Parishes

Parishes play a crucial role in maintaining religious and community life within churches, providing support and guidance to their members, and extending their influence into the broader society through outreach and charitable efforts.

Angal Parish can be considered the Mother Parish in Nebbi Catholic Diocese since it was the first Parish among the Alur People in West-Nile. After the failure of the Mission in Orussi because of isolation and cold weather causing sickness where Fr. Pietro Audisio was Superior, in 1917, Fr. Antonio Vignato the Superior of the Uganda Mission obtained permission from the District Commissioner of Arua to transfer the Mission to Angal. So on the 25th August 2017, with the permission of the Padyere County Chief Hamis, Fr. Spazian and Fr. Santambrogio came down from Orussi to Angal to build with Bro. L Savariano, where Mukungu Edward Ovoyo welcomed the Missionaries and granted 100 acres of Land for the Mission.

Fr. Elio Zanei is now the Parish Priest assisted by Fr. Mario Zecca and Fr. Justine Ogen. Other Religious Congregations here include the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary at Angal Pastoral Training Centre and Angal Secondary School, the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu serving at the Hospital and the Nursery/Primary School and 1 Comboni Brother (Bro. Bonafini Gianni).

This is the Second Parish in the Diocese after Angal, established in 1933. The first Parish Priest who opened Nyapea was Fr. Kampi and his Curate Fr. Patiang. The Parish had zones like Zumbo, Warr, and Paidha, which later became Parishes on their own. Fr. Justine Ogen the first native Comboni Missionary was ordained at Nyapea in June 1969. In 1973, Nyapea Parish was handed to the local clergy by Bishop Tarantino, Frs. Gusmeroli, Zanotto, and Bro. Dusi with Fr. Stephen Opira as the first native Parish Priest.

Fr. Patrick Jachan is now the Parish Priest, assisted by Fr. Paul Olum Moro and Fr. Emilio Onegwa. Other Congregations include the Sacred Heart Brothers at Nyapea College and the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate serving at the Hospital and Schools. Some Lay American Missionaries serve in the School for the Deaf.

Rwoth Agudi of Ocegu in November 2017 sent a messenger to Fr. Joseph Santambrogio the Parish Priest of Angal to send him the White Missionaries to teach his subjects. The Parish Priest sent him two young Catechists, Martin Okello from Ragem and Richard Oryema from Paroketo. The Catechists started to teach Catechism and opened a School with Classes one and two in Koch Parish under Nebbi Sub-County. In 1922, the Chapel and School were moved to Nebbi-Mbana (the present place where Nebbi Cathedral and the Diocesan Headquarters are). Bishop Angelo Tarantino of Arua Diocese opened Nebbi Parish on the 18th of May 1962. The Priests who began to work in the new Parish were Fr. Emilio Onegwa as Parish Priest (a born of Nyapea) and Fr. Jenesio Jakech (a born of Pakwach).

When Nebbi became a Diocese and got its first Bishop in 1996, this Bishop Msgr John Baptist Odama started the foundation of the Cathedral Church. The 2nd Bishop (Msgr Martin Luluga) completed the building work. The Cathedral was consecrated by the Most Rev Christopher Pierre, the then Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda in the year 2005. The Parish Priest now is Fr. Benard Denis Abanga assisted by Fr. Gaspar Agwokotho, Fr. Emmanuel Ocokuru, Fr. David Ongiertho and Fr. Lawrence Driwale. Fr. Raphael Okumu helps in the Secondary Schools of Comboni College and Nebbi Town. Other Religious Congregations include Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate with 3 Communities, Daughters of Providence, Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, Marian Brothers, St. Martin De Porres Brothers, and Brothers of Christian Instruction.

Both Panyimur and Wadelai Parishes used to be part of Pakwach Parish. At Pakuba, the Missionaries came on 17th February 1910. On 6th March 1910 Bishop Geyer blessed a big cross made of rough tree trunks and planted it there at Pakuba (Koba), as a symbol of where Faith entered the land. The pioneer beginning of the Comboni Missionaries at Omach ended with the death of Bro.Nicola Co’ of Black fever on the 1st November 1915. In 1916, the British Administration allowed the mission to be transferred to Orussi. But also at Orussi, due to isolation and cold weather causing continuous sickness the mission was evacuated in 1917. So on the 25th August 1917, the building work at Angal was started. This is how Pakwach missed becoming the first Parish after receiving the missionaries and keeping them for some few years. However some Prayer Centres or Chapels persisted and right from the beginning of 1918, the Priests in Angal were visiting Chapels like Panyango, Paroketo, and Panyigoro.

