of Bunagok, shared his personal experience, saying that he had previously been overly dependent on external support, but the workshop reminded him that there are things he can do himself to support both his parish and his personal ministry. He appealed to the participants to put the knowledge they gained into practice and share it within their parishes and communities.
John Sabit Malok, Assistant Coordinator of the Peace and Justice Desk in the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek, noted that the issue of sustainability has long been a challenge for the Diocese, and this is not the first time it has been discussed.
Sabit thanked the trainers for enlightening participants with insights and experiences from other parishes that have found ways to sustain their churches. He urged the faithful to understand that the Church does not belong only to the priests, but to the community as well, and therefore, everyone has a responsibility to support it
The training also highlighted the importance of effective communication and coordination between the Diocesan leadership, parishes, departments, and other stakeholders, as well as the vital role of the laity in supporting the local Church.