July 2026 - Page 3 of 3 - LIRA CATHOLIC DIOCESE

*Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok during his pastoral visit in Aloi Deanery*

By Fr. Isaac Ojok, Communications Office, lira diocese

ALOI Parish, Lira Diocese — The Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, has challenged Christian families to remove cultural practices that hinder couples from celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, saying strong Christian families are essential for building a united Church rooted in Christ.

The Bishop made the appeal today 4th July, 2026, while addressing hundreds of Christian leaders from parishes under ALOI Deanery during his pastoral visit to ALOI Parish, the headquarters of ALOI Deanery. The gathering brought together Christian leaders, priests and religious from ALOI, Omoro, Alanyi, Aliwang, Orum and Abongodyang parishes.

The visit forms part of Bishop Wanok’s pastoral tour of all deaneries in Lira Diocese, accompanied by his Vicars, to personally deliver a pastoral message to the lay faithful. The pastoral visits are being conducted under the theme: “Walking Together in Christ: Communion, Participation and Mission for an Eucharist-Centred Community.”

Welcoming the Bishop and his delegation, the Dean of ALOI Deanery, Fr. Bernard Approved, thanked the diocesan leadership for making time to meet the faithful.

“We are honoured to receive our Bishop and his team. This visit strengthens our faith and reminds us of our shared mission in the Church,” Fr. Bernard said, urging participants to listen attentively to the Bishop’s message.

In his address, Bishop Wanok thanked Christians for responding to the invitation and particularly commended the faithful from Omoro Parish, noting that they arrived early despite travelling the longest distance.

He explained that the deanery visits were intended to create an opportunity for direct interaction with Christians and encourage greater participation in the life and mission of the Church.

Reflecting on the theme of the pastoral visit, Bishop Wanok stressed that genuine communion and participation can only be achieved when Christ remains at the centre of Christian life through the Holy Eucharist.

“Walking together must not remain a slogan. It must become a reality in our families, our Small Christian Communities and our parishes through our union with Christ in the Holy Eucharist,” he said.

He warned that whenever individuals or communities lose sight of Christ, divisions, conflicts and unhealthy attitudes inevitably arise.

Using the example of a crop that dries up without rain, the Bishop explained that Christians who neglect the Eucharist gradually lose spiritual strength because the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life.

A significant part of his catechesis focused on strengthening Christian families.

He appealed to couples living together to regularise their unions through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, saying this enables them to live in full communion with the Church and receive the grace needed to build stable Christian homes.

The Bishop also expressed concern over cultural practices that unnecessarily delay Christian marriages, particularly prolonged negotiations over bride price.

He urged families and communities to avoid customs that prevent couples from celebrating Holy Matrimony, saying such practices weaken communion with the Church and place avoidable burdens on families.

Turning to the role of parents, Bishop Wanok challenged families to take greater responsibility for the spiritual formation of their children.

He urged parents to reflect on whether they are teaching their children to pray and helping them grow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit so they may become faithful disciples of Christ.

“The mission of Christ is to unite all people for the common good,” he said, adding that strong Christian families remain the foundation of a united Church.

Speaking on synodality, Bishop Wanok encouraged mutual respect and dialogue among priests, Parish Pastoral Councils and the lay faithful. He called on Christians to embrace shared responsibility in parish leadership while ensuring that Christ remains the guiding principle in every decision.

He reminded the congregation that participation in the Holy Eucharist strengthens believers, deepens their relationship with Christ and equips them for mission.

Concluding his remarks, the Bishop reminded the faithful of their vocation as witnesses of the Gospel.

“We are the signposts for Christ,” he said.

Bishop Wanok is expected to continue his catechesis by addressing the pillars of synodality, preparations for the Diocesan Day celebrations and the September Mission Appeal, an initiative aimed at supporting the formation of seminarians.

The ALOI Deanery meeting marked the final stop in the Bishop’s pastoral visits to deaneries across Lira Diocese. The programme will conclude with a meeting of all priests at Nazareth Family Centre, Barogole.

