UGANDA: Central Theme in My Coat of Arms is “Console My People,” says Bishop Elect of Kotido Diocese
Fr. Isaac Ojok
The Bishop Elect of Uganda’s Kotido Diocese Monsignor Dominic Eibu (MCCJ) who was appointed by Pope Francis in the month of October 2022 has explained the central theme in his Coat of Arms as “Console My People”, a significant theme showing God’s presence amongst His people as the source of hope and consolation.
In an interview with AMECEA Online correspondent on Thursday 29th December 2022, he mentioned that he used the same theme during his ordination to priesthood and that he thought it is timely that the theme will be more relevant in the lives of the people he is going to shepherd in Kotido Diocese.
The Bishop Elect who is also a member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) further went on to explain that the theme chosen is also an indication that with God, everything can be made possible, sharing that the theme depicts that his presence is a sign that the people he is going to serve as a bishop are loved and that their story can change with presence of God among them.
He went on to explain other features like the Cross, Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Eucharist in his Episcopal Coat of Arms with particular meaning that will guide him in his ministry as a bishop.
Beginning with the Cross, he said it is a point where our redemption originated from because of the death of Jesus on the Cross and it is the center of our salvation.
He added that on the Cross, we find the gift of life, forgiveness of sins, hope and Mother Mary that Jesus Christ offered to people while on the Cross.
The second symbol is the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove taken as the protagonist of the mission of the church when we cooperate, we receive many gifts like that of wisdom, courage, and others that can only come to be realized later like peace and others that empowers the people to be confident in the church’s mission as Christ promised that the Holy Spirit the Father will send in His name, will be with the people forever and will teach and remind them all He taught as we find in the Gospel of John 14:26.
According to Monsignor Eibu the Bishop elect, the third symbol in his Coat of Arms is the Eucharist with its significance of being the center of the Mission because our life as Christians is rooted in the Eucharistic since Christ promised that those who partake His Body and Blood will have life, the reason why celebrating the Eucharist with devotion, Eucharistic adoration, love and faithfulness to the mission in the church will be the center of his ministry as a bishop.
He further informed AMECEA Online correspondent that following the spirituality of Comboni Missionaries, he has chosen the symbol of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that shows the passion, the love our Savior has for humanity, the same love he expects to help him embrace people of all walks of life in his ministry as a bishop with zeal, and strength from Christ in the Eucharist and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
When asked to share how he will start his pastoral ministry in Kotido diocese, he responded by saying, at the moment there may be many needs in the diocese, but that what is important is for people to be taught to know how to live their Christian faith in unity with one another in God.
The Bishop elect who will be consecrated and enthroned on 14th January 2023 disclosed that with the faith in God and cooperation from the people, the flock should be ready to move as a family because God knows how to guide His people in every step they take in their Christian life.
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