Eventually, Pakwach became a Parish in the year 1952 and the first Parish Priest was Fr. Ventorino Leone who was being assisted by Fr. Mc Bruno. on 27th October 1989, Pakwach Parish was handed over by the Comboni i.e. Frs. Carmelo and Bono to the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries with Fr. Ermejildo Athocon as the Parish Priest, and Fr. David Ongom ‘Kavera’ as the Curate. Then the Apostles later handed to the Diocesan Priests.

Now the Parish Priest is Fr. Charles Onegiu Gwali, assisted by Fr. Pastore Agwokotho. The Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate serve in the Health Centre and Primary School.

Rwoth Agudi of Ocegu in November 2017 sent a messenger to Fr. Joseph Santambrogio the Parish Priest of Angal to send him the White Missionaries to teach his subjects. The Parish Priest sent him two young Catechists, Martin Okello from Ragem and Richard Oryema from Paroketo. The Catechists started to teach Catechism and opened a School with Classes one and two in Koch Parish under Nebbi Sub-County. In 1922, the Chapel and School were moved to Nebbi-Mbana (the present place where Nebbi Cathedral and the Diocesan Headquarters are). Bishop Angelo Tarantino of Arua Diocese opened Nebbi Parish on the 18th of May 1962. The Priests who began to work in the new Parish were Fr. Emilio Onegwa as Parish Priest (a born of Nyapea) and Fr. Jenesio Jakech (a born of Pakwach).

When Nebbi became a Diocese and got its first Bishop in 1996, this Bishop Msgr John Baptist Odama started the foundation of the Cathedral Church. The 2nd Bishop (Msgr Martin Luluga) completed the building work. The Cathedral was consecrated by the Most Rev Christopher Pierre, the then Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda in the year 2005. The Parish Priest now is Fr. Benard Denis Abanga assisted by Fr. Gaspar Agwokotho, Fr. Emmanuel Ocokuru, Fr. David Ongiertho and Fr. Lawrence Driwale. Fr. Raphael Okumu helps in the Secondary Schools of Comboni College and Nebbi Town. Other Religious Congregations include Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate with 3 Communities, Daughters of Providence, Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, Marian Brothers, St. Martin De Porres Brothers, and Brothers of Christian Instruction.

In November 1916, the missionaries were granted permission to leave Omach and establish a mission among the Alur in West-Nile in another area. At the recommendation of the British Officer (Assistant District Commissioner of Arua), Orussi was chosen as the Place for the new mission and work started immediately in this new place. In the same year 1917, Orussi was abandoned and Angal was chosen as the place for the mission. Much as Orussi was abandoned, the Lay People who already knew the faith kept on giving Catechism instructions to people under the trees. The mission at Orussi known as Italia is still remembered today for this (there is Italia Chapel, Zone and Primary School).

With time, many other Chapels sprang up, and these kept on multiplying like those already listed above until Orussi became a Parish on 1st January 1961 with Fr. Aldo Codognola as its first Parish Priest, assisted by Fr. E. McErlean. Meanwhile, the work on a bigger Church continued until its completion and consecration on 15th of August 1966 under the Patronage of Our Lady of Fatima. In March 1980, Orussi Parish was handed over by Bishop Tarantino and Fr. Paul Negrini to the Diocesan Clergy i.e. Fr. Gabriel Okwong as the Parish Priest and Fr. Cornelius Odubi as the Curate. The Parish Priest is now Fr. Geoffrey Owachgiu Stonick. The Sisters of Sacred Heart help in the Health Centre and Nursery/Primary Schools.

