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Editor's Note
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2019. Last year was pretty exciting and full of grand achievements, we received funding from USAID-ASHA to build a new boy’s dormitory, our new administration/library block was finished and it is in use now.
This year has started off on a good note; Ocer performed exceptionally well in Uganda Certificate of Examinations (UCE ) 2018 examinations, at the end of the first term, the school inaugurated its prayer garden in a colourful ceremony witnessed by the school community and the Religious. Our students under the sponsorship program excelled in UCE exams. This galvanizes our efforts the more to look in every corner of the world searching for kind and generous people to support the sponsorship program. Thank you everyone who big-heartedly gives to this noble cause, because of you we are shining a light in the lives of these children as you help us give them the best gift in life-education.
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Ocer registers remarkable performance in 2018 UCE Exams
Our sponsored students soared high
The new academic year started off on a good note. Uganda Certificate of Examinations (UCE) were released and Ocer emerged as the best performing school in Gulu district and second best in the Northern region. At the National level, the school was ranked 40th out of 2024 schools countrywide.
This is not the first time Ocer shines academically; since the school’s inception, the school has exhibited academic prowess in National examinations not only in the Northern region but also nationwide. This time it was different, Ocer registered remarkable performance, the best in its history.
The school registered 61 candidates in Division one, 19 in Division 2 recording a pass rate of 76%. A total of 80 candidates sat the UCE examinations.
Our students on the sponsorship program performed exceedingly well. Great appreciation to all our supporters who generously give to the sponsorship programme. Because of your kind efforts, these students have an opportunity to receive the best gift in life, an education that is unlocking doors to countless opportunities.
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A spotlight on some of our best sponsored students.
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Ocer Commemorates International Women’s Day
Ocer commemorated International Women’s Day under the theme: Think Equal, Build Smart, and Innovate for Change. The celebrations kicked off with a mass celebration presided over by the head teacher, Fr. John Chachu SJ.
In his homily, the head teacher called on both the male students and faculty members to respect and appreciate women. At the same time, he urged the female students to focus on their education. “Parents sacrifice a lot for your education, the only way to pay back is to concentrate and excel at your studies, “he said.
Students showcased different talents, some danced, maimed while others modelled different cultural wear. The Advanced Level male students engaged in an advocacy campaign pledging to promote gender equality and respect for rights of women and girls in their communities.
A male student displays his pledge in support of gender equality
A student models an African attire
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A dream fulfilled......
“Three years ago Mother Mary appeared from the heavens carrying a little baby. It was in a dream that was to become a reality. When I looked at her face she appeared very sorrowful and troubled. I asked her what is wrong but she would not answer me, that sorrowful image disturbed my mind in trying to guess what it could mean.
It was after some days as I was walking around our water pond area praying a rosary that I noticed a place that was so bushy and weirdly looking and suddenly as I was gazing at the place, I received an inspiration and an insight. I realized that Mother Mary wanted me to transform that place into a prayer garden. I inquired about the place and I got so many scary stories about the place; it was a place where the witches and wizards used to meet and do their things, it was a place where the rebels did some ritual sacrifices and it was a place where all sorts of evils were committed. I immediately understood why Mother of God was very sad and why he wanted that place for her shrine,” narrated Brother Cyprian Mwithia SJ.
On 1st May 2019, on the feast of St. Joseph the worker, the dream was fulfilled; the Prayer garden, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary was inaugurated. In a colourful and spirit-filled ceremony, the inauguration kicked off with a procession with Mother Mary going before a jovial crowd.
Indeed, the prayer garden was inspired by God. When Bro. Cyprian received the dream, he did not have any idea where he would get the funds to start God’s project. God is faithful; for everything that was needed for the prayer garden was provided by well-wishers without much hassle.
“After understanding, I raised a query to Mother Mary on how I will make that place a shrine yet I did not have resources!” narrated Bro. Cyprian. “I felt an assurance within that Mother Mary will provide,” he continued. And indeed Mother Mary provided. The grotto was freely built by one of the engineers who works on the school building projects and the statue donated by a devout catholic from the capital-Kampla (380KM away from Gulu)
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In the Spot light
In this issue we celebrate Bro. Cyprian Mwithia SJ. Bro. Cyprian is the
in - charge of Ocer’s campus ministry; the campus ministry fosters the spiritual lives of students and collaborators acknowledging that engagement with faith is integral to developing whole persons inspired to build a more humane and fair world.
Through campus ministry, students’ spiritual growth is fostered through worship, spiritual care, faith formation, community service, guidance, counseling and reflection.
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