By Fr. Isaac Ojok, Communications Office Lira Diocese
Lira Diocese has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the organisation and annual celebration of the martyrdom of Blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa come October 20, 2027.
The announcement was made today by the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, Most Rev. Raphael P. Mony Wokorach mccj, at the climax of this year’s celebration held in Paimol.
The announcement was received with great joy and excitement by pilgrims from Lira Diocese who attended the celebration, marking a significant moment of responsibility and renewed commitment to preserving the legacy of the two young catechists.
Receiving the announcement on behalf of the Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, the Vicar General, Monsignor Valente Innocent Opio, warmly welcomed the responsibility.
In a further announcement, Archbishop Wokorach entrusted Lira Diocese with the responsibility of taking the lead in organising next year’s Youth Apostolate Pilgrimage to Paimol. He expressed his appreciation to the diocese for accepting these important responsibilities in the life of the Church.
The new mandate presents Lira Diocese with an opportunity to deepen devotion to Blessed Daudi Okello and Blessed Jildo Irwa, promote the spiritual formation of young people, and strengthen the faithful’s appreciation of the martyrs’ enduring witness of faith, courage and commitment to the Gospel.
As the diocese prepares to assume these responsibilities, the announcement is expected to inspire greater participation among the faithful, particularly young people, in honouring the martyrs and keeping their spiritual legacy alive for future generations.
This year’s celebration was animated by Holy Rosary Deanery, Gulu Archdiocese
Taxi operators plying the Lira-Amolatar route have donated Shs580,000 to Ngetta Babies Home in Lira City to support the welfare of 37 infants and children under the facility’s care.
The donation was made on Sunday, October 18, 2026, following a fundraising drive organised by the Amolatar-Lira Taxi Drivers and Conductors Association in partnership with White House Stage, Dokolo-Lira Stage and Uhuru Bar Stage.
The funds are intended to help meet the children’s daily needs, particularly the rising costs of powdered milk and essential utilities.
The contribution highlights the role community partnerships can play in supporting vulnerable children and helping care facilities meet their growing needs.
Taxi Operators Pledge Continued Support
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the chairperson of the Lira-Amolatar Taxi Drivers and Conductors Association, Mr. Okao Kizito, said the support extended to the babies’ home should go beyond the initial donation.
Okao appealed to other well-wishers to join efforts to improve the welfare of vulnerable children, emphasising the importance of sustained community involvement.
He pledged that the association would maintain its support for the facility by establishing a lasting partnership between the transport sector and Ngetta Babies Home.
He further revealed that the association plans to sustain the initiative through periodic collections of essential household supplies, clothing and food items from drivers and passengers travelling along the Lira-Amolatar route.
The proposed arrangement is intended to create continued opportunities for transport operators and members of the public to contribute to the children’s welfare.
Babies’ Home Appreciates Community Support
The vice chairperson of the Ngetta Babies Home Board, Bua John Charles, commended the transport operators for their contribution, describing it as a significant sacrifice at a time when many people are facing economic hardships.
Bua also reminded the drivers and conductors of the importance of caring for abandoned and orphaned children, noting that the infants have limited means of repaying those who support them.
His remarks highlighted the value of extending care and compassion to children who depend on others for their basic needs and protection.
Sister Calls for Greater Parental Responsibility
Meanwhile, the in-charge of Ngetta Babies Home, Sister Demmy Frances, called on parents to nurture loving relationships and take responsibility for their children to help prevent abandonment.
Sr. Demmy identified domestic violence and broken relationships as some of the factors contributing to the number of vulnerable infants brought to the facility.
She emphasised that every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving family environment rather than in institutional care.
Ngetta Babies Home has previously appealed to the public for assistance, explaining that some infants arrive in poor health after being abandoned in dangerous places, including bushes and pit latrines.
Facility Supports 37 Children
Ngetta Babies Home currently provides direct care to 10 babies within its premises, while another 27 children receive support while living outside the facility, bringing the total number of children under its care to 37.
The support extended to children living outside the home includes clothing, medical care, feeding and school fees, among other essential needs.
The Shs580,000 donation adds to the community support available to the facility as it works to meet the children’s basic needs.
The association’s pledge to continue collecting essential supplies also offers an opportunity to sustain the partnership beyond the initial fundraising effort.
The contribution serves as a reminder that collective action by transport operators, businesses, individuals and other well-wishers can help support vulnerable children and improve their welfare.
At the closing Mass of the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) on Sunday, July 26, the bishops resolved to listen to and walk with the young people in the region over the next four years.
“We love you, we believe in you, and we invite you to participate fully in the life and mission of the Church and in the life of your respective countries,” Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese, Malawi, read the communiqué issued at the end of the week-long plenary.
In his message on behalf of the Bishops, more than 15,000 young people from Kenya and across the region animated the opening Eucharistic celebration, filling the compound of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) with song.
