Church declares 5-day mourning period for 2 Catholic nuns killed during highway ambush

JUBA – The Roman Catholic Church in South Sudan has announced that it is entering a mourning period of five days after two of its nuns were killed during an ambush along the Juba-Nimule highway on Monday, according to a statement.

Yesterday, armed criminals believed to be members of the insurgent National Salvation Front (NAS) attacked travelers heading to South Sudan’s capital Juba killing at least five people including two Catholic nuns.

In a statement this morning, the Catholic Church administration in Juba confirmed the killing and said a funeral for the two was taking place right now at the Sacred Heart Provincial House in Juba.

“The Administration of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Religious and Clergy are saddened with the news about the untimely passing on of Sr. Mary Daniel Abut and Sr. Regina Roba, after been shot by gunmen on Juba Nimule highway on Monday 16 August 2021,” the statement said.

It said a five-day mourning period has been declared effective from today and a daily mass prayer will be conducted for the mourning period at 5:00PM.

“The Funeral is taking place at Sacred Heart Provincial House, the Sacred Heart Kindergarten premises in Juba. There will be Holy Mass every evening at 5:00 pm starting from today, Tuesday. Both Sr. Mary and Sr. Regina are members of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart Sisters of the Archdiocese of Juba,” the statement said.

“On behalf of the Administration of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, I would like to inform the public that all the Catholic Church Institutions (Universities, Seminaries, Colleagues, Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary Schools) in the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba will close down for four days to mourn the late Sr. Mary and Sr. Regina starting from today Tuesday 17th to Friday 20h August 2021 and work resumes on Monday 23 August 2021,” it added.