GULU ARCHDIOCESE INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

Some of the deanery pastoral council members pose for a group photo after the workshop.
 
By Proscovia Achomo
Gulu City
 
The Archdiocese of Gulu has embarked on a transformative pastoral initiative aimed at revitalizing Small Christian Communities (SCCs) across its parishes, responding to a decree issued by His Grace Archbishop Raphael P’mony Wokorach, MCCJ.
 
The bold move is intended to deepen grassroots evangelization and renew the role of the laity in the life of the Church.
 
The vision was the central focus of the recent Deanery Pastoral Council Workshop, held at the University of the Sacred Heart Gulu, bringing together clergy, catechists, and lay leaders for two days of intensive reflection, dialogue, and planning.

All the six deaneries of the archdiocese were represented including Gulu Cathedral deanery, Lacor deanery, Holy Rosary deanery, Kalongo deanery, Christ the King deanery and Kitgum Mission deanery.
 
In his address at the workshop, Rev. Fr. Samuel Ocaya Moi, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Coordinator, described the revival of SCCs as a “turning point” for the archdiocese. “The Archbishop’s call has sparked a renewed commitment among pastoral agents. The SCC model invites us to return to a Church that is rooted in everyday life in homes, families, villages, and neighborhoods,” Fr. Ocaya said.
 
Fr. Ocaya emphasized that this revival is not an open-ended process. He issued a two-month deadline to all members of the Deanery Pastoral Councils to begin actively revitalizing Small Christian Communities in their parishes, “You have undergone the training. Now you must act,” he said firmly. “Within two months, every parish should begin implementing what has been learned. SCCs must not remain an idea we need to see them alive and functioning.”

These small communities, usually consisting of 15 to 20 members or more, are meant to meet regularly to pray with Scripture, share life experiences, and support one another in their Christian journey. They are also expected to take on roles in parish development, outreach, and stewardship.
 
According to the pastoral plan, SCCs are envisioned as small, localized faith groups where parishioners gather weekly to reflect on Scripture, pray, and support one another in their Christian journey. These groups also serve as spaces for catechesis, leadership development, and social support.
 
Catechist Alexis Ocaya, Secretary of the Pastoral Council for Christ the King Deanery, and also the coordinator of pastoral office for Christ the king Deanery, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the indispensable role of the laity in the Church’s growth. “The future and growth of our faith depend on how deeply the laity take part in the life of the Church,” he stated. “The Small Christian Community is the very foundation of that participation. It is where faith becomes real where people share their lives in the light of the Gospel,” Ocaya emphasized.
 
Ocaya also praised the leadership of the Archbishop, noting that such bold steps were long overdue and much needed to rekindle faith at the grassroots.
 
One parish that has already seen significant progress is St. Andre Bessette Parish in Kochgoma, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Berry Apire, the Parish Priest. Fr. Apire shared encouraging developments from his own pastoral experience: “In Kochgoma Parish, Small Christian Communities have truly taken shape. We now have over 100 households organized into communities named after various saints. They meet regularly for prayers, fellowship, and planning,” Father Apire said.
 
Fr. Apire highlighted the deep impact, these communities have had not just spiritually, but pastorally and administratively. “These groups have made my work much easier. Tasks that would typically fall on the priest are now handled by the SCCs themselves. They take initiative in organizing church activities, supporting one another, and even raising funds to sustain parish projects,” he added
 
Small Christian Communities were first introduced in Uganda in the late 1970s through AMECEA’s pastoral plan, which was heavily inspired by the spirit and reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
 
These communities thrived in several dioceses across the country, where they became vital expressions of communal faith, local catechesis, and spiritual formation.
 
However, in the Archdiocese of Gulu, the model struggled to take firm root due to various historical and structural challenges, including the effects of prolonged conflict in Northern Uganda.
 
Now, with peace gradually restored and the Church seeking to rebuild and strengthen its foundation, church leaders see Archbishop Wokorach’s decree as a renewed opportunity to finally establish SCCs as a cornerstone of parish life and evangelization.

As he officially closed the two-day workshop, Monsignor Martin Agwee, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Gulu, issued a strong appeal to both clergy and lay leaders. “Priests must empower the laity. They are not passive observers but active participants in the Church’s mission. We must also fully engage catechists in forming and guiding Small Christian Communities. They are vital pastoral agents at the local level,” Monsignor Agwee warned.
 
Monsignor Agwee went further to challenge the Deanery Pastoral Council members to put into practice the insights, skills, and strategies they had learned during the workshop. “This is not just about theory; you must now go and implement what you have learned. Let us translate knowledge into action for the development of our Archdiocese and the growth of our faith,” he said.
 
His remarks resonated deeply with participants, reinforcing the idea that the future of the Church lies in shared responsibility, localized leadership, and community-based evangelization.
 
The main facilitator at the Deanery Pastoral Council Workshop, Fr. Tonino Pasolini, a Comboni Missionary priest and founder of Radio Pacis, brought with him decades of pastoral experience from neighboring Arua Diocese, where SCCs have been a successful model for evangelization. “If we want faith to grow, we must return to Small Christian Communities. They bring the Church to the people, in their villages, clans, and neighborhoods,” Fr. Tonino emphasized.
 
He described the ideal SCC as a group of 15 to 20 people who gather weekly for about 45 minutes to one hour, spending time in prayer, reading the Gospel, and sharing their Christian experiences. “This is not just a meeting. It’s a space for transformation where the Word of God becomes the center of life. We grow together as a family in Christ,” Fr. Tonino remarked.

The pastoral decree is being implemented with structured guidelines for parishes and chapels, encouraging the formation of SCCs not just as prayer groups, but as integral parts of parish organization. Already, some parishes have begun forming new communities, while others are revitalizing old ones that had grown dormant.
 
With continued support from the clergy, lay leaders, and the faithful, the archdiocese hopes that Small Christian Communities will not only flourish, but also become lasting centers of faith, action, and evangelization in northern Uganda.