Emmanuel Nigel: "The Visit and Pilgrimage of Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta, the Bishop of Torit Diocese and the Diocesan Choir Members to Christ the King Parish Kitgum and Gulu Archdiocese."

By Emmanuel Nigel

Piemonte House

Date: Tuesday, January 13th, 2026

With Happiness and Thanksgiving to the Lord God, Christ the King Parish Kitgum will joyfully receive the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Torit, His Lordship Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta, the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, His Excellency Gen. Louis Lobong Lojore, the Rt. Hon. Charles Udwar Ue Rt. Hon. Speaker of Eastern Equatoria State - South Sudan, the Civil Leaders, and the Diocesan Choir Members of Torit Diocese for a Visit to Christ the King Parish, Kitgum, and for a Pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Gulu. Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta, who will be visiting Christ the King Parish Kitgum and Gulu Archdiocese, was born on December 19th, 1973, and he is a South Sudanese Catholic Prelate. He is serving as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Torit in South Sudan. He was appointed on November 8th, 2022, by His Holiness Pope Francis (RIP). His consecration as the Bishop of Torit Diocese took place on January 15th, 2023.

The Visit and Pilgrimage to Christ the King Parish Kitgum and Gulu Archdiocese by Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta of Torit Catholic Diocese (South Sudan) follows the Visit by the Parishioners, particularly the Choir Members of Christ the King Parish Kitgum to Holy Rosary Catholic Parish in Torit Catholic Diocese from Friday, January 24th, 2025, to Monday, January 27th, 2025. Fr. Mathew Orach Ssemwanga, the Curate of Christ the King Parish Kitgum, accompanied the Choir Members to Holy Rosary Catholic Parish in Torit Catholic Diocese. And after that Visit, there was an agreement between Gulu Archdiocese and Torit Diocese that such visits should be highly encouraged for the Pastoral, Spiritual, and Social Well-being of the People in the two Countries (Uganda and South Sudan).

The Visit and Pilgrimage: "The Visit and Pilgrimage of Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta, the Bishop of Torit Diocese and the Diocesan Choir Members to Christ the King Parish Kitgum and Gulu Archdiocese" will be a Profound Grace and Communion for the People of God. Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta visits us as a Shepherd and a Pilgrim in our Parish of Christ the King and in our Archdiocese. His presence among us will definitely be a sign of the Lord God’s Closeness, Care, Love, and Peace for the Parishioners of Christ the King Parish, Kitgum, and the Archdiocese of Gulu as a whole. "I see this Visit and Pilgrimage as it should bring a Profound Grace and a Communion for the People of God. We are one in Christ with one Profession of Faith."

The Visit and Pilgrimage is from Thursday, January 29th, 2026, to Sunday, February 1st, 2026, with the Theme: “Celebrating Christ Our Real Life: Becoming Agents and Restorers of Broken Humanity!” (Col. 2:5). During the Visit and Pilgrimage, there will be the following activities: Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta and the Dignitaries will pay a Courtesy Call on His Grace Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese at the Archbishop’s Residence at St. Jospeh’s Cathedral Gulu on Friday, January 30th, 2026. On Saturday, January 31st, 2026, Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta, the Dignitaries, and Pilgrims will have a Pilgrimage to Blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa Shrine at Paimol-Wipolo - Gulu Archdiocese, and later a Visit to the Tomb of Blessed Giuseppe Ambrosoli at Kalongo Parish. There will be a Celebration of the Solemn Mass in Christ the King Parish Kitgum, on Sunday, February 1st, 2026, at 10:00 AM, that will be animated by the Diocesan Choir of Torit and will be presided over by His Lordship Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta, the Bishop Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Torit. Later in the afternoon, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, there will be Cultural Performances and Presentations of Hymns by various Groups from the Gulu Archdiocese and the Catholic Diocese of Torit. There will be an Official Closure and End of the Visit and Pilgrimage with the Celebration of the Holy Mass on Monday, February 2nd, 2026, at Christ the King Parish Kitgum, which commences at 7:00 AM.

His Visit and Pilgrimage are not merely a physical journey but a Spiritual one calling us to Unity, Prayer, and Renewed Faith. As the Bishop of Torit Catholic Diocese walks with us, prays with us, and nourishes us with the Word of the Lord God on the 4th Sunday of Liturgical Year A in the Celebration of the Holy Mass, in which we are also reminded that the Holy Catholic Church is a Family journeying together toward the Holy Paradise journeying together toward the Kingdom of the Lord God our Father.

May this Visit and Pilgrimage of His Lordship Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta of Torit Diocese, His Excellency Gen. Louis Lobong Lojore, the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, the Hon. Speaker of the Republic of Eastern Equatoria State, the Rt. Hon. Charles Udwar Ukech, the Civil Leaders, and the Diocesan Choir Members of the Catholic Diocese of Torit be a Profound Grace and Communion of the People of God, Strengthen our Hope, rekindle our Love for Christ our Lord and Saviour and His Holy Church, aid us to create true love between the two Countries Uganda and South Sudan, and empower us to serve one another with great Humility, Joy, and Happiness.