UGANDA: Archbishop Appeals for Support Towards Uganda Martyrs Day Celebrations
Most Rev. John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese
As this year’s celebrations of Uganda Martyrs on June 3 approaches, the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese Most Rev. John Baptist Odama has appealed for financial support from well -wishers towards the preparations.
He made this appeal while addressing the sports fans at the closure of football encounter between the priests from the Archdiocese and Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) Fourth Division at Pece stadium in Gulu Municipality.
The sports encounter held on Saturday, April 27, was used to raise funds towards the preparations and celebrations of the Martyrs day which will be animated by Gulu Archdiocese this year.
Archbishop Odama exhorts Christians and the people of good will to continue collecting funds in a bid to facilitate the preparations and the successful actual celebrations.
Meanwhile, Monsignor Matthew Odong the Chairperson of the Central Organizing Committee for the same celebration in an exclusive telephone interview on Tuesday April 30, stressed the need for people to support the Archdiocese for the success of the celebration.
He said that Gulu Archdiocese, which was chosen last year to animate the liturgy, has drawn a budget of Uganda Shillings 900,000,000, approximately (US$245,000), to be used in the preparations and the actual celebrations.
To raise the required amount, Monsignor Odong appealed to all Christians within and outside the Archdiocese and all people of good will to contribute generously towards what he described as ‘the noble God’s project’.
“As Chairperson of the Central Organizing Committee, I appeal to you; you have always been very generous and participating in the event of Namugongo. Help Gulu Archdiocese to realize the funds needed to prepare for the celebration in honor of the holy Martyrs”, he said.
Monsignor Odong who doubles as the Rector of Sacred Heart Minor Seminary Lacor revealed that Archbishop John Baptist Odama has extended the appealed to all Catholic families within the Archdiocese, asking them to contribute a minimum of Ugsh 1000 towards the purpose.
Archbishop Odama with Gulu Vicar General
He also revealed that the Archdiocese has opened a specific account at Centenary Bank Gulu Branch with the Account number: 3100059093, account name: Archdiocese of Gulu Martyrs celebrations. He went on to say that people who may not be able to go to the bank can use the MTN mobile money by dialing *165*3# then enter the merchant code which is 142445.
By the time of this interview, over 300 pilgrims from Gulu had registered and are set to start their prayerful and meditative pilgrimage to Namugongo on the 15th May 2019, a journey of over 370 kilometres from Gulu to Kampala. They are expected to trek for two Weeks on the journey to arrive at the Martyrs shrine.
This year’s celebrations will be guided by the theme: “Obey God Always and everywhere”. Gulu Arch Diocese is in Northern Uganda. It last animated the celebrations at Namugongo in 2003 shortly after the beatification of the blessed martyrs Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa, in Rome by Pope Saint John Paul II.
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By Isaac Ojok, St. Mary’s National Seminary, Ggaba.
