Comboni Missionaries hand over Alenga Parish to Local Clergy

In attendance were other Comboni Missionaries working in the diocese and diocesan priests. Notable also, were some political leaders of the area including Hon. Peter Obong Acuda, newly elected Member of Parliament for Maruzi County.

The handover was symbolically done in the presence of the Bishop. The Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionaries together with the outgoing parish priest, Fr. Michael Oguzu Aribo presented the tabernacle key, Crucifix, Bible and Rosary to the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, Fr. Polycarp Opio who in turn handed the symbols of faith and authority to the new parish priest, Fr. Aaron Ojok.

In his homily, the Bishop challenged the Christians of Alenga to carry on the flame of faith handed over by the missionaries. Reflecting on the first reading from Exodus 17:3-7, he said, like the Israelites who reached a moment in their journey where they felt like they had reached a dead end because of lack of water in the wilderness, some people may also feel discouraged due to the departure of the missionaries, yet it is precisely at this moment when God shows himself the Master and Father of the journey who provides water from the rock. He also drew inspiration from the Gospel of John 4, reflecting on the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan women. He said that the Comboni Missionaries dug a well like Jacob did which has remained to quench the thirst of the people of Alenga. This well is the Gospel of Christ they brought, the schools and the health facilities, from which the Christians of Alenga will continue to draw and find life. There is reason to celebrate and be grateful. He invited the Christians to accept detachment as a spirit of Christian discipleship. He called on them to step forward and continue from where the missionaries have stopped. He invited them in particular to support the priests who are taking over spiritually, morally as well as materially.

The Provincial Superior, Fr. Anthony Kibira in his remark thanked God for the opportunity He gave to the Comboni Missionaries to evangelize the diocese following the charism of St. Daniel Comboni which aims at liberating and empowering God’s people. He emphasized that the mission is not about “us” as Comboni Missionaries but about God; therefore when the time is ripe, the mission is handed over to the local clergy to continue. To handover is a gesture of trust that the local Church has matured and is able to continue the mission. He said that St. Daniel Comboni encourages his missionaries to be hidden stones of the foundation contented only in doing the work of Christ to the extent that they should and leave others to continue the building. He recognized the contribution of various missionaries who worked in Alenga, some of whom shed their blood in the mission, namely, Fr. Egidio Feracin and Fr. Giuliani Pisoni. He mentioned that the blood of these missionaries shed in the mission of Alenga remind us that what motivates the missionaries is nothing but love for Christ and the zeal to make him known and loved. He thanked Fr. Michael Oguzu Aribo and Fr. Alberto Anichini for keeping the mission to the end and handing it over to the diocese.

The Head of Laity for Lira Diocese, Mr. Jovino Akaki Ayumo thanked the Comboni Missionaries the 56 years of mission in Alenga and urged the laity to take up the challenge by embracing the change. He called on the laity to support the diocesan priests as the take up the pastoral responsibility of the parish.

Alenga parish was erected in the year 1970 by His Lordship Rt. Rev. Caesar Asili, first bishop of Lira Diocese. Its first parish priest was Fr. Cesare Mengalli, who later became a Benedictine Monk and died recently in Italy. Other Comboni missionaries who worked in the mission include Fr. John Fraser, Fr. Egidio Feracin (+), Fr. Giuliano Pisoni (+), Fr. M. Balsarini , Fr. A. Campanini, Fr. Juan José Valero, Fr. Stanislas Atipoupou and others.

Fr. Constanz Opiyo mccj