By Godwin Abedican

Arua

The association of the old boys of St. Joseph’s college Ombaci on Wednesday June 14^th organized a quiz competition for schools under the catholic diocese of Arua in preparation for the celebrations of the life of the late Fr.  Antonio Solcia, a former Chaplain at the school between 2005 and 2008. Born on the 18.7.1936, at Trezzano Rosa, in the Archdiocese of Milano (Italy), Fr. Solcia was ordained a priest on the 18.3.1961.

After ordination he was sent to Uganda (1962-1981). He spent two years in Kenya (1981-1983) and returned to Uganda (1983-1999). Later, he was requested to work in the Generalate of the Comboni Missionaries for two years in Rome (1999-2001). He again returned to Uganda (2001-2017); He left for Italy in the year 2017 where he lived till his last day. Fr. Solcia died on the night of March 24^th 2023 at 11 Pm.

Fr. Solcia, a highly disciplined and kind Priest of the Comboni Missionaries took his life to spread the Gospel, teach and groom youthful students of St. Joseph's College Ombaci in the District of Arua (the greater Arua community then) into good adults while serving as the school chaplain between 2005 and 2008 and he was the brain behind the Christian Religious Education (CRE) in the diocese.

The late is remembered by the old boys of the great collage as one who mentored many while a patron at the school and hence the need to remember him.
Given his massive contribution towards the lives of many former students of the school, the Old boys of the school deemed it necessary to organize a CRE quiz competition in conjunction with the education department of the diocese for schools across the diocese focusing on general knowledge of the bible, knowledge of Uganda martyrs, Local churches, the diocese and other common issues of faith.

The quiz organized on Wednesday 14^th June 2023 at youth center Ediofe for primary, secondary and Tertiary institutions within the diocese follows invitations to schools that attended the interschool’s Martyrs day celebrations which took place on the 3^rd of June at St. Kizito Orphans Primary school in which 2 learners were to particiapte per school.

Speaking to Radio Pacis, Noel Ayikobua, the chairperson St. Josephs College Ombaci Old Boys association says, it’s important for them as former students who learnt from Fr. Solcia to encourage other learners to copy what they were taught. “The purpose of this activity is to celebrate the life of Fr. Solcia who made a lot of contributions in the lives of so many young people and even old people within the diocese. So this activity came as a result of the activities he did in the diocese”.  

The quiz about general knowledge of the bible, knowledge of Uganda martyrs, Local churches, the diocese  and other common issues of faith saw Canon Francis from Ediofe boys who scored 82 closely followed by Fetaru Caroline from Ekarakafe primary school with 80 marks as winners from the primary section, while for the secondary schools, the best two students all came from St. Charles Lwanga college Koboko with Arobe Vincent Friday and Abeson Alex scoring 68 and 62 respectively and From the tertiary institutions only Arua Technical Institute Ragem turned up and Acema Samuel led with 72 while Akidi Gloria came second best with 62.

According to Gloria Akidi, a student from Arua technical Institute Ragem who participated in the quiz, her problem was the lack of general knowledge about the diocese. She says it was very difficult for her to handle some of the questions since her parents have not been setting her the right catholic foundation needed. “I wouldn’t be in a catholic religion this far only because of the tough two brothers I have who really squeezed me and brought me back. But sometimes also, I blame my parents because since I was born, I have never studied in a secondary school. Ragem is my first catholic school and Ragem is the first school from which I wore a rosary,” she said.

Eric Candia a teacher at Ekarakafe primary school appeals to the education department in the diocese to make deliberate efforts towards mainstreaming CRE in the schools across the dioceses. “If these quizzes will be done at least once in a year if not at diocesan level, take them to the deanery level so that we can get more and more knowledge and begin to prosper,” Candia urged.

Sr. Joyce Abidru from missionary sisters of Mary mother of the church and a CRE teacher at Ediofe Boys primary school notes that, without the teachers fully understanding the practices of the church, they have nothing to give the learners ”It is the duty of the teachers also to teach them especially on the issues of faith and particularly like this one of the diocese. So, we have a lot to do and I cannot as a teacher deliver this message properly when I am not deeply rooted in the catholic faith especially in this universal church” Sr. Abiduru said.  

According to Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Asega the education secretary of Arua diocese, this initiative by the old boys will be sustained for better religious education in the diocese. “As a department and more so a department within the catholic faith, our main focus is to improve on the integral education of the learners of which the virtues and values of Christ are very key components on the personality or character formation of the learners, so since Fr. Solcia was particular on that, we thought it is important that we continue his legacy through improving religious education of the learners and teachers in our schools,” he said.    

The best 5 students two from primary and from secondary and the 2 from the tertiary institution shall be presented awards by the old boys of the school during the memorial mass on Saturday 17^th June 2023.

COVER PHOTO: The Participants in the Quiz in a group photo with their Teachers. Extreme right is Noel Ayikobua the OBs Chairperson By Godwin Abedican