info@dioceseofarua.org
+256 781 - 480 - 953
info@dioceseofarua.org
+256 781 - 480 - 953
The faithful of Nyapea Catholic Parish, friends and relatives of Rev. Fr. Valente Jatho gathered for a Thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee of Priesthood on the 27th of May 2021. Fr. Jatho was joined by five other Jubilarians from Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and Kampala Dioceses.
Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, Most Reverend John Baptist Odama, in his homily on the occasion invited all the Christians to join in the work of the Good Shepherd and not leave it to the priests alone. He thanked Fr. Jatho for his service to the people of God and asked him to continue being an encouragement. He remarked that he obeyed the voice of God to come to celebrate with his elders.
"First of all I want to thank God for the opportunity to celebrate with the jubilarians, God told me to be here and I obeyed it. These five priests here are my elders and I could not miss being together with my elders. Amongst them one taught me. For Fr. Valente Jatho, we were together at Pokea Minor Seminary. He was ahead of me and I was behind him. To Katigondo he went before me and I joined him, he went to Gaba, I joined him, when he was being ordained here at this parish, I was present. Today Fr. Jatho is celebrating 50 years in Priesthood, I’m present and celebrating 25 years also of being bishop. Am grateful to see my elders. 50 years is not little. That's why I told Fr. Jatho to lead the celebration , I will be together with him, " said the Archbishop.
The Archbishop remarked that amongst the Christians, there are still many people who are not baptised, unmarried couples living together, divided families and tasked the Christians to bring those forward as it is their role to continue with the work of Christ too.
Rev. Fr. Valente thanked God for the precious gift of life and for the gift of 50 years of Priesthood. He thanked God for the blessings he received from his loving family, friends and relatives. Later, a felicitation program was organized by the Parishioners and family members to make the Golden Jubilee of their priest a memorable one.