Lira Diocese Ordains 11 Priests and Eight Deacons as Bishop Wanok Calls for Selfless Ministry Beyond Religious, Tribal and Political Divisions
The Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, has ordained 11 deacons to the priesthood and eight seminarians to the diaconate, urging them to serve all people without discrimination based on religion, tribe, or political affiliation. The ceremony, attended by cultural and government leaders, underscored the Church's role in reconciliation, community development, and poverty alleviation across Uganda's Lango sub-region.
LCC TV NEWS
LIRA, Uganda– The Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, has challenged newly ordained Catholic clergy to dedicate themselves to serving all people equally, irrespective of religion, tribe, political affiliation, social status, or background.
The Bishop delivered the exhortation during the ordination of 11 deacons to the priesthood and eight seminarians to the diaconate at Lira Cathedral on Thursday. He described the priesthood as a sacred vocation that demands humility, compassion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to God’s people.
Addressing the newly ordained priests and deacons, Bishop Wanok reminded them that they had been chosen by God to proclaim the Gospel and shepherd His flock. He urged them to carry out their pastoral ministry with love, mercy, and justice, ensuring that every person they encounter experiences God’s compassion without discrimination.
“The mission of the Church transcends religious, ethnic, and political boundaries,” Bishop Wanok asserted, calling on the clergy to become instruments of reconciliation, unity, and hope in communities grappling with social and economic challenges.
The Bishop further emphasized that the effectiveness of priestly ministry depends on complete reliance on divine guidance. He encouraged the newly ordained clergy to remain prayerful and to seek the wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling their vocation.
According to Bishop Wanok, authentic Christian ministry is demonstrated not only through preaching and administering the sacraments but also by reaching out to those living on the margins of society. He urged the priests and deacons to extend pastoral care to prisoners, the poor, the sick, widows, orphans, and all those in need of spiritual and material support, so that they may experience God’s love and become active members of His Kingdom.
Representing the Lango Cultural Institution, the institution’s paramount chief, Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune, appealed to the newly ordained clergy to strengthen collaboration with cultural leaders in promoting peace, moral values, and social harmony within the Lango sub-region. He observed that the Church and cultural institutions share a common responsibility to nurture disciplined, united, and morally upright communities. Okune commended Bishop Wanok for maintaining a cordial working relationship between the Catholic Church and the Lango Cultural Institution, noting that the partnership has contributed significantly to peaceful coexistence and community development.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Erute South, Sam Engola, praised the Catholic Church for complementing government efforts in improving the welfare of Ugandans through education, healthcare, moral formation, and community development. Engola encouraged the newly ordained priests and deacons to actively mobilize communities to embrace government development programmes, including EMYOOGA, the Parish Development Model (PDM), commercial agriculture, environmental conservation, and other poverty alleviation initiatives aimed at transforming household incomes across the Lango sub-region. He noted that religious leaders remain influential voices in society and can play a vital role in mobilizing communities to participate in programmes that improve livelihoods while promoting peace and responsible citizenship.
The colourful ordination ceremony attracted hundreds of faithful, religious leaders, government officials, cultural leaders, and invited guests from different parts of Uganda, including Arua and Nebbi, as well as pilgrims from neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania, reflecting the significance of the occasion within the Catholic Church.
The ordination marks another milestone for Lira Diocese as it continues to strengthen its pastoral mission. With the addition of the 11 newly ordained priests, the diocese now has a total of 90 priests—a development expected to enhance the delivery of sacramental and social services across the diocese and to invigorate the Church’s evangelical outreach in the region.
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