By Christopher Oola.
Archbishop Raphael Wokorach p’Mony has been installed as the 2nd Metropolitan Archbishop of Gulu at a ceremony held at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Gulu City.
The ceremony was presided over by His Excellency Luigi Bianco, the apostolic Nuncio to Uganda and attended by hundreds of Christians, clergies and dignitaries including the Vice President of Uganda Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo.
Archbishop Wokorach, 63 was appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis on March 22 and replaces Archbishop Emeritus John Baptist Odama who retired after 25 years at the archdiocese.
Before his appointment, Archbishop Wokorach, 63 a member of the Comboni Missionary has been Bishop of Nebbi Catholic Diocese since March 2021.
Two weeks ago, Wokorach received the Pallium, a liturgical vestment symbolizing his authority and unity with the Holy See from the Vatican in Italy paving the way for his installation.
In his maiden sermon to the thousands of Christians who turned up for the ceremony, Archbishop Wokorach thanked his predecessor for the great work done at the archdiocese without getting tired.
“You have been retired by age, but you can still do much in the Ministry. You are here and we shall minister together to the people whom you have served for all these years. We pray for the archdiocese and the sustenance of God to keep you in the Ministry,” said Archbishop Wokorach.
He asked the Christians to continue praying for him as he assumed the new responsibilities of leading the faithful in the Gulu Archdiocese.
After his installation, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Luigi Bianco also announced Archbishop Wokorach had been appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis as an apostolic administrator of the Nebbi diocese until a new Bishop was appointed.
Archbishop Emeritus Odama told the congregation in his remarks that his service in the Acholi Sub-region for the past 25 years has been a significant milestone to which he attributed the success he gained to God.
He asked Christians in the Archdiocese to pray for the newly installed Archbishop to have good health and a successful Ministry that will promote evangelization, peace, unity, love, reconciliation, and the promotion of interreligious groups.
Archbishop Emeritus Odama also asked the new archbishop to work towards the reduction of violence within families and communities in the metropolitan area of Gulu.
He asked for forgiveness from those whom he might have wronged in the past 25 years of service arguing that he too has forgiven those who wronged him.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Chigamoi however told the newly installed Archbishop to fit in the shoes worn by his predecessor arguing that Archbishop Emeritus Odama left a legacy in his 25 years of leadership.
“Your grace, you finally took the shoes left behind by John Baptist Odama, he put on a size 15. So, the challenge is for you your grace to match the high standard set by the first Archbishop,” he said.
Justice Owiny-Dollo also noted that the new Archbishop assumed office at a time when the region was facing a burden of socio-economic insecurity and asked him to join the fight to restore the lost glory of the sub-region.
He lauded Archbishop Emeritus Odama for his services as a peace icon and described him as a person the majority of the leaders relied on the past for his spiritual and moral leadership.
President Yoweri Museveni in a written message read by Vice President Jessica Alupo congratulated Archbishop Wokorach upon taking the new responsibility at Gulu Archdiocese.
Quoting from the bible in Samuel 16:7, the President likened the appointment of Archbishop Wokorach to how God chooses leaders not just from their outward appearance but from invisible characters.
“Leadership is a crucial pillar to the success of any institution including the church. I call upon all believers to pray for the new archbishop as he commences his new role,” said President Museveni.
The President praised Archbishop Emeritus Odama for his tireless efforts in fighting for peace and poverty eradication arguing he set an excellent example for all spiritual leaders.
“On behalf of the NRM government, I commend Odama for using his position to promote unity and development among his people. He has worked with the NRM government to bring peace in Northern Uganda and fight poverty and efforts to create wealth through the growing of cassava,” said President Museveni.
President donated 20 million shillings towards the installation ceremony and gave the new archbishop a brand-new car, a Toyota G-X-R Land Cruiser 2023 model. Before his appointment on March 22 this year by Pope Francis, Archbishop Wokorach served as the Nebbi Diocese Bishop since March 2021.
His journey to the Archdiocese of Gulu ahead of his installation commenced Thursday morning from Nebbi diocese where he held mass and bid farewell to Christians at Immaculate Heart of Mary Nebbi Cathedral in Nebbi Nebbi Municipality.
He later attended a brief prayer at Our Lady of Trust Pakwach Catholic Parish in Pakwach Town Council.
On his way, Archbishop Wokorach made numerous stopovers at Parishes where hundreds of Christians waited to welcome him at Anaka Parish, and Kochgoma Town Council in Nwoya District.
In Gulu City, hundreds of Christians welcomed Archbishop Wokorach at Customs Corner in Bardege-Layibi Division where they made a procession and escorted the entourage to St Joseph’s Cathedral, the headquarters of Gulu Archdiocese.
He was received at the official Archbishop’s residence by Archbishop Emeritus Odama and Arua Diocese Bishop Sabino Odoki.
Archbishop Wokorach was born on January 21 1961 in Arua and attended his Primary education at Ragen Primary School. He later joined St. Peter Paul Pokea Minor Seminary in Arua between 1975 to 1979. From 1980-1992, Archbishop Wokrach went to St. Joseph Omabchi for his advanced-level education.
Between 1983 and 1987, Wokorach joined Uganda Marty’s National Major Seminary in Gulu where he studied Philosophy and obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Pontifical Urdaniana University in Rome, Italy.
From 1989-1993, Archbishop Wokorach enrolled at Tangaza College in Nairobi Kenya, and studied Theology.
Archbishop Wokorach was ordained as a priest on Sept. 25, 1993, at WaduLai Parish under Nebbi Diocese by Gulu Archbishop Emeritus Martin Luluga.
