By Stanley Ebele
Pilgrims in their thousand from across Kotido Catholic Diocese on Thursday thronged Morunyang martyrdom site in Loyoro Catholic Mission, Sidoko sub-county, Kaabong district for the Annual Memorial Mass in honor of Fr. Mario Mantovani and Brother Godfrey Kiryowa, with a call for peace in Karamoja Sub-region.
Fr. Mantovani, an Italian priest born at Orzinuovi, Brescia, on December 18 1919, and Brother Kiryowa, a Comboni missionary, who was assigned to Kapedo Catholic Mission were gunned down by Karamojong armed men in the morning of 14 August, 2003, in Kopoth, which lies on the border between the Dodoth and the Jie.
Fr. Mantovani, nicknamed by the Karimojong “Apalongor”, which means, “bull of an ash-grey colour” and described by many as a kind, friendly, generous, zealous and very human person died aged 84 while Brother Godfrey Kiryowa, was only thirty years of age.
Brother Kiryowa, was born on December 20 1973, of a family of Tanzanian origin became the first Ugandan Comboni Missionary Brother to be killed in Africa.
Since then, Kotido Catholic Diocese has marked August 14, as a day to celebrate the lives of two missionaries who lost their lives in line of duty for the sake of others.
This year’s commemorations drew together pilgrims from the parishes of Losilang, Good Shepherd, Panyangara, Kaabong, Kapedo, and the host parish Loyoro to celebrate the lives of the two great missionaries.
The mass was presided over by Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu, the Bishop of Kotido Catholic Diocese as the chief celebrant.
In his speech Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu, extolled the Christians for demonstrating love and unity by celebrating the lives of Fr. Mantovani and Brother Kiryowa.
The prelate urged them to embrace peace and emulate the legacy of the two slain missionaries who lived and exhibited a strong faith regardless of danger to their own lives.
Santina Auma, a pilgrim from Kokoria Parish, and Mario Arion from Kanawat parish, said they trekked to the martyr’s site in order to pray for peace and unity in Karamoja.
Sylvia Koryang aged 75, from Kanawat Parish remembers Fr. Mantovani for promoting education and Christianity in Karamoja.
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