Blessed Jildo Irwa and Blessed Daudi Okello feast day celebration was fantastic this year. The day was well attended by community members. The main celebrants was Rev Fr Gerard Balinya (Uganda Martyrs Catholic Community) flanked by Rev Fr John Frasier (Comboni Missionaries) and Deacond Rev Alfred Banya. Key event from the mass were the procession from outside the church at the start of mass, presentations of offertory during mass and a homily by Rev Alfred Banya outlined below.
The Danger of being materially rich but spiritually poor
In the Gospel today (Mark10:17-30, on the 28th Sunday of Ordinary time in Year B, we perhaps meet Jesus who is disappointed in a good man who walked away from him because he couldn’t give up his wealth..
As we mark in advance the feast of Blessed Daudi Okello and Blessed Jildo Irwa, that usually falls on 20th October, we recall the example they have shown us of giving everything up for the sake of Christ.
We are told that on All Saint Day in 1917 the two approached Fr. Cesare Gambaretto with the intention of receiving the commission to go to Paimol. Fr Gambaretto said, “so you are willing to go to Paimol. What if they were to kill you there?” Daudi replied, “Then we shall go to heaven” Jildo said, “Father do not be afraid, Jesus and Mary are with us”. Surprised by the zeal of the two young men, Fr Gambaretto went to his room in silence and came back with a catechism and a rosary for each. On their knees Daudi and Jildo received the tools of their apostolate. They gave up their families and moved to what was considered at the time hostile territory. Earlier at the beginning of their instructions Daudi Okelo who had come along with a young girl who he intended to marry in Church sacrificed this opportunity and stopped thinking about the girl as he continued to seriously take his religious instructions.
When the two martyrs were in Paimol they were welcome by some, but also faced a lot of hatred from others. The witchdoctors for example were not happy because the catechists were diverting people away from them. The Abbas’ group of Moslems also waded in to condemn the catechists for being an obstacle to the spread of Islam in Paimol. All these accusations culminated in the enemies of the catechists drawing up a plan to wipe them out and they were killed on the week end of the 18th to 20th October 1918. What an example of sacrifice for the sake of Jesus and Eternal life with God the father.
So Just as Jesus asked the rich man in the Gospel of today, and we also see in the example of Blessed Daudi and Blessed Jildo, can you and I balance material things with a spirituality? We pray that through the intercession of the two martyrs the Holy Spirit may come upon us and enable us to priorities God, see him others and work more and more for Him in our daily lives. Amen
An extract from the homily given by Rev Alfred Banya
Main photos that captured the day succinctly are below.
JIDO 