From medical care at the many of the health facilities it owns, to evangelization and education, the Catholic Church in Gulu has begun preparations to celebrate one hundred years of service to the community.
Angelo Banya, one of the Christians in the archdiocese admits that the church has had immense impact in his life, saying that he and his family members all got education from the missionary-established schools and continue to access medical care from the many hospitals run y the church.
Banya said it was important for Christians to take the opportunity to reflect on the contributions that church has had in their lives. He said he was looking forward to the centenary celebration to honor the contribution of he church in his life.
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Monsignor Mathew Odong, the vicar general of Gulu archdiocese explains that the church has a duty to ensure and preserve the total wellbeing of a person. With reference to the Uganda’s anthem that acknowledges God, the prelate said it is important to dedicate thanks giving for man’s wellbeing.
He said the church has more duty to a person’s social and economic status than merely preaching about the spiritual life. He decried the current violence surrounding the opposition protests at the rising cost of living saying abuse of office was the cause of most problems involving leaders.
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Odong said the centenary celebration to take place on May 21 at St Joseph Cathedral in Gulu is expected to cost 168 million shillings with over 3,000 guests expected from around and outside the diocese.
He explained that the Catholic Church has grown over the years since February 1911 when the first missionaries set foot in Gulu after entering Uganda though Sudan. Odong said that besides the infrastructural development attributed to the church; many people have been ordained priests, bishops while many got converted to Christianity.
Gulu like other areas has many prestigious health and educational institutions, which are owned by the Catholic Church. They include St Mary’s hospital Lacor, St Joseph College, Layibi and Negri College that has educated and treated many.
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