Oyam, Uganda | Thousands of children under the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) from across Lira Diocese gathered on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Otwal, to celebrate the annual Missionary Childhood Day.
Presiding over the vibrant celebration, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, Bishop of Lira Diocese, appealed to parents to embrace non-violent methods when raising children.
He emphasized that violence should have no place in teaching and instead urged parents to use dialogue as the proper means of guiding their children’s moral development.
The bishop noted that through dialogue, parents can effectively pass on values and serve as a true light in their communities.
Bishop Wanok underscored that children are a gift from God and represent the hope of both the Church and society.
He warned parents against the dangers of neglect and rejection, stating that anyone who does not want a child should avoid conceiving one.
However, once a child is born, he stressed, it becomes a divine responsibility to care for them fully.
Encouraging spiritual formation at home, Bishop Wanok urged parents to pray with their children, make them happy, support their dreams, and nurture them in faith, love, and hope.
He emphasized the importance of helping children grow in the life of Christ by preparing them spiritually, especially to receive Holy Communion with reverence.
Delivering a strong catechetical message, Bishop Wanok called on parents and stakeholders to attentively listen to children and support their moral and spiritual growth.
He asked parents to show humility and remorse whenever they wrong their children or set a poor example.
The bishop also tackled societal issues, warning that failure to properly guide children could lead to moral decay and corruption in the future.
He noted that unchecked materialism among children was contributing to poor leadership.
Using local infrastructure challenges to illustrate his point, Bishop Wanok lamented the condition of roads he had to use to reach Otwal, attributing such service delivery failures to corruption.
He emphasized that someone, somewhere, had failed in their responsibility to deliver what was right.
The Otwal event, held for the first time, was marked by enthusiastic participation from children.
They animated the liturgy with devotional hymns, prayer intentions, and active involvement throughout the Mass.
Their prayers included intentions for the universal Church, religious leaders, victims of conflict and natural disasters, the sick, the suffering, and the souls of the faithful departed.
This year’s celebration was held under the theme “Children are the sowers of hope,” inspired by Mark 4:3–9.
The event drew a wide range of participants, including parents, priests, civil authorities, and political leaders from Oyam District.
LDNA
