Little Sisters reaffirm education mission in Acholi as 13 profess vows

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Thirteen sisters of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu have made their final perpetual vows as the congregation marked its 81st profession day, with church leaders calling for renewed commitment to education in the Acholi sub-region.

In total, 13 sisters professed their final vows, while four sisters celebrated their silver jubilee, four marked their golden jubilee, and five commemorated their diamond jubilee. The colourful celebration was held at St Joseph Cathedral Parish in ForGod ward, Bardege Layibi division, Gulu city.

This year’s profession day was celebrated under the theme, “Rekindle and Keep the Heritage of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu,” and attracted Christians from within and beyond Gulu Archdiocese to witness what church leaders described as the goodness of the Lord in the Archdiocese.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Gulu, Raphael Wokorach P’Mony, said education in the region continues to lag and urged the sisters to remain steadfast in promoting and improving education in the Acholi sub-region and beyond.

Archbishop Wokorach noted that the world today is marked by corruption, lack of truth and moral confusion, and called on religious men and women to prepare themselves to confront the complex realities of modern society.

Quoting scripture, the Archbishop said God created light so that humanity could see His goodness, adding that the sisters are called to be light in the midst of darkness.

“Today the world tends to foster division, and you are called to resist this by living in universality and communion with God and with reality. Be strong to face the world, because you live in a community founded by Jesus Christ,” he said.

He encouraged the sisters to embrace both suffering and joy so that they remain a living witness, proclaiming the Gospel to the poor and the oppressed.

According to Archbishop Wokorach, education remains a powerful tool for opening people’s eyes and transforming society, emphasising that educating a girl is equivalent to educating the whole world.

“Bishop Angelo Negri, your founder, established this congregation at a time of deep crisis, with education at its centre, education that prepares people for hope and care for others. You are therefore called to live lives of humility as you rekindle and preserve this heritage of the Church, the congregation and fragile life,” he said.

Sisters who made final perpetual vows during the profession day at St Joseph's Cathedral Church, Gulu. (Credit: Johnisani Ocakacon)

The Archbishop further urged the sisters to remain firm in their vows, guided by the light of Christ, stressing the importance of strong faith, fidelity to community life, obedience, honesty, chastity and poverty.

“Strive hard, and you will reach your destiny. Stand by your vows, defend them, and above all, remain obedient, honest, chaste and poor, and keep the faith as St Paul teaches us,” he added.

The mother superior of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu, Sister Mary Grace Aciro, called on the sisters to remain faithful to their vows, avoid earthly desires and dedicate themselves to serving the poor, especially vulnerable women in the community.

Sister Aciro urged the sisters to be light in darkness by serving the church and humanity, particularly through providing better education to vulnerable women, as consecrated women living in the true love of Christ amid today’s complex realities.

“As nuns of Gulu, we cannot shine alone. Our aim is to fight ignorance and disease in society. That is why we have councillors in charge of these sectors, where we provide quality education and health services. Our motto remains ‘light in the darkness,’” she said.

On girl child vocation, Sister Aciro appealed to parents to allow their daughters to join the convent and become religious sisters in service of the church and the community.

“You need to know that the number of girls joining us at the convent is very small. Parents need to embrace this vocation so that we have more consecrated women in the Church,” she appealed.

Monsignor Cyprian Ocen, the parish priest of St Joseph Cathedral Parish, thanked parents for supporting their daughters’ calling to religious life and encouraged continued support for the Church.

The Woman Member of Parliament for Gulu city, Betty Aol Ocan, expressed concern over the declining number of girls joining convents in the Acholi sub-region.

She urged parents not to focus solely on marriage for their daughters, but also to support the growth of the Church by encouraging girls to join religious life.

“As a mother and a committed Christian, I ask fellow parents to allow our children to join vocation life so that we have many consecrated people to continue the work of Christ,” she said.

Aol further observed that society is suffering from what she termed “tropical corruption” at all levels of government, civil service, households, civil society and individuals, noting that an increase in consecrated life could help address these challenges within communities.

Similarly, Enya Opobo, 90, from Lacor Parish, said vocations in the Gulu Archdiocese are declining because parents are failing to guide their children towards holy lives, a situation he said is negatively affecting the Church.

“Many of our children no longer come for prayers and have turned to bad behaviour, waylaying people on the roads at night due to poor moral upbringing in society,” he said.