Celebration as Gulu High gets a bus

Ululation, dancing and jumping filled the air as students of Gulu High School receives the long awaited School bus. The Isuzu bus arrived in the School on Friday 4th October 2013. A short prayer of dedication was done at the School led by Bishop Johnson Gakumba, assisted by the Chaplain of the School Rev. Jane Todera and the Vicar st.Philips Rev. James Okaka.
 According to the Headteacher of the School Ocan David, the bus was bought at a total cost of 340 million Uganda Shillings and that 44% of the money came from the School while 66% was bank loan to be paid within a period of three to four years.
The District Education Officer Rev. Vincent Oceng Ocen said the bus must be used for:-taking the students for study tour, sports activities, and other co-curricular activities. The DEO also said  the bus must take staff for retreat and also other people can hire inorder to offset the loan.  One of the student said " Now we can also be consider among the big schools"

St.Philips Cathedral under renovation after 100 years

Bishop Johnson, Rev. James Okaka and Rev. Patrick Lumumba

Western Side of the Cathedral

One hundred years down the road St.Philips Cathedral was build by missionaries of the CMS  in partnership with the Christians. The Church remained in that state with very little renovation done. Right now the Cathedral is under renovation and the old iron sheets are being removed.

The process of removing the iron sheets going on

I spoke to the  Vicar of St.Philips Cathedral who said " Cwinya yom pi gin ma Lubanga tye ka tiyo ne ,Lubanga otiyo me aura" meaning I am happy for what God is doing. He continued to said that the Bishop has a special gift of building Churches. He then appealed to the Christians to mobilise themselves to start building a modern Cathedral, saying this one is being renovated to help for the time being. According to the Bishop of the Diocese Johnson Gakumba, the renovation is a result of support from Friends of St.Philips who are outside Uganda.  According to the foreman I found on the ground the renovation work is due to take a maximum two months. There is plan to celebrate Centenary of St.Philips Cathedral this year in December. 

Vicar St.Philips Cathedral

Many are Baptised, Confirmed but disapear Said Bishop

Some of the students of WDC confirmed by Bishop Johnson

Sunday 29 September Bishop Johnson Gakumba confirmed 51 Candidates at Bungatira Church of Uganda. Among those confirmed included 13 students of Women Development Centre. While speaking to them the Bishop Said " We have Baptised and Confirmed so many, but after sometime you do not find them in the Church"  He then appealed to the newly confirmed to play their roles of  being: Choir, preachers, teachers,
ushers, cleaners, and any other responsibility that may be assigned to them.

Rev. Sandra Earixson  participated in the service

During the function the Bishop also urged Christian to complete the church building which has been there for close to 10 years. He challenged the Christian to finished the church within one year. Many Christians came forward pledging to support the completion of the church.  The local leaders appealed to the parents to allow the girl child to stay in School. They noted with sadness that so many young girls leave school and elope, subsequently becoming child mothers.

On Saturday 28th September I had time with orphans who are at the Fathers House in St.Philips Cathedral Gulu. The centre came as a result of

Rev.Willy Akena in a group photo with children at the Fathers House

local initiative and support from Global Orphan. During my visit, I found 33 children under the care of mothers. The children welcome me very well, some of them were taking bath after working together with the mothers in harvesting beans which they planted in their garden at the Diocesan Farm.  These children needs your prayers and support inorder for them to grow into mature responsible citizens of the country.

Ordination of Priests and Deacons

Many things went on in the Diocese of Northern Uganda, the Diocese ordained six deacons and priested two clergy. The Deacons are: Acaye Godfrey, Alanyo Jackline, Opio Godfrey, Olara Collins Oyo, Sandra Earixson, and Nyek Siomon Peter. While the Deacons who where priested are: Emmily Wilson and Nyeko Robert Luku.
We also hosted the retired Bishop of Northern Uganda Rt Rev. Dr. Benoni Ogwal Obwang the mission of the Bishop was Peace and Reconciliation. Many people where able to reconcile with one another. More to come Pray also for the Diocesan Secretary who is due to retire in December. Very exciting activities at the Women Development Centre -details coming shortly