By Emmanuel Nigel
Piemonte House
Date: Saturday, December 7th, 2024
With six days left to the Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee of His Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama, I am so delightful, so grateful, and so honoured to write and present this honorific article for the Prelate of the Church Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu Archdiocese His Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama upon his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee on Saturday, December 14th, 2024.
The Whole Village of Riki Oluko was filled with charm and great joy when Archbishop Emeritus Dr. John Baptist Odama was born on June 20th, 1947, as a baby boy in the Arua Diocese. He was ordained Priest in the Holy Catholic Church on December 14th, 1974, at Rhino Camp Parish by His Lordship Bishop Angelo Tarantino, Bishop of Arua Catholic Diocese. Later on, he was appointed Bishop on February 23rd, 1996, while rendering services as Rector at present Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary Alokolum, Gulu, and was consecrated the first Bishop of Nebbi Catholic Diocese on May 26th, 1996, by His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala.
Just after three years of service as Bishop of Nebbi Catholic Diocese, His Grace was succeeded by His Lordship Bishop Martin Luluga and he became Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese when the Holy Father Pope John Paul II who is now a Saint appointed Archbishop Dr. John Baptist Odama on January 30th, 1999; he was installed in the office as the first Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese on April 10th, 1999, his appointment as the Archbishop in the Holy Roman Catholic Church, Gulu Archdiocese became to be the first Prelate to serve in that role up to date. He came to Gulu Archdiocese when the Region of Acoli was at the peak of the Lord’s Resistance Army [LRA rebel war under the leadership of Joseph Kony, whom he had already encountered as Rector at present Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary Alokolum, Gulu. When the Seminarians were in exile in Katigondo, Masaka Catholic Diocese, His Grace had the opportunity of bringing them back to the Seminary in Gulu.
As a Servant of God, his focus and the gifts he could give to the people were to end the war in Northern Uganda, engage in peaceable build-up, recognize the value of human dignity, and make total reconciliation among the people. He obtained several Peace Awards and surely will continue to get more Award,s and I am convinced and hope that the 77-year-old Archbishop Emeritus is willing and quite ready to work together with any Institution that would promote Peace and Development in ensuring that humanity lives in total peace.
His Grace served as the Chairperson of Acoli Religious Leaders’ Peace Initiative from 2002 - 2010. I have closely learned that the Organization, which had magnificent objectives, mission, and goals, came to be involved in peacebuilding in Northern Uganda. As he was serving as leader of Acoli Religious Leaders’ Peace Initiative, Archbishop Dr. John Baptist Odama met with the rebel’s leader Joseph Kony and other top leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army and courageously built a firm ground for the mediation between the rebels and the Government of Uganda. His Grace was also featured in the 2006 – 2008 Juba Talks between the two parties in the state of South Sudan.
He rendered service as the Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University, a private University affiliated with the Holy Roman Catholic Church in Uganda which is found in Mpigi District, Uganda.
In 2010, Archbishop Emeritus Dr. John Baptist Odama was elected as the Chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference and subsequently, the Uganda Episcopal Conference re-elected him in 2014 for a second term for his “Fantabulous leadership given to him by the Almighty God.”
His Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama interestingly wrote some Pastoral Letters;
1. “Be My Witnesses”
2. “I Have Seen the Humiliation of My People and Heard Their Cry.”
3. “I Will Rise and Go to My Father.”
4. “The Eucharist: Means to Christian Holiness.”
Out of the four Pastoral Letters, three of these were believed to be authored in 2003, at the intensity of the tragic and counter-insurgency activities of the Lord’s Resistance Army [LRA] and Uganda People Defense Force [UPDF] in Acoli land.
Archbishop Emeritus His Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama initiated and established the University of the Sacred Heart Gulu to restoratively and put more attention neatly to counseling the people and promoting better education in the Acoli Sub-Region since the war had devastated and lowered the standard of education in our land.
On Friday, March 22nd, 2024, he got his retirement as the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Rt. Rev. Raphael P’Mony Wokoarch MCCJ as his Successor. We are joyous as he celebrates his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee on Saturday, December 14th, 2024, commencing with the Holy Mass at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Gulu with the theme: “To lead is to serve, and to serve is to lead.” 50 years of Priesthood, 50 years of dedication to God’s work, and 50 years of service to Humanity. The fruit of Peace and fruit of Unity.
