By Sabri Dibaco
Catholic seminarians in Nzara County, Western Equatoria State, have turned faith into action by producing their own locally made palm oil in an initiative that blends spiritual formation with innovation and practical skills.
At the St. John Paul II Propaedeutic Inter-Diocesan Seminary Formation House in Nzara County, seminarians have begun manufacturing Organic Heavenly Palm Oil Made in Nzara, a product developed using a manually constructed oil-pressing machine designed by the students themselves.
The formation house, under the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, serves as the foundational stage for young men aspiring to the priesthood. Candidates who have completed their secondary education undergo a nine-month propaedeutic program focused on spiritual growth, discipline, and vocational discernment before advancing to philosophical and theological studies.
In a notable step toward self-reliance, the seminarians, guided by their rector, Fr. Justin Gizaza, designed and built a manual palm oil press, enabling them to produce organic oil locally.
The initiative is being praised as a model of integral formation, one that prepares future priests to be not only spiritually grounded but also practical, innovative, and responsive to community needs.
Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala has consistently advocated for a church that integrates prayer with productive work.
“Let us dirty our hands with the hoe in one hand and the Holy Bible in the other,” the bishop has urged, a message now fully embraced at the Nzara Seminary.
The newly produced palm oil is not only a symbol of creativity and hard work but also promotes healthier living, as naturally processed palm oil retains key nutritional benefits.
Communities in the area have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a sign of hope for a more self-reliant church and society. The faithful have been encouraged to support the project by purchasing the locally produced oil, which is now available in Nzara and the surrounding areas.