The Bishop of Kotido Catholic Diocese, His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu, has urged Christians not to be afraid of drawing closer to God, to keep the Spirit of the Lord alive within them, and to accept that challenges are a normal part of life that can be faced with faith and perseverance.
Bishop Eibu made the remarks at St. Kizito’s Catholic Parish in Katine during a colourful celebration that marked both the Feast of St. Dominic and the 27th priesthood anniversary of Rev. Fr. Charles Osire, the parish priest.
The occasion drew hundreds of faithful, priests and community leaders from the Soroti Catholic Diocese.
In his homily, Bishop Eibu said that the first duty of every Christian is to cultivate a personal and living relationship with God.
He reminded the congregation that closeness to God is the source of blessings, guidance and spiritual strength to overcome life’s difficulties.
“Let us not be afraid to get closer to God. Everyone should be given the chance to reach out to God so they can receive blessings and guidance. We can be close to God through prayers and by engaging in church activities,” Bishop Eibu said.
He emphasized that spiritual closeness is not merely a feeling but an active commitment expressed through daily prayer, regular participation in the sacraments and service to the Church community.
According to the bishop, when believers draw near to God without fear, they discover that His love and mercy far exceed any human weakness or past mistakes.
The second major theme of his message centred on the importance of keeping the Spirit of the Lord alive.
Drawing on the sacrament of confirmation, Bishop Eibu reminded Christians that they have been anointed with the Holy Spirit, and that this divine gift must be protected and nurtured.
“If we want the anointing of the Spirit that we received from confirmation to remain alive in us, we must stay close to God. This allows us to keep the gift of the Spirit alive,” he emphasised.
The bishop likened the effort required to keep the Spirit alive to the discipline needed for academic excellence.
“It’s hard to keep the Spirit alive because there are certain bad things we have to let go of. Just like in school, if you want to excel, you must be disciplined and work hard,” he explained.
He encouraged the faithful to guard the gifts of the Holy Spirit through prayer, good works, moral discipline, and active participation in the Church’s mission.
Bishop Eibu’s third theme was the acceptance of life’s inevitable challenges.
He noted that Christian life is not a promise of constant ease but a journey that involves trials meant to strengthen faith and character.
“Not everything will be smooth in life. There will be challenges, but we must embrace them with faith and perseverance,” he said.
He urged the faithful to approach difficulties not as obstacles to be feared, but as opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God.
The bishop stressed that the ultimate purpose behind every effort and sacrifice should be the good of the Church and the wider community.
“Everything we do should be for the good of the Church and the community,” he concluded.
The day’s celebrations also paid tribute to Rev. Fr. Charles Osire for his 27 years of dedicated service in the priesthood. Parishioners praised him for his pastoral care, leadership and commitment to evangelisation.
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