The Cathedral of St. Teresa of Juba and the Catholic faith in South Sudan

Juba · South Sudan · Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Juba

The Cathedral of Santa Teresa (St. Theresa Cathedral) is the Catholic Cathedral of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the youngest country in the world, independent of Sudan on July 9, 2011. Catholics make up about 30 per cent of the South Sudanese population, and the Catholic Church has been one of the few institutions that has remained present during the decades of civil war that have ravaged the country. Devotion to the Virgin Mary is a source of comfort and hope for a people marked by conflict.

The Evangelization of South Sudan

The evangelization of southern Sudan began in the mid-19th century with the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa), who established missions in the areas of the Upper Nile and Bahr el-Ghazal. Unlike northern Sudan, predominantly Muslim, the south of the country has a predominantly Christian and animist population. The Catholic Church played a fundamental role in the education and training of the peoples of the South, establishing schools, hospitals and vocational training centres.

La catedral de Juba

The Cathedral of Santa Teresa is the center of Catholic life in Juba and all over South Sudan. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Juba, who is also the President of the Episcopal Conference of South Sudan. The cathedral has witnessed the most dramatic moments in South Sudanese history: the wars of independence (1955-1972 and 1983-2005), the independence of 2011 and the civil war of 2013-2018.

The Catholic Church in times of war

During the decades of conflict, the Catholic Church in South Sudan has been a shelter for the victims of violence. Catholic churches were used as shelters for internally displaced persons, and priests and religious risked their lives to protect civilians. The South Sudanese bishops have been active mediators in peace processes, and the Episcopal Conference has issued numerous statements calling for reconciliation and an end to violence.

Marian devotion has been particularly important in times of war: the South Sudanese faithful come to Mary as a protective mother in the midst of suffering. The prayer of the rosary in families and communities is one of the most widespread devotional practices, and Marian parties bring together thousands of faithful in the cathedrals and parish churches.

Saint Teresa of Lisieux and South Sudan

The Cathedral of Juba is dedicated to Santa Teresa de Lisieux (1873- 1897), the "Santa Teresa del Niño Jesus," patron of the missions and doctor of the Church. The choice of this patron is not casual: Teresa de Lisieux, who never left his convent in Normandy, was declared a patron of the missions for his deep prayer for the missionaries and for the evangelization of the distant peoples. In South Sudan, where missionaries sacrificed their lives for decades, devotion to St. Teresa has a special meaning.