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Children pose for a photo with the Archbishop during the Missionary Holy Childhood Celebration. By Proscovia Achomo Gulu City The Gulu Archdiocese on Sunday celebrated Holy Childhood Missionary Day at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Gulu, under the theme, “As a Child
Children pose for a photo with the Archbishop during the Missionary Holy Childhood Celebration.
By Proscovia Achomo
Gulu City
The Gulu Archdiocese on Sunday celebrated Holy Childhood Missionary Day at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Gulu, under the theme, “As a Child of the Missionary Holy Childhood, I Can Evangelize” (Mark 16:12–16).
The celebration brought together hundreds of children, teachers, parents, catechists, clergy, and members of the Christian community for a day of prayer, worship, and missionary formation. The event highlighted the important role children play in spreading the Gospel and actively participating in the mission of the Catholic Church.
The celebration was organized by the Office of the Pontifical Missionary Societies of Gulu Archdiocese, led by its Director, Rev. Fr. Alfred Kizito Ayella, who emphasized the importance of nurturing children in faith and helping them understand their role as young missionaries of Christ.
Fr. Ayella said the Holy Childhood Missionary movement provides children with an opportunity to grow spiritually, understand the teachings of Jesus Christ, and actively participate in the mission of the Church.
He added that during the preparations for the celebration, children were encouraged to practice their missionary calling by reaching out to fellow children in need. The children visited patients and vulnerable children in various institutions, including St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor Main Branch, Lacor Hospital Opit and Pabbo branches, Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital Kitgum, Kitgum Government Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu Remand Home, and St. Jude Children’s Home.
Fr. Ayella said the visits enabled the children to demonstrate love, compassion, and solidarity with others while putting into practice the Gospel values of caring for those in need.
The celebration was also marked by active participation from the children, who took charge of various aspects of the Holy Mass. The young missionaries animated the liturgy through singing, led the Scripture readings, presented the prayers of the faithful, participated in the offertory, and served as masters of ceremonies.
The children also showcased their talents through different performances, including songs, dances, and other presentations, demonstrating their faith, confidence, and understanding of their role in the mission of the Church.
As part of the celebration, the children also exchanged gifts among themselves, an act that promoted friendship, sharing, and unity among the young missionaries.
During his homily, Archbishop Raphael P’Mony Wokorach challenged the children to embrace their identity as young missionaries by living according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The Archbishop said the mission of the Church is to teach children the Good News and prepare them to become missionaries in their own communities.
“This is the mission—to teach the Good News to children and help them become missionaries. They can only become missionaries if they know the Good News. It gives me great joy and confidence that the children have grasped the Good News and are now missionaries. I thank God for this, and I pray that He transforms all children to become the first missionaries of our time,” Archbishop Wokorach said.
Jonathan Rubangakene, a pupil at St. Peter’s Laroo Primary School in Gulu City, said the celebration strengthened his faith and inspired him to share the Gospel with others.
“I am very happy to be part of this celebration because I have met many other children who share the same faith. We have made new friends, prayed together, and learned more about Jesus and our role as young missionaries. This has encouraged me to continue sharing God’s word with my friends and other people,” Jonathan said.
Richard Komakech Odur, Headteacher of Julio Pastore Primary School in Kitgum Municipality, said the renewed focus on Holy Childhood Missionary formation is helping children grow spiritually and develop Christian values.
“We are very excited to be part of this celebration because previously our children did not have such opportunities, and their ministry was not very active. But through the wisdom and leadership of the Archbishop, the ministry has been revived. He wants children to grow in faith because they are the future of the Church,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pamela Ajok, whose child is enrolled in the Sunday School at Gulu Cathedral Parish, said the programme has positively influenced children’s discipline and spiritual growth.
“We have seen a great change in our children. They are now more disciplined while in church, they participate actively in prayers and the liturgy, and they show respect to their teachers, catechists, and fellow Christians. As parents, we are proud to see them growing in faith. We encourage the Church to continue strengthening this programme because it is shaping the next generation of faithful and responsible Christians,” she said.
Holy Childhood Missionary Day is celebrated by the Catholic Church worldwide every second Sunday of July. The Missionary Holy Childhood Society focuses on the spiritual, human, and social formation of children aged 0 to 14 years, nurturing them to grow in faith and become young missionaries of Christ.