The Catholic Diocese of Yei in South Sudan has cancelled the planned priestly ordination of Rev. Deacon Kennedy Cosmas Soruba Amosa after he expressed his wish not to proceed to the priesthood for personal reasons.
In an official announcement dated October 23, 2026, Bishop Rt. Rev. Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo confirmed that the ordination had been definitively cancelled, ending plans for a ceremony that had initially been scheduled for August 1, 2026.
The ordination had earlier been postponed following delays in Deacon Kennedy’s re-entry into the diocese. On May 31, 2026, the bishop announced that the ceremony would be rescheduled to a new date.
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However, the latest announcement confirmed that no new date would be set, explaining that Deacon Kennedy had personally chosen not to proceed with the priesthood.
The bishop did not disclose further details about the personal reasons behind the deacon’s decision.
Bishop Eyobo called on the faithful to pray for Deacon Kennedy, asking God to guide him in the decisions he will make as he pursues life outside the priestly ministry.
The cancellation also leaves the question of how resources mobilised for the planned ordination will be handled.
The bishop expressed gratitude to members of the Central Organising Committee (COC) of Holy Trinity Parish in Toligamago-Morobo for their commitment to preparing for the ceremony and their efforts to mobilise resources.
He said he would write separately to the parish priest of Holy Trinity Parish regarding the status of the organising committee and the decision to be made on the use of the resources collected for the ordination.
The announcement was issued by the Office of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yei and addressed to the clergy, religious men and women, lay faithful, friends and partners of the diocese.
