The
answer is then is to be sought first and foremost in the conversion of human
heart to God .Justice and Peace Commission
Archdiocese of Gulu
August 2008, Vol. 8, No. 5
Preparation for the provincial Peace Week activities is intensifying in Gulu Archdiocese. All the committees have been formed and their activities launched by the Auxiliary Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki in August 2008 at St. Monica Tailoring School.
The different sub-committees meet August 25th to report to the Central Organising Committees about the activities they have already carried out.
The theme for the Peace Week, “Combating Poverty; Building Peace,” was derived by the Pope, Benedict XVI. He highlighted the need for the Human Family to find an urgent response to serious question of Poverty, seen as a material problem, but above all, as a Moral and Spiritual one.
Attention is to be focused on Poverty in Northern Uganda, Uganda and the world as a whole. We have to wonder how can one remain insensitive to the appeal of those who are here (in the north), Uganda, and on the various continent are not able to feed themselves enough to live. Poverty and malnutrition are not a simple fatality, and it has ruined the lives of people in this region for the last 22 years.
We should reflect on the deep roots of material poverty and, consequently on
spiritual poverty which makes man indifferent to the suffering of others.
The
answer is then is to be sought first and foremost in the conversion of human
heart to God .
The Provincial Peace Week is an annual activity of the Justice and Peace Council (JPC) of the Ecclesiastical Province of Gulu under the programme of "inter-community engagement." The purpose is to provide space for social interaction, prejudice reduction, healing, and reconciliation among the communities of the region.
This was in the realization of the broken relationship in the Province in the history of our country; 1970s (Idi Amin's regime) and 1980s (Obote II regime). The latest insurgency by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) compounded the brokenness among our communities with counter accusation of inflicting pain to the other.
The JPC took the opportunity of the Provincial arrangement of the Catholic Church to provide leadership in the region to mobilize for reconciliation and peace. In this way, it is hoped to contribute to healing and reconciliation at local, regional, and national levels, thus achieving our mission of "working for harmonious co-existence, justice, peace, and reconciliation."
The nature of the event is Catholic Church led, but it is an all-embracing community activity. Secondly, it is to be hosted in rotation among the four Dioceses of the Province.
The first one was hosted by Arua Diocese in Adjumani (2006), the second by Lira Diocese at Ngetta (2007) and the third by Nebbi at Nebbi Primary School in Nebbi town (2008). To complete the first round, Gulu Archdiocese, on behalf of Acholiland will host the 4th edition as was announced (by the Archbishop) from January 13 - 17, 2009.
The projection in the rotation was deliberate to be a climax and it was hoped by then, peace would have been attained in our region. This seems to be so. It is with this new chapter of post conflict recovery that Gulu Archdiocese and the entire people of Acholi will host this event.
The Central Organising Committee (COC), will work collaboratively with all the stakeholders; district leadership, local and international NGOs, the interfaith fraternity and all people of goodwill in Acholi sub- region to organize this event. Auxiliary Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki launched the preparatory programme
Justice and Peace Commission
Archdiocese of Gulu
Tel. 256 (0) 471-435.951