PAPAL NUNCIO COMMENDS BISHOP SABINO’S INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP ON HIS 20TH EPISCOPAL ANNIVERSARY

His excellence most rev. Thomaz Grysa, the Papal Nuncio to Uganda co-celebrated mass with Bishop Odoki at the cathedral, Ediofe. Photo//Erema

By Erema George

Arua

The Bishop Ordinary of Arua Diocese, Rt. Rev. Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki, has been commended for his inclusive leadership style, continuously fostering unity, peace, and sustainable development across Arua diocese and beyond.

Preaching at his 20^th Episcopal Anniversary mass at Ediofe cathedral this morning, the newly appointed Papal Nuncio to Uganda, His excellence most rev. Thomaz Grysa highlighted the bishop’s steadfast commitment to uniting the church. He noted that Bishop Odoki has centered his two decades of episcopal ministry on the principles emphasized by Pope Leo XIII, specifically focusing on working in close collaboration with both the religious clergy and the laity;

“For twenty years, bishop Sabino has labored to build up the body of Christ. We see this in his tireless focus on pastoral growth and spiritual formation evidenced by his continuous work to expanding the pastoral workforce, ordaining priests and deacons and establishing new parishes. He has not worked alone, he has equipped you the holy ones,” The Nuncio said.

In his sermon, the Papal Nuncio specifically commended Bishop Odoki for his active role in promoting regional peace and extending crucial services to displaced populations. He lauded the Bishop for giving tangible hope to refuge seekers within the West Nile refugee settlements by directly expanding diocesan social, pastoral, and healthcare outreach to camp communities;

“This region has open heartedly received hundreds of thousands of brothers fleeing conflicts in the neighboring countries. Bishop Odoki’s chaplaincy in cooperation with so many priests and religious has dug deep into the dry soil of displacement establishing chaplaincies, building schools and ensuring that the sacraments and consolations of the church reach the massive settlements of west Nile. By bringing Christ’s presence directly into the hearts of the camps, your bishop has transformed the spaces of loss into sanctuaries of hope,” he added.

Furthermore, the Nuncio celebrated Arua Diocese as a benchmark for financial integrity under Bishop Odoki’s stewardship. He commended the diocese’s commitment to transparency and accountability—echoing the Holy See’s recent formal recognition of the diocese for its fiscal responsibility and consistent revenue surpluses;

“Furthermore, the stewardship has been validated not just in spiritual harvest but in exemplary temporal accountability. When a shepherded is rooted in Christ, his stewardship bares fruits that are visible, transparent and transformative.” The nuncio added.

While the government of Uganda recognized the service of churches in promoting the welfare of the communities in the country through President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s message delivered by the Second Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dr. Crispus Walter Kiyonga who is the vice chancellor of Makerere University;

“Your twenty years of service reminds us that leadership is fundamentally about responsibility, sacrifice and service to others. The office of a bishop carries a special responsibility to guide the faithful, strengthen the church, encourage families, comfort those in distress, and promote the values of love, forgiveness, justice and reconciliation. The government recognizes and appreciates the role of churches and other religious institutions in running schools, health facilities, charitable organizations and community development programs.” Kiyonga explained.

The Second Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dr. Crispus Walter Kiyonga (LEFT) who is the vice chancellor of Makerere University who represented the President at the celebration delivering president’s message before the gathering, standing right is Hon. Minister. Alero Tom Aza also West Moyo Member of Parliament. Photo//Erema George

Under the stewardship of Rt. Rev. Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki, the Catholic Diocese of Arua operates a structured, multi-sector network of spiritual, social, and humanitarian services.

These initiatives are managed through dedicated diocesan departments and Caritas Arua Diocese, directly benefiting millions of residents and displaced populations across the West Nile region.

Rt. Rev. Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki’s priesthood journey is a distinguished 43-year trajectory marked by academic distinction, major seminary leadership, and impactful episcopal governance.

Born in Gulu in 1957, he completed his major seminary formation at Katigondo and Ggaba before being ordained a priest in 1983, later earning a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

After serving a decade as the Rector of Alokolum National Major Seminary, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Gulu in 2006, eventually stepping in as the Apostolic Administrator of Arua Diocese in 2009.

Formally installed as the Bishop Ordinary of Arua on December 18, 2010, under the motto “Rooted in Christ’s Love,” he has spent the last two decades transforming the diocese into a benchmark for financial integrity while aggressively expanding its pastoral workforce to 200 priests across 63 parishes and championing vital humanitarian, educational, and healthcare services for local and refugee communities across West Nile.

Celebrated under his episcopal motto “Rooted in Christ’s Love”, the high-profile celebration drew a vast congregation of faithful, dignitaries, and leaders from within Arua diocese, west Nile region, Uganda and abroad.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis