Soroti diocese opens new catholic parish in Katakwi district
Nov 13, 2023
“By the law of the church, I hereby erect a new parish, carving it from St. Ann’s catholic parish Usuk and confer on it the title of St. Peter Claver catholic parish Ongongoja,” the bishop said.
Joseph Eciru Oliach, Bishop of Soroti diocese and Jessica Alupo, Vice President during the opening .
Michael Odeng
Journalist @New Vision
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Soroti Catholic diocese on Sunday opened St. Peter Claver Catholic Parish-Ongongoja to extend services to the people of Katakwi district. This becomes the seventh catholic parish in the district.
The new parish has been carved out of St. Ann’s catholic parish Usuk.
According to Rev. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach, the Bishop of Soroti diocese, Usuk had pastorally and administratively proven wide and growing thus deeming it opportune to erect a new parish to bring services closer to the people of God.
“By the law of the church, I hereby erect a new parish, carving it from St. Ann’s catholic parish Usuk and confer on it the title of St. Peter Claver catholic parish Ongongoja,” the bishop said.
Eciru said St. Peter Claver catholic parish will constitute a parish pastoral council and finance council under the norms of the universal and pastoral law.
He made the remarks while presiding over the sanctification of the newly opened St. Peter Claver parish, consecration, and installation of Rev. Fr. Edmund Anyutu as the pioneer parish priest.
The function was attended by Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, who doubles as Katakwi district Woman Member of Parliament.
Others in attendance included; Rose Lily Akello, minister in charge of Ethics and integrity, Usuk County MP Bosco Okiror, and Toroma County MP. Joseph Andrew Koluo, the district Chairman Geoffrey Omolo, and RDC Maj. Godfrey Katamba among other guests.
In her remarks the vice president congratulated Christians of Ongongoja upon this achievement and thanked Bishop Eciru for the choice of name given to the mission, (St Peter Claver Catholic Parish).
Alupo appealed to locals to fulfill the seven sacraments which include: baptism, Holy Eucharist, confirmation, penance, anointing of the sick, Holy matrimony, and Holy Orders.
“I will be happy, to hear that Christians of St Peter's Clever have turned up for sacraments in big numbers,” the vice president said. She advised the locals to always seek advice from the parish priest.
Alupo applauded and thanked the residents who offered their land for the construction of the church mission.
“I want to thank you for your contribution of cows, hens, goats, and food for building the mission. We have contributed equally,” she said.
Alupo thanked Rev. Fr. Anyutu, the new parish priest of St. Peter Claver -Ongongoja for his ability, knowledge, energy, and pastoral hard work.
“You have given us the best. I thank all the parish priests for guiding us through their daily services,” she said. She appealed to Christians to organise the official homecoming of the new priest.
She thanked Pope Francis for giving them Bishop Eciru to head Soroti Diocese and asked the prelate to kindly extend their greetings to the pope.
Alupo appealed to the parents to consider taking their children to technical schools, in addition to tertiary institutions.
She lauded security organs, commanders, and their troops for fighting cattle rustling and thefts in the Karamoja and Teso sub-regions.
“For the last four months, the Teso sub-region has been so peaceful. We have not experienced any cattle thefts and I commend our security organs for pacifying the region,” Alupo said.
She appealed to church leaders to keep preaching about the parish development model and the dangers of bush burning. She also urged parents to love each other to combat the looming domestic violence.
On behalf of the family Epel George William, the vice president contributed a cow for bishop Eciru and a heifer for the new priest.
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