MOMORO- With profound gratitude and reverence, the faithful of Moroto district today gathered to mark a momentous occasion of the consecration and inauguration of the newly constructed Cathedral in Moroto Diocese dedicated to the Merciful Love of Jesus.
The event, gathered the people of God from all corners of the Catholic Church in Nakapelimen village, Moroto Municipality, Moroto district, North Eastern Uganda.
Archbishop Luigi Bianco, the apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, was the main celebrant during the colourful function which begun with Holy Mass and graced by the Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Rose Alupo Epel.
“I pray to God through the intercession of Mary our Mother of mercy, that each person visiting this cathedral may receive the grace to have an experience of prayer, of mercy and of thanksgiving,” Bianco said.
The Apostolic nuncio also urged the Christians of Moroto diocese to utilize maximumly the new cathedral as a house of prayer, and a place of God.
“I pray that the new cathedral does not remain like a monument whose beauty and design is only admired, but that it should build the spiritual life and the faith of the faithful of our diocese,” he said.
In a message delivered by VP Alupo, president Yoweri Museveni congratulated the Uganda Episcopal Conference and the entire global Catholic Church upon the successful election of the new Pope, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV emphasizing that his election ensures continuity and stability of the Catholic Church.
He appreciated the work of construction of the Cathedral, and all the people who toiled to have it built to this level by giving and fundraising in many ways.
“I have been informed that you chose to dedicate it to the mercy and Love of Jesus Christ which can only be manifest in action rather than words. You have indeed lived to this biblical principal of, Faith and love with action,” Museveni said.
“This is the true gospel of love that we pick from the proclamations of Jesus Christ in the Bible. You believed to make it happen and you accompanied the faith with action and love for Christ which has yielded the fruits we are seeing now of a house of God that is worthy of his glory,” Museveni said.
He used the same opportunity to thank the Catholic Church for always leading the way in the transformation of society not only in Moroto but across the country.
“You have for a long time been in partnership with government through bringing services closer to the people in many sectors. I appreciate your unwavering spirit towards developmental projects and humanitarian causes,” he said.
The president assured the church of the Government’s continued promotion of peace and security for all Ugandans to ensure that we register the development NRM envisioned when they came to power,
He stressed that currently the government is working hard to ensure that our people overcome poverty, right from their households to enable societies flourish and attain sustainable results as opposed to begging from external financiers.
“We can no longer accept that kind of suffocation and that is why we are spreading this gospel in various ways like; Emyooga, Operation Wealth Creation, Parish Development Model and enforcing skilling of the Ugandan Youths. We shall not relent on this mission until we achieve visible results across the nation,” he said.
The president explained that the people who took up his gospel from the start in other parts of the country have began yielding and it is not late for the rest to work hard towards their own prosperity, that of our nation and eventually the entire Africa as they collectively advocate for African integration.
He emphasized that spirituality is a stimulus to development because it enforces values like integrity and humane practices that enable growth adding, “It also hinders impediments to prosperity like corruption which cripples growth of many African nations”.
He called upon religious institutions to blend spirituality with hard work in order to ensure solid development of our societies.
“The church must also continue to start up projects in line with government strategies towards liberation of our people from the spirit of over dependency on government resources,” he appealed.
The president implored all Ugandans to be full participants in government programs to enable them realize results in the short or long run. He added that the Government has provided the best atmosphere and facilities that can trigger growth.
He once again appreciated all the people that have given to the completion of the Cathedral and all participants from within and outside the country. “I know your efforts are not in vain. I pray that the Almighty God rewards you bountifully,” he said.
The Bishop of Moroto Diocese Damiano Guzzetti explained that the consecration of a cathedral holds profound significance for the community it serves. “It represents a commitment it serves. It represents a commitment to faith, declaration of devotion, and a recognition of the sacred nature of the space,” he said.