The voice of the young people, the bishops noted, was a clarion call to Church leaders, parents and other stakeholders to create more time and space for youth participation in leadership and decision-making. The young delegates also turned the challenge on themselves, committing to remain open to learning, discerning and embracing emerging opportunities.
The bishops pointed out that the youth are God’s children who need understanding, accompaniment, deeper catechesis and holistic formation, grounded in Catholic Social Teaching and attentive to the signs of the times.
In their resolutions, the bishops committed to strengthening pastoral accompaniment and youth chaplaincies, and to deepening catechesis and faith formation explicitly including responsible engagement with Artificial Intelligence (AI), social media and other emerging digital technology. They resolved to form Catholic digital missionaries for evangelization in the digital age.
Besides, the Small Christian Communities (SCCs), which are the backbone of Church life in Eastern Africa, are to be revitalized as spaces of healing and belonging, with hybrid online communities being part of the model. The family is to be supported as the first school of faith and identity.
In their response to young people, the Church leaders said mental health and psycho-social support and services are to be expanded. Safeguarding policies, formation and youth-led accountability are also to be strengthened, with young people themselves at the forefront.
On governance, the bishops pledged to promote transparent leadership and youth co-responsibility in both Church and civic life, including creating and strengthening dedicated youth desks. While on livelihoods, they committed to investing in education, mentorship, entrepreneurship and skills development, as they resolve to deepen the shared regional spirit of collaboration and solidarity among member Conferences.
The assembly also resolved to advocate for the safe and lawful free movement of citizens within the region, to address the root causes of forced migration, and to support policies protecting migrants and refugees across the AMECEA region.
Reminding the people of God of the message from His Eminence Michael Cardinal Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Bishop Mtumbuka read that the Cardinal urged young people to embrace dialogue as an essential ingredient for fostering love, unity and peace, and for restoring trust among people and nations.
According to the Sunday communiqué, young people are not asked to wait for the Church to act on their behalf; but they are asked to sit in the rooms where decisions are made on youth desks, in accountability structures, inside the safeguarding mechanisms meant to protect young people.
Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok washes the feet of selected faithful during the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Lira, symbolizing Christ’s call to humble service.
Preaching during the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Lira, Bishop Wanok reminded the faithful that the Eucharist remains the heart of the Church’s life and the source of strength for every Christian.
By Flavia Oyuu, Communications Office, Lira Diocese
Lira, Uganda — The Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, has called on Christians to deepen their love for the Eucharist and embrace a life of humble service as the Church begins the celebration of the Sacred Triduum.
Preaching during the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Lira, Bishop Wanok reminded the faithful that the Eucharist remains the heart of the Church’s life and the source of strength for every Christian.
“The Eucharist we celebrate is not only a symbol; it is the living presence of Jesus giving himself up for us, body and blood,” the Bishop said.
Reflecting on the mystery of the Eucharist, Bishop Wanok explained that through the sacrament Christ continues to remain with His people, nourishing and uniting them as one body.
“Without the Eucharist, the Church would be lost. There is no life in a Church without the Eucharist.”
He noted that every time Christians gather for Mass they come to the table of the new covenant where Christ feeds the hungry, strengthens the weak and offers mercy to sinners.
The Holy Thursday celebration commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood, two gifts Christ entrusted to the Church during the Last Supper.
The Bishop expressed gratitude for priests who dedicate their lives to serving God’s people and reminded them that their vocation is rooted in service rather than privilege.
“Priesthood is never about privilege; it is about service. You are ordained to be a servant of every Christian.”
Drawing from the Gospel account of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, Bishop Wanok emphasized that Christian leadership must always reflect humility.
“The one who is Lord becomes a servant. The one who gives commandments kneels down in humility,” he said, adding that authority in the Church must always resemble “the towel and the basin.”
The Bishop also challenged the faithful to allow the Eucharist they receive to transform their lives by practicing forgiveness, reconciliation and charity.
“The Christian who receives communion but does not forgive, reconcile or serve others has not yet fully understood the gift.”
Speaking about the realities faced by many families, including poverty and social struggles, Bishop Wanok encouraged Christians to bring the love of Christ into their homes and communities.
“The Eucharist is not only for the sanctuary; it must reach the streets of Lira,” he said. “Every home must become Eucharistic.”
He further cautioned against acts of violence such as mob justice, urging Christians to imitate Christ’s mercy even in difficult situations.
“After meeting Christ who died for sinners, we must behave differently,” the Bishop told the congregation.
In conclusion, Bishop Wanok invited the faithful to pray for three important graces: a deeper love for the Eucharist, a renewed understanding of priesthood, and a humble spirit of service.
He encouraged families in the diocese to intentionally visit the Blessed Sacrament and strengthen their relationship with Christ.
“The Church becomes beautiful when the altar and service belong together, when worship and charity walk hand in hand.”
Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum, the most sacred period in the Catholic liturgical calendar, during which the Church commemorates the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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