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| Comboni Missionaries in Uganda handing over symbols of faith to the local Church |
One hundred years ago a group of Christians flocked to the site of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Kitgum, to witness the Comboni missionaries lay foundation to the first Catholic Mission in the Eastern part of the Acholi Sub-region. This was exactly four years after the same missionaries planted the same faith in Gulu (1911).
On Sunday February 15, 2014 the parish celebrated the centenary in grand style amidst great jubilation, gratitude to God and to the pioneering missionaries who were instrumental in sowing the seed of Faith.
The Holy Mass, which was held under the theme of “Follow Christ Your True Life,” was presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, H.E. Most Rev. Michael August Blume. Concelebrating with the Nuncio were the Archbishop of Gulu and Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) Most Rev. John Baptist Odama, Bishop Joseph Franzelli of Lira Diocese, Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki of Arua Diocese, Bishop Linus Sanctus Wanok of Nebbi Catholic Diocese, Bishop Joseph Filippi of Kotido Diocese, Bishop Damiano Guzzetti of Moroto Diocese, Bishop Emeritus Egidio Nkaijanabo of Kasese Diocese and Bishop Emeritus Martin Luluga of Nebbi Catholic Diocese.
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| H.E. Archbishop Michael A. Blume, Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda delivers his homily during the celebrations |
There were also over 50 Priests Concelebrants including the Secretary General of the UEC, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, the Vicar General of Gulu Archdiocese, Msgr. Matthew Odong, and the Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionaries in Uganda, Fr. Sylvester Hategek’Imana.
In his homily, the Nuncio urged Christians to follow Christ since he always calls them to greater things. “That is the way the church will make its particular contribution to challenges of urgent secular culture that corrupts traditional culture satisfied with appearances since it distances men from the church,” Archbishop Blume said.
He further advised Christians to act positively by strengthening Catholic schools, changing funeral cultures so that Christ becomes their salvation, encouraging young couples to make sacramental marriage and embarking on serious effort at self-support.
Meanwhile, the President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who was the Chief Guest, made a cash donation of Sh30 million towards the Centenary celebrations. The President also encouraged the Church to cooperate with the government in its poverty alleviation programs so that the faithful live a self-sustaining life and avoid laziness and dependency. He cited the Bishop of Kabale Catholic Dioceses, Bishop Callist Rubaramira who has a tea plantation of 1,800 acres in Kabale and Kanungu districts as a commercial venture and urged religious leaders to be models in the fight against poverty.
During the same occasion, Fr. Anthony Nyeko was installed as the new Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish Kitgum, by Archbishop Odama, replacing Fr. Eliyah Kapaloni.
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| Women in traditional Ugandan dress leading offertory procession |
Other religious leaders and top politicians who attended the celebrations include, the Archbishop of York in the United Kingdom, Dr John Sentamu, the First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Hon. Janet Museveni, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Henry Oryem Okello, the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Rt. Hon. Dan Kidega and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanya among others.
Among the fruits of the evangelizing work of the Missionaries in Kitgum and indeed in the entire Catholic Church was the witnessing of faith through the martyrdom of the Blessed Catechists Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa in 1918.
By Jacinta Wangalwa Odongo, Media Officer, UEC