The Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate Ediofe Community in Arua Catholic Diocese are seeking more than Shs100 million to renovate their ageing community house, which has developed several structural and safety challenges.
The house, located near Ediofe Cathedral, currently accommodates five Reverend Sisters and also serves as a centre for prayer, spiritual formation, meetings, retreats, hospitality and other church activities. The congregation was founded by Bishop Angelo Negri in Gulu in 1939 and established its first community house near Ediofe Cathedral in Arua in 1941.
However, the house is now in a dilapidated state, with leaking roofs, peeling walls, cracked ceilings and floors, faulty electrical wiring, inadequate plumbing and insufficient water and sanitary facilities. Reverend Sister Cecilia Florence Amule, a member of the Little Sisters and project director for the renovation, said the worsening condition of the building had made its renovation urgent.She said the project was intended to provide the Sisters with a safe and dignified place to live while improving the environment in which they receive and serve members of the community.
Sister Rose Mary Akello, the project treasurer, said the renovation has a bill of quantities of more than Shs100 million. She said the community has so far raised Shs2.5 million in cash and received pledges worth Shs2.3 million since the fundraising drive began a month ago.
Monsignor Kasto Adeti, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Arua, appealed to people of goodwill to support the Sisters, saying the renovation would help sustain their religious ministry and service to the community.
Paul Lule, chairperson of the renovation project, said the initiative was also aimed at preserving a facility that has served the Catholic Church and communities in Arua Diocese and West Nile for decades.
Joseph Chobe Wambuzi, a parishioner of Ediofe Cathedral and supporter of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate, said a committee had been established to organise a fundraising drive in Arua. He said the grand launch of the fundraising campaign is scheduled for next Sunday, with the organisers targeting completion of the renovation within six months.
The Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu are a religious congregation dedicated to education, healthcare, pastoral ministry, evangelisation and community development.
Their members currently serve at Ediofe Girls Secondary School and Primary School, Aripea and Metu health centres, and primary schools in Adu, Pakele and Indriani, as well as refugee settlements in West Nile-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
