Ugandans Express Gratitude to U.S., Canadian Anglicans
Episcopal News Service. May 26, 1977 [77184]
New York, N.Y. -- A spate of Easter cards and greetings have won the warm gratitude of the Ugandan Christians to whom they were sent.
The newly-chosen archbishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire joined officials of two of the Uganda dioceses in writing to the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Most Rev. Edward W. Scott to thank the hundreds of Episcopalians and Canadian Anglicans who had written to the Anglicans in Uganda during the Lenten and Easter seasons.
The Most. Rev. Silvanus Wani, who was elected as archbishop after the Most. Rev. Janani Luwum was killed in February while a prisoner of Uganda's president Idi Amin, wrote a pastoral letter shortly before his installation in which he thanked members of the Anglican Communion for "the kind letters, Easter cards and encouraging messages."
The Rt. Rev. Geresom Ilukor, Bishop of Soroti, reported to Bishop Allin that he had received 941 cards and added: "These cards have been a blessing to us. The messages and prayers have strengthened us in the Lord Jesus. You care for us."
He said they had sent cards to all the clergy in the diocese so that they could read the messages themselves and said that many would be helped by the words.
The Diocese of Lango is also circulating the cards throughout its territory and has mounted a display of the greetings in the cathedral.
In the letter from Lango, the diocesan secretary told Bishop Allin: "It has really been a great help and encouragement to all in this diocese in these dark days to know that we are not alone, but that our fellow Christians are praying for us and loving us. It makes the fellowship of the Gospel a reality to us all. The message of the death and resurrection of Christ has come afresh to us this year. Our Lord has conquered sin and death and lives for evermore, and because of this, we and our loved ones are in His hands, wherever we may be. "
He also asked for continued prayers for the staff, clergy and people of the diocese at this time.