On the occasion of the Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union Fr. Fabrizio Meroni’s visit to Uganda, a meeting was held that brought together all the Diocesan Directors of the Pontifical Missionary Societies and other pastoral representatives from the nine dioceses that make up the two ecclesiastical provinces of the archdioceses of Gulu and Tororo (in the photo). The event took place in the diocese of Lira, about 340km from the capital of Kampala, and was attended by 65 people, including 18 priests, six religious, catechists, teachers and other committed Catholics from the city of Lira. 

Fr. Meroni elaborated upon the objectives that Pope Francis intends to pursue in calling for the Extraordinary Missionary Month of October 2019, with particular attention given to the involvement, on a global level, of the local churches in the Church's mission today. Fr. Meroni is also the Director of CIAM, the International Center for Missionary Animation, and of Fides, the press agency of the Pontifical Missionary Societies.

The meeting was opened by the diocesan Bishop, Mons. Giuseppe Franzelli, who presided over the celebration of the Holy Mass, giving particular importance to the event with his presence.

The children of the "St. Nowa Mawaggali" Primary School (named after one of the 24 Martyrs of Uganda who was killed in Kiyinda in 1886), received the poster with the theme and logo of the Extraordinary Missionary Month of October 2019 from Fr. Meroni. The teachers, including the religious of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix of Gogonya, were entrusted with explaining to the children the Extraordinary Missionary Month’s theme by involving them in activities that will allow them to participate in the year-long preparations leading up to October, 2019.