Uganda: Bishop Odoki Expresses gratitude to the Holy See for support to Arua.

The Bishop of Arua Diocese in North Western Uganda, Sabino Ochan Odoki, has expressed his gratitude to the Holy See for the support given to facilitate the well-being of refugees who have taken shelter within his Diocese.

Fr Isaac Ojok – Uganda.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Vatican News this week, Bishop Sabino said he is happy that the Holy See, through the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, has supported the Diocese with some resources meant for the care of refugees.

Even though he could not disclose the kind of support given, Bishop Odoki said he was delighted that the Holy See has now recognised Arua Diocese for its pastoral care to refugees.

Vicariate for refugees and migrants

Due to pastoral need, Bishop Sabino informed Vatican News that the Diocese of Arua has created a Vicariate for Refugees and Migrants and that he had appointed Fr Felix Drani to oversee the various pastoral agents and congregations working to extend pastoral care to refugees.

So far, the Bishop said the Diocese has welcomed pastoral agents from several international and local congregations. The congregations offer care and services in different sectors, such as education, health, and catechesis, including counselling across the refugee hosting zones within the Diocese.

Need for more pastoral agents

With the arrival of some pastoral agents who are priests and religious women from other countries, Bishop Odoki has made a new call to local and international religious congregations to come to his Diocese and help provide pastoral and spiritual care to refugees.

Earlier last year, Bishop Odoki revealed that Caritas Arua, with support and collaboration from other partners like Caritas Germany, Belgium, Denmark and Caritas Italiana, were giving seedlings and other relief services to refugees to support and improve their livelihoods amidst a shortage of resources from international Aid agencies.

He added that the Diocese of Arua was later joined by the Jesuit Relief Services-JRS with a unique programme in training catechists and other pastoral agents that serve in the refugee settlements and camps spread across the Diocese.

One million refugees in Arua Diocese

In Northwestern Uganda, Arua Diocese shares a long border with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. Arua Diocese hosts about one million and fifty thousand refugees.

The Government of Uganda and UN agencies are also doing their bit to care for refugees in the Arua Diocese and other parts of the country.

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