Determination and courage leads to lasting witness
By FR. PAULINO MONDO MCCJ – Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Parish Rushere Parish
Uganda is the land of Martyrs. We are blessed to be counted among those ready to carry the Cross to the end. There are 47 official Uganda Martyrs, with an extra 13 being Comboni Missionary Priests, Brothers and Sisters. The martyrs, Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa were two young catechists from Northern Uganda around 1917.
They belonged to the Acholi tribe, a sub- division of the large Luo speaking group, who are also present in Southern Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Congo. They lived and were martyred in the years immediately following the foundation of the mission of Kitgum by the Comboni Missionaries in 1915, hardly two years in service. The,grace of Martyrdom of these two young Catechists confirms what St. Peter says that, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” Acts 10:34.
Broken but still standing
The mission station of Kitgum, which had been established in 1915 experienced very hard and difficult times, culminating into unrest among the population. There was the Spanish Fever epidemic that claimed lives of many people; the spread of a form of syphilis called nyac abac by the Acholi, believed to have come along with Arab traders; the 1916 famine that had recently caused the death of Antonio the Catechist of Paimol and proliferation of guns in the area.
Despite all these difficulties, which they were well aware of, Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa were determined to carry on their Christian mission to the extent of demonstrating that “my grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness,” 2 Corinthians 12:9. Having completed their probation year as trial catechists in October 1917, Daudi and Jildo felt they were ready to embark on an evangelizing mission to other people.
From Baptism to Mission
At the beginning of 1917, Antonio, the catechist in charge of Paimol, died. Daudi went to Fr. Cesare Gambaretto, then superior at the mission of Kitgum, offering to take Antonio’s place. Daudi’s appointment came only towards the end of that year, during one of the catechists’ monthly meeting. The young Jildo Irwa was to go with him as his assistant. Before setting off, Fr Cesare informed them of the difficulties of their work but Daudi is alleged to have answered: “I am not afraid to die. Jesus, too, died for us!”
So around November-December 1917, with Fr. Cesare’s blessing, Boniface, the head-catechists of Kitgum accompanied Daudi and Jildo to Paimol. Here, Daudi immediately began his work by gathering children willing to take religious instruction. At dawn, he beat the drum to call his catechumens for morning prayers and for Jildo and himself, also for the Rosary. He taught them the prayers and the catechism’s questions and answers, repeated often in a sing-song like manner during the lesson, to facilitate the memorizing.
It was a matter of teaching the first elements of the faith, the so called Lok Odiku (the words of the morning), namely, the essential parts of the catechism. To this activity, Daudi added the visits to the nearby small villages, from where the catechumens were coming after busy day hours of assisting their parents in grazing cattle or work in the fields. At sunset, Daudi gave the signal for common prayer and the Rosary, always closing with a song to Our Lady. On Sunday, he led prayer service, often enlivened by the presence of catechumens and catechists of the area.
The immeasurable courage worthy the crown of martyrdom
Jildo Irwa repeated the same words of “do not fear” to those who were urging him to leave Paimol and his duty as assistant catechist. He insisted that, “we have done nothing wrong,” he was saying in tears “For the same reason you may kill Daudi you must also kill me because together we came here and together we have been teaching God’s word.” Having said this, somebody grabbed Daudi, pushed him outside the hut and placing him at a distance of two steps, pierced him through with a spear; it was 18th October 1918. Then another one struck Jildo’s head with a knife to death. He was about 12-14 years old.
Conclusion, which is the beginning
Martyrdom is an account of the lives of those ready to pay the price for the sake of the Gospel. The martyrdom of these two young Catechists from Uganda is a lasting lesson written on stone with human blood and very meaningful for the youth of today and generations to come. The witness of Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa proves that what people see as “foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom” 1 Corinthians 1:25.
These two young lay catechists together carried out and remained faithful to their assignment to spread the Gospel when they had opted to desert confirms the words of St. Daniel Comboni that “I have returned among you never again to cease being yours and all consecrated for your greater good in eternity. … I make common cause with each one of you, and the happiest day in my life will be the one on which I will be able to give my life for you.” (SS 3158-3159) By courageously confronting hatred with love, DaudiOkelo and Jildo Irwa represent the integrity of a Gospel which is the WORD for all seasons. Blessed Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa, pray for us!
Daudi Okelo was born around 1902 in Ogom-Payira, a village on the road Gulu-Kitgum by pagan parents Lodi and Amona. They belonged to Ongon Payira. At around the age between14-16 years, he attended the instruction to receive baptism. Records show that he was baptized by Fr. Cesare Gambaretto on 1st June 1916. His godfather was Firmino Mugenyi of Masindi. He received first holy communion on the same day and was confirmed on 15 October 1916 and thereafter requested to be enrolled as a catechist.
Irwa Jildo was born in about 1906 in the village of Bar-Kitoba, North-West of Kitgum, from pagan parents. He was a son of Tongpfur Daniele Okeny who later became Christian and Atoo of Labongo Bar- Kitoba, another clan of the Acholi in Kitgum. Irwa was baptized Jildo short form for “Ermenegildo” on 6th June 1916, at the age of 10-12 years. He received his first Holy Communion and was confirmed on 15 October 1916. He was slightly younger than Daudi Okello. Jildo’s godfather was one Pasquale Omara and at Confirmation, he was sponsored by Yoannes Baptista Oye one of the first Christians in Kitgum.
