ARCHBISHOP OF GULU APPOINTS NEW RECTOR FOR SACRED HEART LACOR SEMINARY

Archbishop Rapheal, Fr Mathew Odong and Monsignor Martin Agwee united in prayer and celebration during the Feast Day.

By Proscovia Achomo
Gulu City

During the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart at Lacor Seminary last week, the Archbishop of Gulu, Most Rev. Raphael p’Mony Wokorach announced a significant leadership transition within the institution.

The Archbishop officially appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Gulu Monsignor Martin Agwe as the new Rector of Scared Heart Seminary Lacor, marking the end of an era for Rev Fr Mathew Odong, who has served in the role for an impressive 35 years.

Fr Odong’s tenure has been widely recognized for his dedication to priestly formation and the development of the seminary as a key center theological education and spiritual growth in Northern Uganda.

In his remarks during the ceremony, Archbishop Rapheal commended Fr Odong for his decades of dedicated service and expressed confidence in the new rector's ability to continue guiding the seminary toward its mission of nurturing future clergy.

“I thank so much Fr Mathew Odong for serving this seminary, he served during difficult and good times, he has done so much to uphold the quality of the seminary in terms of infrastructure and academic excellence and most of the priests in the archdiocese passed through him, he didn’t reserve himself to serve this seminary,” Archbishop Raphael said.

The newly appointed Rector expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and pledged to build upon his predecessor’s legacy, focusing on strengthening both the spiritual and academic dimensions of priestly training.

“To be honest, I did not expect this appointment as Rector of Sacred Heart Lacor Seminary. It has come as a surprise. However, I believe that when God calls us to serve, we cannot turn away.  This is His work, and I accept this responsibility with faith and commitment,” says Monsignor Martin.

In his remarks, the outgoing rector, Fr Mathew Odong looked back on his time at the seminary with deep obligation and sense of fulfillment.

Father Odong added, “It has been a profound privilege and immense responsibility to serve as Rector of Lacor seminary for 35 years. Together, we have worked to nurture and form young men who have answered God’s call to the priesthood. I’m the longest serving rector, I served the best part of my priestly ministry in this seminary and I served in this seminary under three bishops, the late Bishop Martin Luluga, Archbishop Emeritus John Baptist Odama and now Archbishop p’Mony Wokorach and 60% of the priests in the Archdiocese of Gulu passed through my hand, and I’m really grateful for this.”

He pledged to work together with the new Rector saying the seminary is a very important place for the formation of priests.

As one of Fr. Mathew Odong’s pioneer students, Fr Philips Apiya, the parish priest of Amuru Parish commended his remarkable dedication and service.

“Fr Mathew, supported us a lot, even financially, he has been too close to us, a good father to us, especially during time of war in Northern Uganda, he worked a lot to keep us safe even when some students were abducted during the insurgency, and on behalf of those who passed through him, I really appreciate him.” Fr Apiya said proudly.

Fr Mathew Odong has been appointed to a new role as head of the Archdiocesan Mission Office, where he will be based in Minnesota USA, he will focus on lobbying for donations and securing resources to fund numerous projects and initiatives within the archdiocese.

Sacred Heart seminary Lacor established in 1934 by Comboni Missionaries has produced a number of priests and bishops including, Dr. John Baptist Odama the Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu Archdiocese, the late Bishop Martine Luluga, the late Bishop Ceaser Asili of Lira diocese, Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki of Arua diocese, Bishop Lino Wanok of Lira diocese, among others.  

Sacred Heart Lacor Seminary remains one of the region’s foremost institutions for the preparation of clergy to serve the Catholic Church and wider community.