UGANDA: Your Visit is a Manifestation of God’s Love for His People, says Vicar General Lira Diocese
Vicar General Monsignor Valente Innocent Opio receiving receiving offertory during the procession
Deacon Isaac Ojok
This was the statement by the Vicar General of Lira Diocese Monsignor Valente Innocent Opio in his speech while welcoming the Apostolic Nuncio in Uganda Archbishop Luigi Bianco to Lira Diocese.
In his message, the Vicar General said the pastoral visit of the Apostolic Nuncio to Lira Diocese is a manifestation of God’s love for the people of Lango sub region as a whole and the basis for the renewal of faith, restoration of hope after the outbreak of the deadly Corona virus pandemic commonly known as Covid-19.
The Vicar General further noted that celebrating together in unity the gift of faith after a period of fifty years since the inception of Lira Diocese gives fresh memories of some outstanding contributions of the people who laid foundation in the growth and development of Lira Diocese.
He mentioned that celebrating the gift of Christian heritage together brings to mind contributions of the late bishop Caesar Asili, the first bishop of Lira Diocese and the late bishop Joseph Oyanga, the second bishop, Bishop Emeritus Joseph Franzelli whose great contribution remains bright in mind.
The Vicar General also remembered the contributions made by the late Fr Ananiah Oryang and Fr Joseph Sancti who initiated faith in the lives of people but were killed during the 1971 war.
Special thanks he extended to the current Bishop Rt. Rev Sanctus Lino Wanok for his prudent guidance, dedicated service and leadership currently impacting positively in the integral growth among the people of God.
According to Vicar General, currently the work of evangelization in Lira Diocese is being dispensed in different thematic areas including Catechesis, Education and Health Care, among others.
Apparently, the system of small Christian communities that are available is boosting the sense of cooperation, self reliance, in a way that permanent Church structures are being raised by people through resources generated locally.
He then appealed to the people to continue fostering the spirit of unity, justice and love in their communities.
Other local leaders also joined the Vicar General in thanking the Nuncio for his historic pastoral visit in Lira Diocese affirming that it shall remain significant and go down in history.
Among the local leaders who joined the vicar General in appreciating the Nuncio, is the city Mayor of Lira city Mr. Atul Sam who commended the Papal Nuncio for his great message of peace to the people.
He expressed optimism that the message of peace delivered by the Papal Nuncio will have significant impact in addressing the challenges of gender-based violence in families, teenage pregnancy and early child marriages the forces that have penetrated the society deeply.
The Mayor went on to mention that violence in families is negatively affecting lives of the people by hindering concentration in wealth creation and thus leading to economic imbalance in the society.
Mayor Atul further reaffirmed their commitment as leaders to continue guiding the people of God based on the principles of equality.
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