Nebbi Bishop-elect Constantine Rupiny (right) and Sister Mary Grace Angelina during an interview with this publication last Thursday. PHOTO | EMMY DANIEL OJARA
The newly-appointed bishop of Nebbi Diocese has outlined several tasks he intends to execute as he embarks on his pastoral calling.
Pope Francis appointed Rev Fr Dr Constantine Rupiny,50, bishop of Nebbi Diocese last week. The announcement was made by Archbishop Raphael P'mony Wokorach at Nebbi Cathedral last Tuesday, sending the congregation into jubilations.
In an interview with the Daily Monitor, Bishop-elect Rupiny said he intends to tackle moral decadence, poverty, corruption, among other challenges, based on the major aspects of divine teachings, sanctifying the people of God and governance so that people are called to order.
“There is a high level of poverty in Nebbi Catholic Diocese and I want to concentrate on that. I will begin with feasibility studies to understand the precise causes of economic poverty, after understanding the cause, we see how we can respond as the church and the involvement of the local people and the government,’’ Nebbi Bishop-elect Rupiny said.
He added: “Let people embrace government programmes. Let people listen to what the Church is telling them about hard working. We should not only work hard to be in heaven but also here on earth we need to do our best.’’
Bishop-elect Rupiny described moral decadence and corruption as the consequences of evil, forcing people into sinful acts.
He said:“We acknowledge these problems of corruption, and evil in societies, but we keep on calling for forgiveness. The Church does not have armies to arrest corruption, and evil in societies but we keep on calling for consciousness…Uganda has good policies ...and if the government implements them, I think Uganda can improve.’’
Divisive politics
‘’Let us work together because division will not take us far, let us live together to improve our situation whether economically, whether spiritually, so let us not be divided whether from a political perspective,’’ the archbishop-elect said.
He added: “If one is not in your party, you don’t need to condemn that person to death, you simply agree this is multi-party politics and if one is not a Catholic, or is not in your religion...somehow we can have a dialogue and move on.’’
The bishop-elect will be installed on a date yet to be communicated.
Between 1983 and 1989 as a primary school boy, Mr Constantine Rupiny served as an altar boy as he firmly positioned himself to become a priest in the Catholic Church. But he never thought of becoming a bishop.
Mr Rupiny said he drew inspiration from Jesus Christ and his mother, Ms Terreza Angeyi .
The last born from a family of eight, the prelate lost his father when he was still young. He said his family survived by operating petty businesses and farming amid economic challenges including during studies. However, some missionaries stepped in to support him.
Born on November 10, 1974, in the rural Parombo Village in Pakwach District, Mr Rupiny attended the Pokea Minor Seminary, Alokolum Major Seminary, and Gaba National Major Seminary.
He was eventually ordained a priest by Bishop Martin Luluga of Nebbi Catholic Diocese on August 28, 2004.
He held various leadership positions namely as the assistant priest at Akanyo Parish between 2004 and 2005, as the parish priest of Akanyo between 2005 and 2007.
After that, the prelate was posted as a formatter and a teaching staff member at Uganda Martyrs Major Seminary Alokoloum, where he served from 2007 to 2009. He later became the Assistant Dean of Studies from 2013 to 2018.
In 2018, he was appointed the rector of Uganda Martyrs Major Seminary Alokolum in September 2023 until November 26, 2024 when he was appointed bishop of Nebbi Diocese.
He also holds a master's in Philosophy and a master's and doctorate in Dogmatic Theology.
The bishop-elect, however, attributes his rise in the Church ranks to discipline, knowing God, understanding his purpose, having a role model, and the will of God.
“When I was born my parents were already Christians, especially my mother used to like going to morning Eucharistic celebrations and so we would go together and after, for she would go to the garden to work. For me, I would go to our school, Parombo,’’ Bishop-elect Rupiny told this publication.
He added: “I became an altar server in Parombo Church. I would help in various Church activities. Sometimes I was punished for arriving late at school after morning masses, but we felt that the masses were an important thing and we continued.’’
Altar servers help the priest and deacon during Christian liturgical ceremonies by performing a variety of tasks, including preparing the altar before mass, carrying items, holding books for the priest celebrant, presenting gifts, washing the priest's hands, ringing the altar bell, responding to prayers and joining in singing the hymns and other chants of the liturgy.
Bishop-elect Rupiny, who cites Jesus Christ and his mother as role models, said: “The Word of God and the family background shaped my future. One of the people I can talk about is my mother. My mother is very prayerful, and she would make us recite the holy rosary every evening. Sometimes I become, lazy and sleepy but she instilled discipline that prayer is very useful.’’
What some Christians say
Seminarian Brian Okello from Lira Diocese and the head prefect of Uganda National Martyrs Seminary Alokolum said: “Our rector has exceptional characters, guiding our seminary community with wisdom, compassion, and dedication. I have witnessed firsthand his ability to inspire and motivate others. What I have learned from him is his humility and compassion. He is very compassionate and that has inspired a lot of seminarians.’’
Father Joseph Ssekenny, the acting Vice-Rector of Alokolom Major Seminary, said: “Indeed, Fr Dr Constantine is a unique person, especially gifted. He is a team player, he consults his team. He is a person you feel free to talk with at any time.’’
Sister Mary Grace Angelina, the Mother General of Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate, said: “We know he is capable, he can make it and we ask God to bless him. We pledge or commitments as the sisters because we work together and support him.’’
HEART’S DESIRE
Pope Francis appointed Rev Fr Dr Constantine Rupiny (pictured) bishop of Nebbi Diocese last week. Bishop-elect Rupiny says he had always wanted to become a priest when he joined the Seminary of Pokea. “I did not think of becoming even a rector or a bishop. A bishop is one of the successors of the apostles. That is why I say normally it is just the will of God…However when I became a priest, I found myself appointed, so I realised when I am a priest I should also get involved in other activities,’’ the prelate said. He added: “I became eventually parish priest of Akanyo parish, then later on I was sent here as a formatter, I did not even imagine that I would become vice-rector or a rector, it was not even in my mind. I simply wanted to teach and to interact with the students. That was all.’’
