Bishop Wanok Inaugurates 2025 Jubilee Year with Symbolic Opening of Holy Door
Bishop Wanok Inaugurates 2025 Jubilee Year with Symbolic Opening of Holy Door
By Lira Diocese Communications Department
The Bishop of Lira diocese Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok has launched the 2025 jubilee year with the opening of the Holy door at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral Lira in a solemn celebration that attracted thousands of Christians from across the region.
The Bishop on Sunday 29th December 2024 was flanked by Christians, priests including the religious men and women from all the 28 Parishes and 6 sub parishes in Lira diocese who joined the Bishop in the procession and sharing the Eucharistic banquet, a sign of unity and cooperation in the church.
Prior to opening of the holy door, the event started from St Daniel Comboni Eucharistic center Adyel, a nearby out station within Lira city with proclamation of a Jubilee Bull. For the purposes of clarity, a Jubilee Bull is a papal document that announces the start and end dates of a catholic jubilee year. At about 9:00am, a solemn procession began from Adyel to Uganda Martyrs Cathedral Lira. The procession reminds us of our earthly pilgrimage here towards heaven, special time of prayer and renewal. Meanwhile men and women in uniform, the Chapel ushers guided the congregation.
It is approximately 2km distance from St Daniel Comboni Eucharistic center Adyel to Uganda Martyrs Cathedral Lira, a favorable distance one would need to pray to God for more blessings and indulgence before reaching the Cathedral.
Upon the arrival at the main entrance of the Cathedral, the bishop opened the holy door and the congregation entered through as pilgrims of hope.
In his homily, the Bishop said the Jubilee year, is a year that God has granted to the church as a gift and a special moment for people to renew themselves from the adverse effects of sins which is an opportunity for them to be grateful because renewal comes as a result of God’s goodness and mercy upon His people.
He added that jubilee year should be observed as a moment for people to forgive one another, a moment of reconciliation, dialogue, tolerance, total change and transformation among themselves.
The Bishop added that celebrating Jubilee year, marked by the opening of a holy door, symbolizes entry in to God’s everlasting mercy and forgiveness and that entering through it, makes one to obtain and experience the love and mercy of God.
While making reflection on the solemnity of Holy Family of Nazareth, the bishop urged the congregation to renew their lives, by walking on the way of Christ, experiencing and sharing love of God in their families following example of Joseph, Mary and the child Jesus who lived in Nazareth happily.
The bishop, who referred to holy family as a school where moral teachings are dispensed, stressed the need for it to be the model where Christian education is nurtured on the children.
He then underscored the call for responsible parenthood, to enable them offer proper care and love to children. He added that it is vital for both parents to refrain from the excessive use of digital gadgets and other items such as phones which may deter them from fulfilling their family obligations.
On Marriage, the Bishop mentioned that for a total transformation and change to take place, there is need for Christians to embrace sacrament of holy Matrimony and that mutual respect, love and forgiveness should be practiced among the family members. He warned the congregation to refrain from the practice of trial marriage which affects life and progress in the society.
The prelate further implored all key stake holders to denounce acts of violence in families and brutality on children which has deeply penetrated families at the moment. Instead, the bishop added, the jubilee year should be a time for people to restore and cement broken relationships among them.
On prayers, the bishop went on to remind couples to initiate the culture of recollection, silent prayers and meditation to enable them to listen to the voice of God. The bishop added that, a family that does not pray cannot discern properly the will of God. According to Bishop, it is important for individual family to draw their plans of working together in the spirit of prayer to enable them develop their families, just like Mary and Joseph in the family of Nazareth.
He appealed to the priests that the jubilee year is a special moment for them to work in collegiality in uniting their flock spread in their different homesteads for the good of the whole church.
At the climax of his homily, the bishop pledged to pray for all people in the diocese that they may remain united for the growth and development of the church in Lira diocese.
The Jubilee year 2025, inaugurated on 29th December 2024 is marked under the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope”, will run up to 28th December 2025, during which christians are encouraged to embrace sacrament of penance, Eucharist, as well as doing the acts of charity in their villages, towns and cities respectively.
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