In 1944, Bishop Angelo Negri of the then Gulu Diocese, came to Uleppi Chapel under Ediofe Parish, and baptized many Catechumens. The people requested him to establish a Parish here because Ediofe was very far for them. In 1947, Bishop Angelo Negri declared the place a Parish. Fr. Santino Ku’du was sent to open the Parish however, 3 months later he died of sickness at Moyo. In 1948, Fr. Donasiano Bala was appointed the Parish Priest assisted by Fr. Jovenale Galle. It was at this time that the first grass thatched Chapel was erected. In 1949, the Mission site was transferred to the Current Site. Fr. James Jachan is now the Parish Priest from 27th July 2018 and he is assisted by Fr. Frederick Ejotre. The Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate serve in the Health Centre and Primary School. There is a Sub-Parish called Offaka Sub-Parish under Uleppi whose Care-taker is Fr. Jerry Yoacel; the Franciscan Brothers and Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church are also found here.

This Parish, started as a Praying Community in the Palace of Rwoth Jalawure in 1918 at Warr (at the present place where Warr Health Centre III is). The Chapel of Aluka, moved to Agiermach in 1947 because in Aluka the Church was being disturbed by Lightning. The first Priests who were coming for Pastoral work here from Nyapea started the construction of the first Church. In 1952, Warr became a Parish with Fr. Dalameo Adello as her first Parish Priest. On16th of July 1984, Warr Parish was handed by Fr. Carmelo Del Rio to the Diocesan Clergy with Fr. Fabiano Titiya as the First Parish Priest. Now Warr has Fr. Charles Openytho as the Parish Priest assisted by Fr. Ronald Okweda and Fr. Alfred Agwokotho. The Sacred Heart Sisters help in Agiermach Health Centre and the Schools, while the Marian Brothers help in Agiermach Technical School and other Schools. There is a Sub-Parish under Warr called Atyak with Fr. Albert Oromchan as the Care-taker; the Brothers of Christian Instruction help in the Primary School.

The history of the Catholic faith in Paidha goes back to 1920 when the first Chapel called Paidha Adrukpele was built where the Present Paidha Police station is i.e. Upper Adrukpele Christian Community of Oturgang Chapel and Zone. This was under Angal Mission. Finally, Paidha Chapel was transferred to Oturgang in 1947. The Christians prayed over the intention of having a Parish in Paidha and others would walk daily to Nyapea to attend morning weekday masses. Finally, in 1963 Paidha was given the Mission with Fr. Piffer Italo as the first Parish Priest and Fr. Ginaro as his Curate. Paidha Parish in June 1975 was handed over to the local clergy with Fr. Valente Jatho as the first native Parish Priest. The Parish Priest now is Fr. Jackson Kerunga Osiga assisted by Fr. Cornelius Odubi and Fr. David Kumakech. The Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate help in the Schools.

The History of Wadelai Parish goes back to the arrival of the First Missionaries in 1910. At that time, Rwoth Alli of Ragem was the ruler here and his Palace was east of the Nile at Arana. A few people from Koch Pa Dacha were baptized while they were still east of the Nile as they had contact with Paroketo and Omach. During the reign of Rwoth Owiny, A Catechist called Desiderio from Parombo was sent by the Parish Priest of Angal Fr. Moresco Afuyo in 1935 to preach the Word of God, after visiting Rwoth Owiny, this Catechist, opened centres for prayer and started teaching Catechumens at Ragem and Mutir. When Pakwach Parish was curved out of Angal Parish and Opened in 1952, Wadelai became part of this new Parish. Wadelai Parish was opened in 1982 and the first Parish Priest was Msgr Lodoviko Ongom. The Parish Priest of Wadelai now is Fr. Richard Lino Opio assisted by Fr. Mark Obedgiu and Fr. Etienne Onega.

Panyimur Parish started as a Chapel in 1910. It was the first Christian Community that the Comboni Missionaries inherited from the zeal of the Catechists from Nyarambe and Hoima, together with Parombo, Pagwata, and Pamora-Padel. In 1966 Parombo became a Parish with Panyimur as one of its Zones. In 1980, Panyimur Zone became a Sub-Parish recommended by Fr. Joseph Ambrose then Parish Priest of Parombo. On 6th December 1981, Panyimur became a Parish with Fr. Luiji Sala as its Parish Priest. Then in August of 1989, Panyimur Parish was handed over by Bishop Drandua, Fr. Zanei, Fr. Centis, and Fr. Dutto to the Diocesan Clergy i.e. Fr. Charles Gwali as the Parish Priest and Fr. Primo Manano as the Curate. The Current Parish Priest is Fr. Aloysius Oryem assisted by Fr. Charles Biweka

