We outline the results of the generosity of three groups of benefactors from the United States who have recently helped the Archdiocese to establish three parishes.
In 1995 St. Stephen's church and rectory was built in Kamuge-Olinga.
The church and the rectory were built with the help of the Holy See,
the people of St. Stephen's in Geneva, Rochester, NY (USA), friends from
the USA/Europe and the local people of Tororo Archdiocese.
In 2005 St. John the Baptist church was built in Chelekura.
The church, rectory and parish meeting facilities were built by the
people of the Archdioces with funding provided about 250 families centered
in the Bedford, NY (USA) area.
In 2005 St. Martha's Church at the Nagongera National Teachers' College
was completed with the help of the people of St. Martha's Church in Harvey,
Lousiana.
Let me explain a few points to anyone who may have an interest in working
towards a third church.
First, and most important, this is NOT a difficult task. The cost of
St. John the Baptist was less than $115,000 US dollars. From the pictures
below you can see this is not what many think when they hear about a church
in Africa. This is a brick building built on concrete. It has beautiful
doors and windows with a metal roof. There is an altar, baptismal font
and pews similar to those found in any church in the USA. The overall facility
houses not only the church but a rectory for two priests and a full compliment
of parish meeting facilities. In addition, the temporary church that was
on the site is being converted into a school for the area.
Our project took a number of years but as you can see, it was worth the wait.
For many reasons the committee that coordinated the project did not approach any parish directly. We did not use any parihioner lists to solicit funds. Rather, the committee started with knowledge of the area and manually listed all those people that Fr. John Kauta (Missionay Coop. Plan (USA)) has helped as a priest and friend over the many years that he served in the USA. We built a list of about 1,400 names. Of those, about 250 responded with donation and pledges.
If any group cares to try to fund another church please feel free to contact Fr. John Kauta (see the link on the main page) or if you prefer write to me and I will be most happy to talk with you on the details of how we built St. John the Baptist. Please write to me at qlp at qlpconsulting.com. Please list a logical subjest such as Tororo. Notes with no subject or ones that sound like solicitations will be deleted and not read!
Pictures of St. Stephen's church
Pictures of St. John the Baptist .
 |
The church is on the right with the parish office and meeting facilities on the left forming the "U" shape of the complex. The rectory is just out of the picture on the left. |
 |
This view shows the side of the church and part of the meeting rooms in the middle. The rectory which is not attached is on the left. |
 |
This is the back of the rectory. The view is from behind the church. |
Pictures of St. Martha's Church will be posted shortly.