Counting blessings as martyrs make 100 years

Kalongo deanery led 100 years anniversary celebrations of two Uganda martyrs, Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa, at Paimol Catholic Shrine yesterday. Rose Clare Akello shares what she has achieved in her intercessions through the two.

Her faith
Akello, 56, a resident of Forgod, in Gulu District, says her dedication to pray and worship through the two martyrs is rooted in to her Catholic background which made her a humble, obedient and faithful believer.
“My father was a teacher and a catechist who dedicated his life just like the two martyrs. He passed on that love for the two martyrs to me. He led the Catholic congregation that walked from Kitgum to Gulu to attend the Pope John Paul II rally in 1993 at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu District,” Akello says.

Mother speaks because of prayers
Akello has dedicated her life to praying through the two martyrs.
“I can’t quantify the miracles that have happened in my life through my supplication through the two martyrs,” she explains.
She talks of her late mother who was bedridden and had lost speech using only sign language. In 2005, she regained her speech before passing on.
“I prayed to Irwa and Okello to allow me hear my mother’s voice. When I arrived at hospital on June 23, 2005 with the portrait of the martyrs and handed it to my mum, she said, “Thank you” but died three days later. It was a great miracle,” Akello recalls.

Relic birthday gift
Akello cannot forget one of the best birthday gifts she has received because of her devotion to the martyrs.
“On July 20, 2013, Archbishop John Baptist Odama, gave me relics of Okello and Irwa as a birthday gift saying there was no other gift he could give me because of my dedication to the blessed young men. This is so far the greatest gift,” she beams.
She adds that whenever there are special prayer requests, she dedicates the prayers through the relics.

Witness of the beatification
The 56-year-old says she was among the few who travelled to Rome during the beatification of the Roman Catholic Uganda martyrs by Pope John Paul II on October 20, 2002.

Expectations
“As we celebrate 100 years of the two martyrs, I believe that people from different places will experience different miracles. Whether, they will be at the shrine or in any other part of the country and the world,” says Akello.
She urges Christians to take prayers seriously even during tough times, “It is faith that earns one happiness at the end of the day.”
The Rev Fr Samuel Okot, the priest of Atang Parish in Pader District says, the 100-year- celebration comes with great expectations that Christians have travelled from across the globe.
“We seek wonders through the two martyrs that God has blessed us with. It is indeed awesome that different people have got healed spiritually and physically following their faith in the martyrs and we expect more this year,” Rev Fr Okot says.
He adds, “In life there are certain places that you need to visit to get spiritual and physical healing and, Wi Polo Shrine is one of such places. It is through faith and belief that we can grow spiritually and see miracles.”
Florence Lamunu, the chairperson organising committee, says more than 10,000 people came for this year’s celebrations. The theme was, ‘Faith, Courage and Witness’.