Chief Wanikani on hearing about the Missionaries at Angal also wanted them in his land so he went to Aruisi (the Colonial Government Representative or Chief) who supported his idea. Chief Wanikani sent People to Angal in 1927 to ask the Missionaries. The Missionaries sent Catechists here in 1930. Finally in the year 1999, Akanyo became a Parish with Fr. Luiji Sala as the First Parish Priest curved out of Angal Parish. On 12th December 2005, the Parish of Akanyo was handed over by Bishop Martin Luluga, Fr. Sala, Fr. Aladino, and Fr. Stocchero to the Diocesan Clergy i.e. Fr. Rupiny Constantine as the first native Parish Priest meanwhile the Comboni Priests went back to Angal with Fr. Aladino going to Moyo. The Parish now has Fr. Denis Ocanda as the Parish Priest and Fr. Peter Jachan as the Curate.

Angaba Centre was started by the second generation of Christians as it began in 1931 when Gaetano Mona came from Angal to teach Religion under the Yago at Nyangara. In 1955, the Church and School were transferred to the Present site. In the year 2014, it became a Sub-Parish Centre. On the 10th/October/2015 it was opened as a Parish curved out of Parombo Parish. The first Administrator was Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok the then Ordinary of the Diocese, with Fr. Mark Obedgiu as a visiting Priest. The first Parish Priest Fr. Lawrence Driwale, was officially appointed on the 25th August 2016 and now the Parish has Fr. Charles Anwangkane as the Parish Priest.

As a Chapel, Parombo was started in 1919 by Fr. Santambrogio under Angal Parish. In 1933, Parombo Church was built with a grass thatched roof near the present Primary School. Parombo was finally opened as a Parish in 1967 with Fr. Antonio Fiorante as the Parish Priest and with Fr. De Tomasi as his Curate. On the 10th October 1999, Parombo Parish was handed by Bishop Martin Luluga, Fr. Sala, and Fr. Baltz to the Diocesan Clergy i.e. Fr. Patrick Jachan as the Parish Priest and Fr. Emmanuel Dan Oryema as the Curate. The Parish Priest is now Fr. Simon Otyekwa assisted by Fr. Grace Ozunga. The Sacred Heart Sisters help in the Nursery, Primary, and Secondary Schools.

The Catholic Faith in Zeu started in two different places in late 1917 i.e. Lewe Ocwalo and Jupamatho. The faith came here through Catechists trained by the Comboni Missionaries. In 1966 Zeu became a Parish with the first Parish Priest being Fr. Paul Negrini. On 16th of July 1984, Zeu Parish was handed by Fr. Negrini Paolo to the local Clergy i.e. Msgr Jalcebo Paul as the Parish Priest. The Parish Priest now is Fr. Joseph Obemu assisted by Fr. Kennedy Kermu.

On 6th April, 1924, a new centre was blessed at Zumbo. It was started in 1925 as a Chapel by Fr. Vignato Antonio. Zumbo became a Parish on 08th/August/2009 curved out of Nyapea Parish with Fr. Mark Obedgiu as the First Parish Priest. The Parish Priest now is Fr. Walter Wokorach assisted by Fr. Felix Ambadiyo.

Jangokuru Parish was opened on 28th/February/2017. It was curved out of the present Nyapea Parish. The First Parish Priest was Fr. George Angala, now the Parish Priest is Fr. Paul Mungujakisa.

This Parish was opened on 04th/January/2018 curved out of Paidha Parish. The first Parish Priest appointed was Fr. John Bosco Asedri with Fr. John Hercules Odokodit as his Curate. However Fr. John Hercules Odokodit has since gone to School.

This became a Parish on16th/February/2001 curved out of Warr Parish. The Parish Priest now is Fr. George Angala assisted by Fr. Richard Oromchan.

It started in 1960. The Current Parish Priest is Fr. Andrew Wadia Cadri assisted by Fr. Patrick Berochan and Fr. Salvatore Adraba.