By Fr. Isaac Ojok, Communications Office, Lira Diocese
Thousands of children from the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) across Lira Diocese gathered on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Otwal, for the annual Missionary Childhood Day celebration.
Presiding over the event, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, Bishop of Lira Diocese, made a passionate appeal to parents to avoid violence when raising children. Instead, he called for dialogue as the proper method of guiding children’s moral development. “Violence has no place in teaching,” the bishop emphasized, “Use the mechanism of dialogue to pass on values, and remain a true light in your community.”
Bishop Wanok stressed that children are a gift from God and the hope of the Church and society. He warned parents against neglect or rejection of their children, saying, “If you do not want a child, do not conceive one. But once a child is born, it is your divine responsibility to care for them.”
The bishop urged parents to pray with their children, make them happy, support their dreams, and nurture them in faith, love, and hope. He reminded parents that their role includes ensuring their children grow in the life of Christ, especially by preparing them spiritually to receive Holy Communion with reverence.
In a strong catechetical message, Bishop Wanok asked parents and stakeholders to listen to children’s voices and support their moral and spiritual growth. He called for humility and remorse when parents wrong their children or set a bad example.
Addressing societal issues, Bishop Wanok warned that failure to properly guide children can lead to moral decay and future corruption. He emphasized the need to tame children’s materialistic appetites, which he linked to poor leadership and widespread corruption. “We have bad roads because of corruption, someone somewhere failed to deliver good service. I suffered navigating bad roads to reach Otwal,” he lamented, using the state of local infrastructure as an example of broader moral failure.
The Otwal celebration held for the first time featured vibrant participation by children, who animated the liturgy with devotional hymns, prayer intentions, and active involvement. Their prayers included intentions for the universal Church, church leaders, victims of war and natural disasters, the sick, the suffering, and the faithful departed.
This year’s event was themed: “Children are the sowers of hope,” inspired by the Gospel of Mark 4:3-9.
The celebration drew not only children but also their parents, priests, civil authorities, and political leaders from Oyam District, who came to witness and support the colorful and spiritually uplifting occasion. In conclusion, Bishop Wanok encouraged parents to be joyful sowers of faith, teaching children to put God’s word into practice and to become beacons of light in their homes, schools, and communities.
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