By Ojok Robert Mone

Agago

The bishop of Nebbi catholic diocese Rt. Rev. Rapheal Wokorach used this year`s commemoration of the martyrdom of  Blesseds Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa to call on the youth and catechists to emulate the lives of the two young catechists who willing accepted to be murdered for their faith in serving God.

Bishop Rapheal who was the main celebrant to mark 105^th martyrdom of the young catechists told the pilgrims that pilgrimage seeks solutions and this is only possible through having strong faith in God.

According to the Prelate, Gulu Ecclesiastical province is a province of Holiness tracing from St. Daniel Comboni, Blessed Daudi Okello and Jido Irwa and now Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli.


Rt. Rev. Raphael Wokorach P’Omony, Bishop Of Nebbi catholic Diocese leading commemoration mass of Blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa in Paimol

The martyrs Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa were two young catechists from Uganda at the beginning of the 20th century. They belonged to the Acholi tribe, a sub-division of the large Luo group whose members even today live mostly in the North of Uganda, but they are also present in Southern Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Congo.

They lived and were martyred in the years immediately following the foundation of the mission of Kitgum by the Comboni Missionaries in 1915. “Daudi and Jildo exhibited a strong spiritual Power worth emulating by the youth and Catechists”, the Bishop added.   

This year’s theme was “Faithfulness to the truth” that attracted more than two thousand pilgrims from Italy, dioceses of Torit, Juba, Kiyinda-Mityana, Hoima, Soroti, Kotido, Lira, Nebbi, Arua and Gulu to Wii-polo martyrs’ shrine in Agago district on the 20,October.


Some of the pilgrims praying at the tomb of the Blessed young martyrs.
 
The Rector of Paimol martyrs’ said truth and faith earned Daudi and Jildo to gain courage to evangelize the universal church of resisting pressure from those opposed to their faith.

Pius Opiyo a youth from St. Mauritz parish has so far made pilgrimage 3-times have had his prayers answered starting with quest for school fees, this time round he is praying for peace and unity in their family.

The Archbishop of Gulu Dr. John Baptist Odama challenges Christians to be good pilgrims towards sanctity like those of St. Daniel Comboni, Blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa together with Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli among others. 

The Bishop of Kotido diocese Dominic Eibu and ordinary of Arua Sabino Ocan Odoki were part of the pilgrims who came for the prayer. Next year Diocese of Kotido shall animate the mass to mark 106-Martrydom of Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa.

COVER PHOTO: Pilgrims at Wipolo Martyrs shrine in Agago District By Ojok Robert Mone