Bishop Sabino Calls on Christians in Kamaka to Safeguard Unity, Embrace Their Gifts and Strengthen Christian Families

• 30th October 2026
• By Admin
• Church News

KAMAKA PARISH, ARUA DIOCESE - The Bishop of Arua Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki, has called on Christians in Kamaka Parish to remain vigilant against anything that threatens unity, urging them to nurture a spirit of communion, love and cooperation for the continued growth of their families, communities, parishes and the Diocese.

The Bishop made the call while presiding over the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation at Kamaka Parish, during which he also witnessed the celebration of one Holy Matrimony.

In his homily, Bishop Sabino emphasised that Christians must be able to identify and reject anything that causes division, noting that disunity undermines the development of Christian communities and the growth of the Church.

He urged the faithful, particularly the newly confirmed, to safeguard the unity of the Church from an early age.

Reflecting on St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, the Bishop reminded Christians of their responsibility to preserve unity and live in communion with one another and with God. He observed that without unity, the Church's mission and the development of its communities would be compromised.

Addressing the newly confirmed, Bishop Sabino described them as new prophets, filled with the Holy Spirit and commissioned to proclaim the Good News through their words, actions and daily Christian witness. He encouraged them to recognise, appreciate and nurture the gifts God has entrusted to them, putting those gifts to meaningful use in the service of the Church and society.

He cautioned Christians against comparing themselves with others, explaining that God gives people different gifts and abilities for different purposes. Rather than comparing their blessings, he encouraged the faithful to pray for understanding, identify their individual talents and make the best use of what God has given them.

The Bishop also challenged Christians who are living together as husband and wife without the Sacrament of Matrimony to regularise their unions by bringing their commitments before the altar of God.

He observed that couples who have had the courage to express their love for one another should equally have the courage to solemnise their relationships in the Church.

Drawing from the Christian understanding of marriage, Bishop Sabino explained that God chose to become one with humanity through Christ, and that this unity is reflected in the lifelong commitment of a husband and wife through the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Recognising the importance of marriage in strengthening Christian families, the Bishop pledged to remain available to couples and encouraged them to invite him to witness and bless their matrimonial celebrations.

Bishop Sabino encouraged Christians to move away from a mindset of poverty and embrace hard work, saving, investment and responsible management of available resources.

He challenged the faithful to stop defining themselves by what they lack and instead focus on what they can achieve with the little they have.

"If we continue crying about poverty, we shall always remain poor. Let us learn to save, invest and make the best use of the little we have, and we shall begin to see the difference," he urged.

To illustrate the importance of hard work and determination, the Bishop shared the experience of his father, who, despite not being wealthy, was determined to work hard and educate his children. He noted that, looking back, he now appreciates the sacrifices and determination of his father, whose commitment to education helped shape their future.

He reminded Christians that prosperity should not be understood merely in terms of material wealth but also through hard work, responsible stewardship, determination and the willingness to improve one's circumstances.

Bishop Sabino also shared reflections from his recent visit to Rome, where he participated in renewal programmes organised in preparation for the celebration of his 20th Episcopal Anniversary.

He revealed that on 24 September, he had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and seek his blessings for himself, Uganda, Arua Diocese and the refugees living within the Diocese.

The Bishop highlighted the presence of approximately 1.6 million refugees within the Diocese of Arua, describing their presence as both a pastoral responsibility and an opportunity for the Church to demonstrate God's love and compassion.

He expressed gratitude to God for blessing Arua Diocese with numerous religious congregations that continue to support its pastoral and missionary work. He particularly welcomed the arrival of the Claretian Missionaries from India, who have joined the Diocese in its evangelisation mission.

The Bishop further conveyed the greetings of the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, who, despite being relatively new to the country, had already visited Arua Diocese. He described the visit as a special blessing and an indication of the Holy Father's closeness to the local Church.

He encouraged Christians to appreciate these blessings and remain grateful for the spiritual support and encouragement extended to the Diocese by the Holy Father and the Apostolic Nuncio.