CHRISTIANS HAIL ARCHBISHOP WOKORACH’S VISIONARY LEADERSHIP ON SECOND ANNIVERSARY

Archbishop delivering his homily during his second anniversary celebration held on the day of the Missionary Holy Childhood celebration.

By Proscovia Achomo

Arua City

Christians across Gulu Archdiocese have praised Archbishop Raphael P’Mony Wokorach for his visionary leadership as he marked two years since his installation as Metropolitan Archbishop of Gulu.

The Archbishop celebrated his second anniversary on the same day as the Missionary Holy Childhood celebration on Sunday  July 12, 2026, bringing together children, clergy, and faithful in thanksgiving and prayer at Gulu Cathedral Parish.

The faithful commended Archbishop Wokorach for strengthening the Church, promoting unity among Christians, and advancing pastoral, educational, and development initiatives across the archdiocese.

At Gulu Cathedral Parish, Lucy Lalam, a Christian, said Archbishop Wokorach’s leadership has brought renewed hope, spiritual growth, and greater commitment among Catholics.

“Archbishop Wokorach is working hard to strengthen the faith of catechists by encouraging them to receive the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony so that they can serve as catechists who are fully united with Christ,” Lucy said.

She added that the Archbishop’s efforts have encouraged many catechists and other Christians who had not been actively participating in the Eucharist to return to the Church and serve more faithfully.

“We pray that God grants him strength, good health, and wisdom so that all the plans he has for the development of the archdiocese are achieved because he still has much more he wants to accomplish,” he said.

Richard Komakech Odur, Head teacher Julio Pastore Primary School, Christ the King Parish in Kitgum described Archbishop Wokorach’s leadership as inspiring and transformative, especially in the education sector.

He said the Archbishop has introduced positive changes aimed at strengthening the role of schools in nurturing both academic excellence and spiritual growth.

“His message has always been that education should be used to prepare children to spread the Word of God. He is doing everything possible to ensure that a strong foundation of faith begins in schools so that children who pass through our hands grow into people who can share the Gospel,” Odur said.

Meanwhile, Michael Okwir, a Christian from Kitgum Vicariate, praised Archbishop Wokorach for his commitment to staying close to the faithful through regular pastoral visits.

Okwir said the Archbishop’s visits to parishes across the vicariate have encouraged Christians and helped restore faith in communities where religious commitment had been declining.

“We are happy as Christians from Kitgum because the Archbishop has always been with us. He has visited different parishes within the vicariate and has remained consistent in walking with the faithful. His pastoral visits are restoring faith again among Christians, which had started declining,” Okwir said.

Geoffrey Omony from Gulu Cathedral Parish also appreciated Archbishop Wokorach for reviving Small Christian Communities, saying the initiative is helping believers grow deeper in faith and understand the Catholic Church better.

He said the Small Christian Communities in the parish had become weak and were gradually dying out, but Archbishop Wokorach’s encouragement has helped restore their importance.

“As members of Small Christian Communities, we had reached a point where these groups were becoming weak. The Archbishop has helped us wake them up again, and this is helping Christians grow in faith and understand the Catholic Church better. He has continued from where Archbishop Emeritus John Baptist Odama stopped and strengthened this important foundation of our faith,” Omony said.

The Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Gulu Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Alfred Kizito Ayella, also praised Archbishop Wokorach for reviving the children’s ministry, which he said had become inactive.

Fr. Ayella said the Archbishop’s efforts have restored children’s participation in the mission of the Church by helping them understand that they too can become missionaries.

He noted that Archbishop Wokorach introduced Sunday School programmes in the archdiocese, an initiative that had not previously existed, giving children a stronger foundation in faith and encouraging them to actively participate in the life of the Church.

According to Fr. Ayella, the revival of children’s ministry is helping nurture a new generation of young Christians who understand and embrace the responsibility of spreading the Gospel.

In his message to the faithful, Archbishop Wokorach expressed gratitude for their prayers, support, and commitment to the mission of the Church.

“I remember that day when the Church was crowded with believers, friends, and well-wishers thanking God for the gift of vocation. Together with you, I renew my special thanks to God for calling me to be the shepherd of this Archdiocese. Let us continue to pray for the archdiocese and also for me,” Archbishop Wokorach said.

Archbishop Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, a member of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ), was installed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Gulu on July 12, 2024, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

He was appointed by Pope Francis on March 22, 2024, to succeed Archbishop Emeritus John Baptist Odama. Before his appointment to Gulu, Archbishop Wokorach served as Bishop of Nebbi Diocese.