Uganda Episcopal Conference

‘Never feel ashamed to pray in difficult times’
Prayer a ray of light in darkness
Pope Francis said the prayer of supplication is “very human”.

He said at some point in everyone’s life the illusion of self-sufficiency crumbles. “The human being is an invocation, that at times becomes a cry, often withheld.”

We all experience loneliness or sadness, he said. The Bible does not shy away from showing humanity at its weakest, when sickness, injustice, or betrayal seem to win out.

“At times it seems that everything collapses, that the life lived so far has been in vain. In these seemingly hopeless situations, there is only one way out: the cry, the prayer ‘Lord, help me!’. Prayer can open up a sliver of light in the densest darkness.”

His Grace Jame Odongo, Archbishop Emeritus of Tororo was laid to rest on Wednesday 9th Dec 2020 at the grounds of Uganda Martyrs Cathedral- Nyangole.
His Grace Emmanuel Obbo of Tororo led the Mass assisted by His Grace J B Odama, Rt Rev C M Wamika, Rt Rev Joseph Eciru, and Rt Rev Sabino O. Odoki. The priests, religous men and women and the laity all accompanied the late to his resting place.
Thanks to all for prayers and support to His Grace throughout his life, in sickness till his befitting farewell.
Rest in peace.

Prayer for Thursday, December 10

Act of Love
O my God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul, because you are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.
We wish you a happy day.

[12/09/20]   During the funeral Mass of His Grace James Odongo, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Tororo , on Wednesday December, 9 , 2020, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta delivered a befitting Homily at the Grounds of Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Nyangole, Archdiocese of Tororo.

Your Excellencies,
My brothers and sisters.
It is my esteemed privilege to preach the homily on this sad occasion, when we bid farewell to one of the icons of the Catholic Church in Uganda. I thank the Archbishop of Tororo Archdiocese, His Grace Emmanuel Obbo, for considering me fit for this task. Like Shakespeare, in his Book Julius Caesar, “I come to bury Archbishop James Odongo, not to praise him. The evil that men do live after them. The good is oft interred with their bones.”
After nearly 64 years as a priest and 55 years as bishop, almost reaching 90 years in March 2021, Archbishop James Odongo has truly lived as a shepherd of the multicultural mosaic of many tribes in Tororo Archdiocese.
We have come to give him a honourable send off and to celebrate his life, and, at the same time, wish him safe journey to eternity, where in the word of the book of Revelation, he will enjoy the vision of God with throngs of people from all the nations (Rev. 4:1ff), and, in Christ’s words, join the heavenly wedding banquet (Mt. 22:1-14).
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, eternal life has been promised to Archbishop James Odongo and to each one of us. This promise, although a free gift on the part of our Creator and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, obliges us to fulfill certain conditions as a sign of our acceptance and commitment. The scriptures challenge us that if we are to attain heaven we must:
• leave everything and follow the Lord as shown in the story of the rich young man (Lk. 18:18-30);
• carry the cross and follow Jesus (Mt. 16:24);
• love others and feed them, clothe them, empathize with them in their pain and suffering, and make them welcome when they are strangers because they represent Christ’s own situation (Mt. 25:31-46);
• turn the other cheek when we are struck (Mt. 5:9; Lk. 6:29);
• forgive seventy times seven (all the time) (Mt. 18:22), and as Jesus himself forgave his tormentors on the cross (Lk. 23:34);
• proclaim the kingdom of God, teach and baptise in the name of Christ (Mt. 28:19);
• witness Christ’s death and resurrection (Acts 1:5-8);
• welcome the kingdom like little children (Lk. 18:16; Mt. 19:14);
• witness the truth by the power of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:12-15; Mt. 10:19; Mk. 13:11);
• reconcile with others by preaching and living peace (Mt. 5:9; 23-25);
• totally give ourselves to God (Lk. 6:38; Mk. 4:24);
• be the light and the salt of the earth, that is, exemplary in our Christian living (Mt. 5:13ff);
• utilize our talent to the full in the service of the kingdom of God and of our neighbour, regardless whether we were given one, two or five talents (Mt. 25:14-30);
• live wisely, as illustrated in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Mt. 25:1-13), in other words, be awake in the service of the Lord because we can correctly interpret the signs of the times (Mat 16:1-4; Mk. 13:32-37; Mt. 26:40);
• search the lost sheep and gently return them to the fold, and bandage their wounds (Lk. 15:1-7; Jn. 10:16);
• live the beatitudes and respond to the call to holiness (Eph. 1:1; 4:17-32 and other letters of St Paul; 1 Pet. 2:9); and,
• express our faith in practice by serving others (Jas. 2:17).
The scriptures above, and many others, provide important yardsticks for all of us believers, including Archbishop James Odongo, for attaining the reward of heaven. Throughout his life, since he became priest in 1956 and, later, bishop and archbishop, James Odongo strived to live by the above divine standards. He demonstrated it in his zeal to promote the different ministries of Christ in Tororo Archdiocese. He promoted the healing ministry by supporting the establishment of health centres; the ministry of the poor by establishing a home for orphans and persons with disabilities; and the ministry of children by establishing schools with strong Catholic values, for he believed that education without religion created devils. Above all, Archbishop Odongo, was committed to protecting and promoting the prophetic ministry of the Church. Accordingly, he promoted vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and, as a good shepherd, he cared for and trusted his priests, and always gave them the opportunity to defend themselves whenever they made mistakes. He always encouraged them to be good generals, in order for the church to have good soldiers of Christ. He was convinced there were no bad soldiers, but bad generals.
Archbishop James Odongo will also be remembered for protecting and upholding the orthodoxy of the Catholic Church and of the Gospels (Gal 1:8; 2 Cor. 11:4). Among his wise sayings, there is a quote from an old protestant song dated 1873, which goes “Give me that old time religion…It's good enough for me, Makes me love everybody…It was good for Hebrew children. And it's good enough for me….” This is not to say that Archbishop Odongo was not open to modifications in the traditions and practices of the Catholic Church. Rather, as a believer in inculturation, adopted by Vatican II Council, which he attended, he always wanted such changes to be informed and directed by the fundamental tenets of our faith and of the teaching of the Church.
At a personal level, Archbishop Odongo lived a life characterized by simplicity; care of neighbour and willingness to give to others without the right hand knowing. He was kind and extroverted and cared more for others than for himself, as characterized by his signature greeting “Hi…”, and when asked how he felt, he would respond: “Am well and a champion without record.”
Archbishop also believed that laughter was the best medicine and encouraged people to laugh. He loved a cheerful heart.
He cherished truth and believed that a lie could not go far because it walked on crutches.”
Dear brothers and sisters, most importantly, and true to his vocation, Archbishop James Odongo, was a man of prayer. He cherished the liturgy (the Holy Mass and Breviary), the Rosary, and the reading of the Bible and spiritual writings. He was a good spiritual counsellor who helped many people, lay, religious and priests, to overcome their existential problems.
Archbishop James valued the role of the laity in the church. He encouraged them to be leaders and members of the parish councils, always emphasizing that the church was theirs, that without them the church was not. This is illustrated in his pastoral plan, titled “Marching into the Year 2000 in Faith, Hope and Charity”, as well as the proceedings of the Synod of 2000.
The life of Archbishop Odongo can, therefore, be described as a life well lived, a life lived for God and for humanity. In this way, he has left a legacy for his successors, the clergy, the religious men and women and the laity. His life is an illustration of the fact that if we put God at the centre of our lives and plans, we can do a lot to transform the world and win it for Christ. I exhort you, therefore, to follow his philosophy which is embedded in his Episcopal Coat of Arms “Adiuva Nos Deus Salutis Nostrae” (help us, God our salvation)
At this juncture, I invite all of us to applaud Archbishop James Odongo for his selfless service to the Church and the people of God, and for providing us with many useful lessons from his personal life (congregation stands up and claps). As Christians who believe in the resurrection, we know he has gone to be with the Lord. Let us pray for him, and for ourselves that when that time comes, we too will be found ready to embrace Christ as he truly is (1 Cor. 13:12).
May the almighty God grant him the crown he has worked for all his life. With St Paul we say, he has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7).