“My heart is purely filled with felicity for the gift of Archbishop Emeritus Dr. John Baptist Odama not only in Gulu Archdiocese but also in the entire Cosmos” A real person in my language has managed to coalesce leaders religiously, culturally, politically, youthfully, and all the human race to have a brotherly reconciliation when we do wrong things to our fellow brothers and sisters.
“Is it feasible that we can also get a person like His Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama?” YES, we can get such a person; this question is pertinent for us to ask, and if we answer YES, it should help us to imitate him: his character, his personality, his humility, his simplicity, his style, and his compassion.
Indeed, the world has truly welcomed and received “Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee: The Episcopalian That Bears Super-Duper Fruits: Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu Archdiocese Dr. John Baptist Odama”
Some honours His Grace by giving him an Honorary Award on Peace and Development I feel happy and this Award was right and quite proper His Grace got the award and “I think this kind of Award should not stop, this initiative of giving an Honorary Award should continue to others so that most of our leaders and the future leaders to come should learn the goodness of leadership and possibly learn how to lead the people in a good manner.”
“The Community can be happy when the Community has great people, and the Community cannot be happy when the Community does not have great people.” having great people within us will only be if they are promoters of peace and they respect the peace of the people. Peace is very crucial for everyone to live, without peace, we crumble. We should promote peace always, irrespective of our political, ethical, and religious diversity. If there is no peace, life becomes so messy for the people. Indeed, history reminds us of how we have suffered due to our failure to realize that differences are the gifts of God to enable us to complement each one of us.
I passionately call everyone to work for peace, to promote, and to love peace always. Whoever loves peace, peace will surely rest in his/her heart.
“With deep affection, I appeal to all the people with encouraging words that we are such important people in the community and especially our dear youth who represent the future of our Country. We too are invited and called to be peace promoters for the people: not only in our families or among our best and bosom friends, but also to those who are living with no peace. I am calling you with all the generosity, enthusiasm, and joy of your youthful age, to be heralds of peace always, to detest and reject anything which spreads animosity, unrest, and total fear among the people.”
For sure “It is quite important that if we are known in the society, we should be known for our tremendous deeds” and I am blissful that His Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama is known globally for his good works, some of us are well aware that in 2003, His Grace spent the night at Gulu Bus Park with the Night Commuters four times, his significant contribution in the Peace Talk with the LRA rebels and his prayer imploring GOD that the war should stop “There was nothing perhaps that could have nurtured and sustained the people of Acoli more peaceful but with the exception of the grace, faith, and hope in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour” and truly I do think that His Grace had the faith and hope even if there was a serious war he remained firm preaching, advocacy for peace, and helping “In shaping the souls of the Christians to gain the abode of GOD.” He did this with a lot of love and care.
His Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama came to Gulu Archdiocese as the Archbishop when I was just 9 years old, I first served him as an Altar Server at the ALTAR OF THE LORD from Christ the King Catholic Parish, Kitgum when I was 17 years old that was in 2007 and now I am so exuberant that I am 34 years old presenting my honorific article “Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee: The Episcopalian That Bears Super-Duper Fruits: Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu Archdiocese Dr. John Baptist Odama” on his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee. I’ll remember you as a Great Peace Lover.
I personally and passionately hope that His Grace will continue to be a boon companion of peace for his entire boast and “I may not be astonished if the LORD GOD decides to change the colour of the Zucchetto of His Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama from Purple to Red by granting him to be a Cardinal and my wish and prayer is that this astonishment should not even last longer from the ‘Holy See’ but may the will of the LORD be done.”
As we will congregate to celebrate your Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Gulu on Saturday, December 14th, 2024 for the magnificent occasion, Your Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama, I want to thank you sincerely for working tirelessly for the Peace and Development in our Region of Acoli, in our Country Uganda and the entire Cosmos specifically advocating for peace.
“May the LORD GOD bless you our Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu Archdiocese Your Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama with the Health of Mind, Body, and Soul so that you may lead all the flocks to the Holy One, the Most Holy Father, our GOD who chose you to be His Priest, His Herald, and His Servant for the glorification of His Mighty Name.”
Felicitations to you as you Celebrate your Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee on Saturday, December 14th, 2024!
God Bless You, Your Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama!
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