Blessed Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa

Blessed Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa were young lay catechists of the Acholi people in northern Uganda. They were killed in 1918 at Paimol because they would not give up teaching the faith. The Roman Martyrology commemorates them on September 18, and the apostolic letter of beatification set their memorial on October 20.

Both came from pagan families in the area of Kitgum, where the Comboni Missionaries had founded a mission in 1915. Daudi was born around 1902 in the village of Ogom-Payira, and Jildo around 1906 in Bar-Kitoba. They went through the catechumenate at the mission, received Baptism and First Holy Communion in June 1916, and Confirmation on October 15 of the same year. Jildo, a lively, gentle, and helpful boy, then went to live at the mission.

When the catechist of Paimol, Antonio, died at the beginning of 1917, Daudi went to the superior of the mission, Fr. Cesare Gambaretto, and offered to take his place. He was given the younger Jildo as his helper. The missionary warned them of the hardships: Paimol lay about 80 kilometers from Kitgum, and fighting often broke out in the area, stirred up also by raiders and slave traders. Daudi is said to have answered: “I am not afraid to die. Jesus, too, died for us!”

In Paimol Daudi beat the drum at dawn to call the catechumens to morning prayer, and with Jildo he also prayed the Rosary. He taught the children to learn by heart the prayers and the questions of the catechism, often repeating them with them in song. Jildo helped him gather the children and won people over with his kindness. Both kept away from tribal and political disputes.

After decisions of the British colonial administration, unrest broke out in the area. According to documents of the Holy See, followers of the local cults and Muslims joined the rebels, and their hostility turned against the Christians. Between October 18 and 20, 1918, before dawn, five men came to the catechists’ hut. The village elder protested, because they were his guests, but the attackers demanded that Daudi stop teaching. When he refused, they dragged him outside and pierced him with spears. Jildo also refused to leave, and he was struck with a spear and a knife. Daudi was about sixteen to eighteen years old, Jildo about twelve to fourteen.

Daudi’s body lay unburied for several days. In February 1926 his remains were laid in the mission church of Kitgum, at the foot of the altar of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The faithful at once recognized both boys as martyrs. On April 23, 2002, the decree on their martyrdom in hatred of the faith was promulgated.

John Paul II beatified them on October 20, 2002, in Saint Peter’s Square, on World Mission Sunday. In his homily he called them courageous witnesses who were little more than boys, and he presented them as models and intercessors for catechists throughout the world, especially where catechists still suffer for the faith.