May the soul of Archbishop James Odongo rest in eternal peace!
Amen.
A

Pope Francis proclaims “Year of St Joseph”
With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from today, 8 December 2020, to 8 December 2021.
A beloved, tender, obedient father
Saint Joseph, in fact, “concretely expressed his fatherhood” by making an offering of himself in love “a love placed at the service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home,” writes Pope Francis, quoting his predecessor St Paul VI.

And because of his role at “the crossroads between the Old and New Testament,” St Joseph “has always been venerated as a father by the Christian people” (PC, 1). In him, “Jesus saw the tender love of God,” the one that helps us accept our weakness, because “it is through” and despite “our fears, our frailties, and our weakness” that most divine designs are realized. “Only tender love will save us from the snares of the accuser,” emphasizes the Pontiff, and it is by encountering God’s mercy especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation that we “experience His truth and tenderness,” – because “we know that God’s truth does not condemn us, but instead welcomes, embraces, sustains and forgives us” (2).

Joseph is also a father in obedience to God: with his ‘fiat’ he protects Mary and Jesus and teaches his Son to “do the will of the Father.” Called by God to serve the mission of Jesus, he “cooperated… in the great mystery of Redemption,” as St John Paul II said, “and is truly a minister of salvation” (3).

Honouring the life of Archbishop Odongo James (1932 - 2020)

Burial of Bishop James Odongo

https://youtu.be/HqSHTp23EaA

youtube.com ARCHBISHOP ODONGO JAMESBorn: 27th March1931 Died: 04th December 2020 Parents: Gabriel Omunyin and Rosalia Nyachwo Education Background• 1939-1940 Molo Prim...

