Gulu, Uganda

It was a joyous occasion as 40 of our students received the sacrament of confirmation. On 26^th November, 2023, Ocer Campion school community together with some local community members gathered to celebrate a significant milestone of the students who received the sacrament of Confirmation.

This was not an ordinary mass celebration; the day also happened to be the feast of Christ the King and at the same time, the school celebrated the feast of St. Edmund Campion; the school’s patron saint. The official feast of St. Edmund Campion falls on 1^st December however the school celebrated it in advance. This was planned so that the students can take part in the feast celebrations as their holidays came earlier (29^th November 2023).

The students adorned in red t-shirts, gathered with anticipation as they prepared to receive the sacrament; a sacred rite of passage in the Catholic faith. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Fr. Gino Mwaka who represented the Archbishop of Gulu, His Grace John Baptist Odama. He was assisted by Rev. Fr. Boniface Kimatu, SJ. Fr. Gino called on the students to know the story of the patron saint; St. Edmund Campion. While speaking to the confirmed students, he cautioned them that they were receiving a sacrament that can never be repeated. “Today, you are being declared an adult,” he said. 

The ceremony ended with a communal prayer, where the newly confirmed students expressed their collective commitment to living a life guided by the principles of their faith.

At the end of the mass, the main and co-celebrant together with the catechists joined the confirmed students to cut cake.

The afternoon was a hive of activity as students gathered in the dining hall for Campion day celebrations. The excited students indulged in different entertainment; some danced contemporary dances while others lovingly performed different cultural dances. It was a display of talent and a battle of champions silently. The day ended with a sumptuous meal.