Diocese
The Diocese of Rumbek (DOR) is one of the seven Catholic dioceses existing in South Sudan. Located in the heart of South Sudan, it covers the entire Lake region and the southern part of the Warrap region – an area ofapproximately 65,000 square kilometers, equal to the surface of Switzerland – and is inhabited by about 5 million inhabitants. It includes 11 main missions: Rumbek, Marial Lou, Warrap, Tonj, Agangrial, Wulu, Mapuordit, Yirol, Bunagok-Aliap, Cueibet, Barghel.
Established as an apostolic vicariate in 1955, it was elevated to the status of diocese in 1974. Led from 1999 until 2011 by Bishop Cesare Mazzolari, the diocese is still orphan of a bishop.
In 2014 the role of diocesan coordinator was entrusted to Father John Mathiang, a South Sudanese diocesan priest of Dinka clan who was ordained in 2010 by Bishop Cesare Mazzolari.
From a managing point of view, the Rumbek diocese is divided into three departments, with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya:
• Administrative: coordinates the logistics activities and finance of the diocese
• Educational: deals with managing schools and teachers
• Pastoral and development: it is the reference for human promotion initiatives and support for missions
