A Catholic radio station in South Sudan has reported the resumption of worship services at three churches in Malakal, a town devastated by conflict earlier this year.

By March this year the Catholic Church had reported that their diocese in Malakal was “completely destroyed” and all the clergy were evacuated. The civil population of the town fled elsewhere or sought protection of the UN.

“Nobody is in Malakal. They ran for their lives. It was not possible for anybody to stay,” said the acting head of the diocese at the time.

This past weekend however the three parishes St Mary’s, Joseph’s Cathedral and Christ the King celebrated masses, according to the radio station.

“Malakal Diocese Vicar General Fr Angelo Mojwok in his homily stressed the importance of confession as a good preparation for Christmas, to be reconciled with God and with one another,” the station reported.

File photo: Refugees in the Malakal Catholic Church on 21 January 2014 (AFP)