You are here: home >> offices >> communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Contact:  Patricia M. Chivers
Communications Director
(678) 480-6865
pchivers@archatl.com

Building Peace and Fighting Poverty
Delegation of Catholic Bishops from Sudan
Meet with Archbishop Gregory in Atlanta

Atlanta – Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will welcome to Atlanta a delegation of Catholic bishops from Sudan hosted by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) on Thursday, June 24. The bishops have met with representatives of the United Nations, with Archbishop Dolan in New York, and with Congressmen in Washington D.C. before heading to Atlanta. The Sudanese delegation includes Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak, Bishop of the Diocese of Wau and President of the Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference; Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Khartoum; and Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio. 

Catholic Relief Services is helping the Sudanese people build skills in conflict resolution and peacebuilding through a $4 million peace initiative that includes:

• Partnering closely with Catholic dioceses and other groups to increase their ability to effectively carry out relief and development projects, conflict management initiatives, and peacebuilding activities.
• Coordinating peace talks at various levels, from individual communities to national ecumenical forums.
• Funding community-based peace projects, particularly those that create opportunities for youth to engage in peacebuilding and conflict resolution activities.
• Link Sudanese and U.S. advocacy efforts to increase U.S. Catholics’ awareness of Sudanese issues and engagement in addressing them.

The Sudanese Diaspora community will welcome the Sudanese bishops to the 12:00 noon Mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 600 Mountain View Drive, Stone Mountain, on Sunday, June 27.
The media are invited to interview the Catholic bishops from Sudan on Thursday, June 24 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.at the Archdiocese of Atlanta Catholic Center, 680 West Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta; Friday, June 25 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. by appointment, and on Sunday, June 27 at Corpus Christi Church, 600 Mountain View Drive, Stone Mountain, after 12:00 noon Mass. 

“Our visiting Bishops from Sudan specifically told CRS that they wanted to come to Atlanta. They know how our diverse community of Atlanta Catholics is linked around world, including our Sudanese sisters and brothers. We are a local and a global Church, and this important visit reminds us how our Catholic faith calls us to speak up for peace in solidarity with the Church and people of Sudan,” stated Cullen Larson, Director CRS SE Regional Office.

#  #  #