Uganda Martyrs Feast Day, Saturday the 4th of June 2016

On Saturday the 4^th of June, JIDO community attended a belated Uganda Martyrs Feast Day hosted by Uganda Croydon Catholic Community at St Chads Catholic Church South Norwood, London.  The mass was well attended and clergies from different communities were present (Fr Lwanga from Northern Ireland, Fr Ahimbisibwe,  Fr Shazu from St Bonifeace Church Tooting, Deacon Alfred Banya- lady of sorrow Peckham, Fr. Emmanual from Cameroon, Fr Andrew from Eastern of Uganda, Fr Gerald from Uganda Martrys, North London and Fr Mathias from Croydon community).

We thank our Martyrs for their intercession and our almighty God for keeping the faith alive in our communities.

 

 

Blessed JIDO at the English Martyrs Church

Blessed JIDO Choir celebrated mass at the English Martyrs Church in Walworth on Sunday the 29th of May 2016.  On this special day, 40 children received their first Holy Communion.  The day was also the feast of Corpus Christi and Fr Thomas Udie’s homily was great and it reflected the readings from the day ( Geneiss 14.18-20, Corinthians 11:23-26 and the Gospel from the book of Luke 9:11-17).  Over 350 people attended the mass to mark this great occasion.

Celebrating Blessed Daudi & Blessed Jildo Feast Day with Ugandans in London -11th Oct 2015

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 28^th 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 20^th 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.

Sunday the 13th of September 2015

Today’s mass was dedicated to one of our own brother the late Acaye Vitalis Aboga. Our dear brother Acaye died in Gulu, Nothern Uganda in July this year after a short illness and he survived by 11 children. May his soul rest in eternal peace Amen.

We were privileged to have Fr Willy Obina from Gulu, flanked by John Frazer and Fr Algia from Mexico.   Also present at mass was Rev Owiny Laber.

Fr Willy urged the congregation to foster the spirit of togetherness by sharing with one another and building a strong community. The readings from prophet Isaiah, St James and Mark reinforced this message succinctly.

Ladit John Can and Mego Dorothea gave their personal moving tribute about the late Acaye.

Fr Willy gave a special birthday blessings to Mego Dorothy, Mego Betty, Mego Atube, Mego Belinda and Rev Owiny laber.

 

Community members celebrating their b/d this week

Community members celebrating their b/d this week

Mego Belinda

Mego Dorothy

Father Willy

 

Sunday the 9th of August 2015

Today we celebrated a memorial mass for the late Major George Bond Kinyera.  Our dear brother George died a year ago when he was on holiday to Canada. May his soul rest in eternal peace Amen.

We were privileged to have father David Kolo from Lokome parish in Gulu at the mass. Fr John Frazer Okello, Rev Modikum Okello, Rev Owiny Laber and African chaplaincy coordinator in the UK Deacon Babu were also present.  The homily given by Father Kolo was timely with this mass.  He urged the congregation to always unite and work together as one.   He emphasized that we should learn to forgive, persevere when facing adversity and forge links with other communities.  All these messages reflected the 3 readings of the day: 1st reading was from first book of Kings-life is journey and the message was that  God will not leave you alone if we journey towards him was the key theme.   The 2nd reading was from St Paul to Ephesians. The key message put emphasis on forgiveness and the Gospel taught us to respect one another and always be truthful.

Father left us with the following quote “reflect on what has been said but not on who said it”.

JIDO Launched their Hymn Books

Today’s mass celebrant was Fr Pasquino Panato. Fr Pasquini is the Superior of the Comboni Missionaries in the North of England.   At the mass, JIDO community launched their new Hymn books.  To mark the occasion, Fr Pasquino  blessed the  books and urged the congregation  to continue working together in solidarity and build a strong community.

JIDO’s Chair  Mr Moses Lam also thanked all the community members for their contributions towards the printing of the hymn books and encouraged them to continue with the spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JIDO Xmas 2014

Blessed Jido Martyrs Blessed Jildo Irwa and Daudi Okello Ugandan Catholic Community UKChristmas celebration at Our Lady St & Joseph 
Catholic Church, Balls Pond Road, London N1 4AG

Our new Priest -Fr Thomas Bakulumpagi

 At  our Sunday mass this month, we were blessed with a new priest that the Lord has allowed as one of our own, Rev Thomas Bakulumpagi who was ordained as a Catholic Priest on the 5th of December 2014.

 

 

 

JIDO Feast Day- a thank you message

Following our well attended Anniversary Mass celebration of the two Blessed Young Acholi Martyrs, Jildo Irwa and Daudi Okello, I would once again like to thank each and everyone who participated in one way or another and all those who would have wished to be around but could not due to other commitments.

My special words of gratitude to Rev. Fr. John Clark, Rev. Fr. Gerard Balinga and Rev. Deacon Joseph Alfred, the main celebrants, our patron, elders and invited community groups for showing a great spirit of togetherness.

I am very pleased with all the encouraging comments and feedback on everything done to satisfaction with many wishing to join the choir having been touched by the beautiful hymns. I pray that the two Blessed Martyrs will continue to bring us together to gives praises and thanks to God.

Last but not least, I would like to thank all those who donated and those who still  wish to make donations towards publication of JIDO Hymns Books, please do contact myself and the treasurer, James Obaya.

May God bless you and we meet next month on second Sunday of 9th November 2014.

Kind regards

Moses Lam

JIDO Chair.

Celebrating Blessed Jildo Irwa & Blessed Daudi Okelo Feast Day with Ugandan Catholics in London

From left to right: Rev.(Deacon) Alfred Joseph Banya, Rev. Fr John Clark (Comboni Missionary), Rev. Fr Gerard Balinya (Chaplain, Uganda Martyrs Catholic Community) at the celebration of Blessed Jildo &Blessed Daudi Feast Day, Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Church, Dalston, London. It was marked this year in London on Sunday 12th October 2014.

Fantastic Hymns of celebration was provided by Blessed Jildo & Blessed Daudi Choir, supported by members of Uganda Martyrs Catholic Community, Daniel Comboni Uganda Catholic Community and many others.