This is a developing story. More details will follow as the programme continues.

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*Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok meeting with priests and pastoral council leaders from all parishes under Apac Deanery*

By Fr. Isaac Ojok, Communications Office, Lira Diocese

Apac Catholic Parish, 1 July 2026 – The Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, is meeting with priests and pastoral council leaders from all parishes under Apac Deanery as part of his ongoing pastoral visit to the deanery.

In his opening remarks, Bishop Wanok warmly welcomed the participants and expressed his gratitude for their presence and commitment to the life and mission of the Church.

Introducing the theme of his pastoral visit, “Walking Together in Christ: Communion, Participation and Mission for an Eucharist-Centred Community,” the Bishop reflected on the meaning of communion as the foundation of Christian life. He explained that communion begins in the family, where the love between a husband and wife unites them in marriage and, through God’s blessing, brings forth children as precious gifts. He emphasized that this communion is further strengthened and extended through the Sacrament of Baptism, by which every Christian becomes a member of the Body of Christ.

The Bishop encouraged parents to take an active role in nurturing their children’s faith, observing that many families today face challenges that weaken relationships between parents and children. He urged families to create opportunities for children to know God more deeply and to grow in the Christian faith.

Reflecting on the Church’s synodal journey, Bishop Wanok reminded the faithful that through Baptism, every Christian is called to participate in the life and mission of the Church. This participation begins in Small Christian Communities, where believers share their experiences of faith, support one another, and discern together how to live the Gospel more faithfully. He noted that genuine participation can only flourish where there is true communion among God’s people.

“The family that remains united,” the Bishop said, “is inspired by the Holy Spirit to participate actively in the life and mission of the Church according to the gifts God has bestowed upon each member.”

Echoing the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep, Bishop Wanok encouraged the participants to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit generously in building up the living Body of Christ. He challenged them to reflect on the mission entrusted to every Christian, saying that Christ has called His followers to unite all God’s people and to reach out to those who have not yet come to know Him.

The Eucharist at the Centre of Christian Mission

Bishop Wanok emphasized that the Church’s mission cannot succeed without the Eucharist. He explained that without Christ at the centre, the Church’s mission risks being reduced to material concerns rather than the proclamation of the Gospel.

“The mission entrusted to us draws its strength from the Eucharist,” he said. “Through the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and receive the grace needed to carry out His mission faithfully.”

He also reflected on the unique role of priests, noting that through the sacrament of Holy Orders they act in the person of Christ, consecrating bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, thereby nourishing the faithful spiritually.

Living as a Synodal Church

Explaining the meaning of a synodal Church, Bishop Wanok described it as a Church where God’s people listen attentively to God and to one another, participate according to their different vocations, share responsibility for the Church’s mission, and keep Christ and the Eucharist at the centre of all they do.

Turning to the challenges facing Christian families, the Bishop acknowledged that many marriages experience difficulties that can lead to separation and broken family relationships. He stressed that promoting stable marriages and strong family life is the responsibility of the entire Christian community.

He encouraged the faithful to address these challenges together by walking as one family of God in the spirit of synodality, where mutual listening, shared responsibility, forgiveness, and communion strengthen both families and the wider Church.

The meeting forms part of Bishop Wanok’s pastoral visit to Apac Deanery, aimed at strengthening communion among the faithful, encouraging active participation in the Church’s mission, and renewing commitment to building Eucharist-centred Christian communities throughout the Diocese.

Apac Deanery comprises; Christ the Redeemer Catholic Parish, Apac; Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Alenga; St. Francis of Assisi Sub-Parish, Ayago; Christ the King Parish, Teboke; and St. Joseph’s Parish, Aduku.

This is a developing story. More details from the Bishop’s pastoral visit will follow in subsequent updates.

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Salvation of the whole person; body, soul and mind.“ I have come so that they may life and have it to the full” (John. 10:10b)

Monthly Archives: July 2026

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