Ugandan Catholics

On the occasion of the Immaculate conception of the blessed virgin Mary at Lodonga basilica the Bishop of Arua diocese has erected two new parishes that is Eruba parish in Arivu deanery, Eria Parish in Moyo Deanery and four sub Parishes of Sibili in Maracha Deanery, Uriangua and Idriani in Adjumani deanery, may more young people join priesthood so that more Parishes can be created in Arua diocese. For now we have 60 parishes in Arua diocese with the sub Parishes todate. Happy feast of Immaculate conception of the blessed Mary to you all

Ugandan Catholics

The body of The Most Rev. James Odongo, Emeritus Archbishop of Tororo lays at St. Austin Catholic Church - Mbale for the night.
On Tuesday 8th, December 2020. There will be mass at 12:00pm.
May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace.

📸archdioceseofTororo

Ugandan Catholics

Requiem Mass of Emeritus Archbishop of Tororo Archdiocese Most Rev James Odongo at Rubaga Cathedral Kampala Archdiocese

https://youtu.be/y0HvUhA3HRM

Ugandan Catholics

https://fb.watch/2eSXp4xDjT/
👆🏼here is the link to follow the National Youth Conference

NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE 2020

LIVE FROM RADIO MARIA UGANDA

THEME: " YOUNG MAN I SAY UNTO YOU ARISE" ( LUKE 7:14)

The Vatican has officially confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Iraq from March 5 to 8, 2021. This is a trip that Pope Francis has been trying to make for some time.

Prayer for Tuesday, December 8

Prayer of the Immaculate Conception
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for thy Son, we beseech thee that, as by the foreseen death of this, thy Son, thou didst preserve her from all stain, so too thou wouldst permit us, purified through her intercession, to come unto thee. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who livest and reignest with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

We wish you a beautiful day.

ZAMBIA: Mansa Diocese to Celebrate Year-long Jubilee of Mission for Peace
The Catholic diocese of Mansa in Zambia is set to have a year-long jubilee celebration of Mission for Peace to proclaim in response to the changing signs of time and in the light of the Social Teaching of the Church, Bishop Patrick Chilekwa Chisanga OFM. Conv. has said.

“With this Advent message and announcement of the new liturgical year and in view of celebrating 60 years since the creation of Mansa Diocese, I am delighted to also announce the Diocesan Jubilee Year of Mission for Peace to be celebrated under the theme ‘Peace be with you’,

Conversion is a grace
So, the Pope said, it is easy to fall into the temptation of saying that “it is impossible to truly convert, and instead of converting from the world to God, we risk remaining in the 'quicksand' of a mediocre existence.”
“What can we do in these cases?” he continued: “First of all, remember that conversion is a grace, hence, to be asked of God with fortitude.”

And he invited believers to open themselves up “to the beauty, the goodness, the tenderness of God,” leaving what is “false and fleeting for what is true, beautiful and everlasting.”
Pope Francis concluded recalling that on Tuesday we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception and prayed to Our Lady to help us “to separate ourselves more and more from sin and worldliness, in order to open ourselves to God, to his Word, to his love which restores and saves.”

Prayer for Monday, December 7

Prayer for Refugees and Victims of War
Lord God,
no one is a stranger to you
and no one is ever far from your loving care.
In your kindness, watch over refugees and victims of war,
those separated from their loved ones,
young people who are lost,
and those who have left home or who have run away from
home.
Bring them back safely to the place where they long to be
and help us always to show your kindness
to strangers and to all in need
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.
We wish you a bright day.

Honouring the life of Archbishop Odongo James (1932 - 2020)

Link to the requiem Mass of the late Archbishop Odongo James

https://youtu.be/yUWhJJOSzJI

youtube.com ARCHBISHOP ODONGO JAMESBorn: 27th March1931 Died: 04th December 2020 Parents: Gabriel Omunyin and Rosalia Nyachwo Education Background• 1939-1940 Molo Prim...

Prayer for Saturday, December 5

Infant Jesus of Prague Novena Prayer
O Jesus, Who has said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened," through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.
(Make your request)

O Jesus, Who has said, "All that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask your Father in your name that my prayer will be granted.
(Make your request)

O Jesus, Who has said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass away," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.
(Make your request)

Amen.
We wish a bright day.

The Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Rt. Rev. Joseph Antony Zziwa, and the Archbishop of Tororo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Obbo, regret to inform you of the death of the Most. Rev. James Odongo, Archbishop Emeritus of Tororo.
The Archbishop passed on this morning Friday 04th December, 2020 at Nsambya Hospital.

The following are the burial arrangements;
1. Sunday 06thDecember, 2020; - Requiem Mass at Lubaga Cathedral Kampala, at 3:30pm.

2. Monday 07th December, 2020; - The body will arrive at St. Austin Church, Mbale, at 3:00pm.

3. Tuesday 08thDecember, 2020; - Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St. Austin Church, Mbale, at 12:00pm.

- The body of the late Archbishop Odongo will arrive at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Tororo, at 4:00pm.

4. Wednesday 09thDecember, 2020; - Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Tororo, at 12:00pm followed by internment.

“May his Soul rest in Eternal Peace”