Lira Diocese gets new Bishop

PIC: Vice President Edward Ssekandi congratulates new Lira Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok moments after he was installed the 4th Bishop of Lira Catholic Diocese, looking on is the out going Bishop Joseph Franzelli.

RELIGION

Bishop Santus Lino Wanok has been consecrated the 4th and new Bishop of the Northern Catholic Diocese of Lira, since the diocese was established in 1968.

Bishop Santus Lino Wanok who has been the Bishop of Nebbi Diocese since 2011, will be replacing Bishop Joseph Franzelli who has clocked the mandatory 75-year age for retirement as a Bishop.

The colourful ceremony held under the scorching sun at the parish grounds in Lira town was presided over by the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese John Baptist Odama, attracted several hundreds of catholic faithful from Lira, Nebbi and neighbouring districts.

President Yoweri Museveni in a speech read for him by the Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, congratulated Bishop Sanctus upon his appointment as the Bishop of Lira Diocese and pledged Government support in working together towards the improvement of the wellbeing of the people in the diocese. 

The President commended the Catholic Church for being an important Ally for development saying that Uganda and Africa in general are blessed with abundant resources, good climate, sufficient rains and sunshine but the challenge is the commitment of leadership in mobilizing the people into sustainable development.

Museveni said, gone are the days when the church in Africa had to look up to foreign well-wishers and philanthropists for support and urged the church to continue sensitising people to work hard and make the church economically self-reliant beyond evangelism, teaching and discipleship saying the church cannot be self-reliant when the bulk of its flock is living in poverty.

The President acknowledged the work of the church in Lira in the area of education, health and economic development and asked the church to continue sensitising the community against corruption by teaching especially the youth to be honest, responsible and accountable for the country to raise a generation that values integrity and hard work.

The President who pledged a vehicle to the new Bishop to facilitate his movement also commended the church in Northern Uganda for supporting Government efforts in promoting peace and reconciliation in Northern Uganda also reminded the people of lira to maintain peace and security saying NRM Government shall remain focused on defending people's safety and individual freedoms.

Bishop Santus appreciated the support and the leadership that his predecessor Bishop Franzelli gave to the diocese and wished him best of luck in his retirement and urged the Christians to continue praying for him to continue being strong to offer more spiritual guidance and services to the church.

Archbishop Odama called upon the faithful in Lira Dioceses to support their new Bishop saying the divine calling has its own challenges but the leadership will always rely spiritual and the physical support of the members.

The function attended by the State Ministers Lands, Betty Amongi Ongom for Northern Uganda, Grace Kwiyucwiny, the Bishop of Arua Diocese Rev. Sabino Odoki Ocan, and several members of Parliament and local leaders from the neighbouring district