Baptism of Baby Gregory

On Thursday, 14 November, 2024, we visited the parish of Archangel Gabriel for a baptism.

Archangel Gabriel parish is in a remote part of Omoro district, in the Acholi subregion of Northern Uganda. Father Simon Menya is the parish priest. When Fr Simon cannot be present, Catechist Okello David leads the community. The church was constructed by IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) during the civil war, at the site of an internally displaced persons camp.

On Thursday, 14 November, we all went to Archangel Gabriel for the baptism of baby Gregory, son of Okello David and his wife, Stella. Novice monk Cornelius is the happy godfather of Gregory, whom he named after St Gregory the Great.

Above, Cornelius is standing with his mother, Susan, and Okello David and Stella. Stella is holding Gregory, and David has his arm over Methodios, their oldest child.

Now that Cornelius has a godson in Uganda, he must return as soon as possible and hopes to spend much time in the Holy Orthodox Diocese of Gulu and Northern Uganda.

After the baptismal service, the choir sang many songs of joy and praise, including “Amazing Grace", below.