Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki Elevates St. Kizito Chapel to Parish Status

Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki Elevates St. Kizito Chapel to Parish Status

In a historic milestone, Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki, Bishop of the Diocese of Arua, officially elevated St. Kizito Catholic Chapel Logoba Zone Church under Moyo Vicariate to a parish status earlier this week. This significant event coincided with the celebration of 100 years of faith at the parish center, marking Logoba Parish as the 56th parish in the Diocese of Arua.

The consecration ceremony, presided over by Bishop Sabino, was a momentous occasion that brought together the Christian community. During the ceremony, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Drici was installed as the parish priest of the newly established parish. Additionally, 120 young Christians were confirmed into the Catholic faith, and six couples exchanged their vows in holy matrimony.

Bishop Sabino emphasized the importance of creating more parishes to cater to the spiritual needs of the growing population. He stressed the need for more vocations, saying, “We need to pray for more vocations so we can open smaller parishes and have priests present near the people.” He also highlighted the significance of establishing more parishes to bring the Good News closer to families.

The new parish will serve as the spiritual hub for five chapels: St. Kizito Logoba Chapel, St. Andrew Apostle Kendi Chapel, St. Daniel Comboni Afugi Chapel, St. Paul Wano Chapel, and St. Mary’s Etia Chapel. With its new status, St. Kizito Parish will have the privilege of preserving the Blessed Sacrament, possessing a baptismal font, and administering all sacraments.

The establishment of the new parish also brings administrative independence, with St. Kizito Parish and its chapels no longer relying on the mother parish of Moyo. Instead, they will unite for the development of the parish, with a Pastoral Council and Finance Committee to be elected after due preparation of the Christians.

Bishop Sabino encouraged the creation of additional chapels and prayer centers under the guidance of the parish priest to address future pastoral needs. In his homily, he drew lessons from the Gospel of the day, focusing on the role of John the Baptist as a forerunner of Christ. He praised John’s life of sacrifice and humility, urging the faithful to follow his example.

With its new status, St. Kizito Parish embarks on a path of unity and development, guided by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel. The parish’s growth is a testament to the increasing need for smaller, more accessible parishes in the diocese.