Centenary Celebration of St. Charles Lwanga Mundru Rwee Chapel
Mundru Rwee Chapel (Arua Diocese) -
On the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Charles Lwanga Mundru Rwee Chapel in Maracha
marked 100 years of Catholic faith with a grand centenary celebration held on June 29th, 2025.
The event was graced by the presence of Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki, Bishop of Arua Diocese, and
witnessed the confirmation of 29 candidates and the celebration of 8 holy matrimony ceremonies.
Bishop Sabino praised the vibrancy of the parish, recognizing the active associations including
the Catholic Action, Catholic Women Association, the Choir, Charismatic Renewal, St. Kizito Group,
and many others that continue to keep the faith alive. Bishop commended the choir for their large
numbers and dedication, encouraging all Christians to actively participate in church associations
as a sign of true Christian obligation.
While reflecting on the centenary milestone, the Bishop expressed gratitude to God for the journey
so far and urged Christians to begin envisioning the next 100 years with focus and determination.
"As we give thanks to God for this achievement, we must now look to the future and work towards it.
We should not go backward. As the saying goes, 'Forward ever, backward never.' Mundru Rwee must
continue to grow in all aspects,"he stated.
He urged parents to ensure their children attend school regularly and perform well. Addressing the
parish school's performance, he challenged the community to strive for excellence. "We need
professionals from here; doctors, priests, religious brothers and sisters, engineers, and pilots.
Education must be given the importance it deserves," he said.
The Bishop also called for economic empowerment among Christians, stressing self-reliance and the
utilization of local resources. "God has given us all we need to live better lives. Let's use our
land, farm, and do business. The first capital is yourself, economic growth is essential for a
strong and self-sustaining community.
He thanked the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Aquilino, for the invitation to celebrate the day with the
Christians and appreciated the presence of the first priest he ever ordained, who joined the celebration.
He shared greetings from Germany, where he had recently been, and brought blessings from the Feast of
the Sacred Heart, encouraging Christians to stay connected with the diocese.
In his reflection on the Word of God, Bishop pointed on to the readings from the Prophet Isaiah and
the Gospel of Luke, noting that when one receives the Spirit of the Lord, it is a divine favor meant
to be used to spread the Good News of God's love. "Even this celebration is a testament to God's love,"
he said.
He concluded by wishing the congregation a joyful celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary and appreciated all parishes that submitted their budgets to the diocesan office. The Bishop announced
that the Diocese's current budget stands at approximately 10 billion Ugandan shillings and called upon the
faithful to support the church's mission.
St. Charles Lwanga Mundru Rwee now joins the few parishes in Arua Diocese to celebrate 100 years of Catholic
faith , following Indriani (2012), Moyo Catholic Parish (2017), Ediofe (2018), and Kaya Parish (earlier this year).
