UGANDA: Lira Diocese Eulogize Late Father Sebhatleab Ayele as Icon of Faith
Fr. Isaac Ojok
Lira Diocese has eulogized the late Fr. Sebhatleab Ayele Tesemma of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) as an icon of faith whose life has left significant impact among the Christians in Lira Diocese.
The lay Christian leaders in their remarks on the occasion of the funeral of late Fr Sebhatleab Ayele, noted that they learnt and experienced what it means to be a leader in the church through the life and works of the late Fr Sebhatleab Ayele.
In the Eucharistic celebration led by the Bishop of Lira Diocese Rt. Rev Sanctus Lino Wanok, the late Fr. Sebhatleab Ayele has been commended for his love for the people especially the poor and the marginalized children from poor families he supported in the educating them.
He has also been further eulogized for his contribution in the formation of Catechists and other Pastoral agents in Lira diocese and beyond mainly at the time when he was the director of St John Bosco Catechetical Pastoral Center Ngetta in Lira, the house of formation for Catechists from July 1st 1998 to 30th February 2004.
Using his immense wealth of experience and specialization in Pastoral Ministry, Christians further noted that Fr Sehabatleab Ayele will be remembered for the legacy when he guided and animated the lives of the youth and young people in Lira diocese, the work he very much loved and accomplished fervently.
At the peak of the insurgency of the Lord’s Resistance Army of Joseph Kony (LRA) in Northern Uganda, late Fr Sehabatleab Ayele offered comfort to the war victims especially the elderly, women and children the work which many will live to remember him for.
In his homily during the Eucharistic celebration the Bishop of Lira diocese said late father Sabhatleab Ayele lived as a prophet who sacrificed his life as a faithful missionary who rejected to be compromised for the truth.
Bishop Wanok said Fr. Sabhatleab who hailed from Eritrea endured all difficulties back at home and remained a dedicated priest who never kept quite over the truth to the extent that he was denied from visiting Eritrea his own country of origin.
He said by the Grace of God, late Fr. Sabhatleab Ayele found a new home in Uganda which he very much loved and where he finally got rested at Ngetta in Lira diocese.
Bishop Wanok further challenged the congregation that included many members from the Eritrean community to walk in the footsteps of Fr. Sabhatleab who did not live for himself but first for Christ who died for all humanity and for the people he served passionately.
He urged priests and Religious who were present to remain focused and firmed in their priestly ministry following the example portrayed by late Fr Sebhatleab Ayele who dedicated his life even in the face of difficulties from his own country of origin.
He went on to thank the Comboni Missionaries for planting the seed of faith in Northern Uganda and the region at large and pledged total support to the Comboni Missionaries serving in Lira diocese for the success of the ministry of Christ and for the common good of the people of God.
Late Fr. Sehabatleab Ayele was ordained a priest on 16th May, 1982 and was assigned to Uganda in Lira diocese particularly at Aliwang Parish where he served as Curate. He was then transferred to Aber Mission as Parish Priest and the local Superior of the Comboni community from 1st July 1984 to 30th June 1986.
While in Uganda despite numerous responsibilities outside, Fr. Sehabatleab was also entrusted with the responsibility as administrator of Leadership Magazine at the same time serving as Superior of the Comboni community in Kampala Uganda, assisting the Eritrean community in Kampala who were made up of refugees.
Late Fr Sehabatleab Ayele died from Nairobi Kenya on 16th December 2022 and the body was ferried to Uganda and buried in Lira diocese a place where he served for a number of years as a priest.
It was on Thursday 22nd December 2022 late Fr Sebhatleab was buried at Cemetery where Blessed Giuseppe Ambrozoli was temporarily buried before the remains were relocated to Sacred Heart of Jesus Kalongo Mission in Gulu Archdiocese.
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