UGANDA: Lira Diocese to Celebrate 55 Years of Existence
Lira Cathedral-Uganda
Fr. Isaac Ojok
Preparations are under way in Uganda’s Lira Diocese to mark the 55th Anniversary of the since its inception as an independent Church governance and independent structure from Gulu Diocese on 12th July 1968.
The celebrations scheduled for 15th July 2023 will be guided under the theme ‘Participation, Communion and Mission’ drawn from that of the Synod of bishops.
At the moment, the Central Organizing Committee (COC) and the sub committees have been formed to steer the preparations in mobilizing resources among others in a move to have successful celebrations.
Similarly, arrangements are being made at various levels among the different categories of groups, associations and movements within the church to ensure that success is registered.
Meanwhile, the Vicar General of Lira Diocese Monsignor Valente Innocent Opio disclosed that as part of the spiritual preparations, Christians are being taken through different Sacraments like the Sacrament of penance and others to enable them understand the love of God upon them.
Additionally, the Vicar General further noted that Christians are also working hard to collect their resources and put towards the construction of the bishop’s house, a sign that they have understood their roles as laity in the church.
The Vicar General went on to say, during this time as a diocese, it is paramount to remember the special contributions made and roles played by the founding bishops towards the growth and development in catechesis and other sectors.
The founding bishops since 1968 on 12th July when Lira diocese was erected out of Gulu Diocese are Rt. Rev Caeser Asili (RIP) as its first bishop, and followed by Rt Rev Joseph Oyanga (RIP) the second bishop, Rt Rev Paul Kalanda (RIP) as Apostolic Administrator, Rt. Rev Joseph Franzelli (MCCJ) now bishop Emeritus and the current Ordinary Rt Rev Sanctus Lino Wanok, the fourth bishop of Lira diocese respectively.
This time, preparations to mark 55th anniversary of Lira Diocese has come at the time when there is construction of the bishop’s house, a mega project being embraced by the Christians in the diocese.
Commemorating diocesan anniversary will be integrated with the fundraising drive and the different political, civil, cultural and other dignitaries have been invited to support to drive that is geared towards the construction of the bishop’s house.
According to the Vicar General, celebrating diocesan anniversary is a moment of reflection on the growth and development of the diocese in different sectors of health, education, social development, economic transformation of the lives of people of God in Lira diocese.
In that way, the Christian community in the diocese are equally grateful to God and to bishop for the new parishes that are being created amidst the growth in population of Christians to ensure services are extended to them.
Apparently, there are 25 parishes and 7 sub parishes spread in the ten political districts in Lango sub-region respectively and these are coming up following the pastoral need arising from the population spread in the juridical administration of Lira diocese.
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