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He made the call while delivering his homily during the celebration of the Solemnity of All Saints on Sunday, November 1, 2026, saying the feast reminds Christians that they are all called to live holy lives and journey together towards heaven.
By Flavia Oyuu, Communications Office, Lira Diocese
The Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, has called on Christians to embrace holiness as a daily responsibility, challenging them to demonstrate their faith through honesty, forgiveness, compassion, justice and service to others.
Bishop Wanok said holiness is not reserved for priests, religious or people officially recognised as saints by the Church, but is the calling of every baptised Christian.
He made the call while delivering his homily during the celebration of the Solemnity of All Saints on Sunday, November 1, 2026, saying the feast reminds Christians that they are all called to live holy lives and journey together towards heaven.
“The message of today’s feast is very simple. Holiness is not reserved for a few privileged people. It is not reserved for the saints, for the priests only,” the Bishop said.
He explained that through baptism, Christians are called to reflect the nature of God, adding that holiness should be evident in how people live and relate with one another.
Bishop Wanok also reminded the faithful that All Saints’ Day honours not only saints officially recognised by the Church but also countless ordinary men and women whose lives were marked by faithfulness to God, even though their names may never be known.
He said some of these holy people lived and died in ordinary communities, including villages, but their lives were characterised by a consistent desire to remain close to God.
Holiness Requires Perseverance in Difficult Times
Reflecting on the first reading from the Book of Revelation, Chapter 7, Bishop Wanok described heaven as the ultimate destination of Christians, holiness as their calling and the Beatitudes as their way of life.
He pointed to the vision of a great multitude from every nation, race and language standing before God’s throne, saying the image represents a united people free from tribal discrimination, hatred and exclusion.
He said the saints were not people who lived without suffering or temptation, but individuals who trusted in God’s grace, repented of their sins and persevered in love despite the difficulties they encountered.
The Bishop challenged Christians to remain faithful even when faced with insecurity, loss of property, hunger and other hardships, rather than resorting to practices that contradict their faith.
He expressed concern about people turning to individuals who claim to identify livestock thieves and recover stolen property through supernatural powers, saying even some baptised Christians and religious leaders were seeking their services.
Referring to the situation involving stolen livestock, including pigs, he questioned why Christians would turn to such practices instead of trusting God.
Bishop Wanok warned that seeking supernatural solutions through witchcraft, or resorting to violence and revenge, undermines the Christian calling to holiness.
He urged the faithful to persevere in prayer and love, reminding them that Christians are called to reject killing and seek peaceful ways of addressing conflicts.
Calls for Integrity in Public Service and Responsibility in Families
The Bishop further challenged public leaders, politicians and government officials to demonstrate holiness through justice, honesty and responsible service to citizens.
He condemned corruption and the practice of demanding unofficial payments for services that people are already employed and paid to provide.
He cited the demand for money from people seeking services, including interview fees charged by some schools, as examples of practices that undermine integrity and exploit members of the public.
“Even if it is little, but I accept it to be at the service of the people,” he said, urging those entrusted with public responsibility to serve honestly rather than seek unlawful personal gain.
Bishop Wanok also reminded parents that holiness begins with love, fidelity and responsibility within the family.
He challenged parents to consider not only the needs of their own children but also the welfare of their neighbours and the wider Christian community.
He encouraged families to cultivate a spirit of sharing, including setting aside food and other provisions for priests, religious and people who may not have families to support them.
The Bishop said young people, too, are called to holiness through honesty, discipline, purity of heart and rejection of destructive habits.
He urged priests and religious to embrace humility and faithful service, saying they cannot become holy by distancing themselves from the people entrusted to their care.
Calls for Peace, Forgiveness and Strong Christian Communities
Drawing from the Gospel reading on the Beatitudes, Bishop Wanok described them as a portrait of Christ and a guide to Christian living.
He encouraged Christians to practise mercy instead of revenge, sincerity instead of dishonesty, and peace instead of violence.
He particularly emphasised the responsibility of every Christian to become a peacemaker in families, communities and society.
The Bishop commended Radio Wa for its contribution to peacebuilding, recalling its role during the insurgency, and called on Christians to work together to address political and domestic violence.
He also urged the faithful to make their homes domestic churches where prayer and the Word of God are part of everyday life.
He encouraged families to have Bibles and prayer books and to pray together with their children.
Bishop Wanok further called on Christian communities to become places of mercy, solidarity and mutual protection, where members work together to address crime, violence and the needs of their neighbours.
He said every baptised Christian has a gift to contribute to the life of the Church and should actively participate in building peaceful families and communities.
Bishop Encourages Faithful to Live the Message of Our Lady of Kibeho
The Bishop also encouraged Christians to embrace the message of Our Lady of Kibeho as the Marian image continues moving from parish to parish across Lira Diocese.
The visits promote devotion to the Holy Rosary and share the message of Our Lady of Kibeho, which calls the faithful to repentance, prayer and conversion.
Bishop Wanok urged Christians not to be ashamed of expressing their devotion to Mary, saying they should remain proud of their faith even when mocked or misunderstood.
However, he cautioned against responding to those who disagree with Marian devotion through hatred, instead encouraging Christians to demonstrate their faith with humility and help others understand.
He called on the faithful to live the message through genuine conversion rather than treating the movement of the image as an event without a lasting spiritual commitment.
Eucharist and Reconciliation as Paths to Holiness
Bishop Wanok also urged Christians to nourish their spiritual lives through the Eucharist, repentance, prayer and reconciliation.
He reminded the faithful that all people are sinners and make mistakes, but God is ready to forgive those who approach Him with humility.
He particularly challenged couples to seek forgiveness and reconciliation when disagreements arise, saying building a Christian family requires God’s grace because marriage brings together two different people who must learn to live as one.
He called on Christians not to allow pride, resentment and unresolved conflicts to keep them away from God’s mercy.
The Bishop concluded by asking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of All Saints, to help the faithful persevere on the journey towards holiness.
He said the journey may be difficult, but it is possible through Christ, prayer, repentance and humility.
END
