Who is Rev.Fr.John Edema
Priest -MIDM
My name is Rev. Fr. John Alokore Edema, a perpetually professed member of
the
Divine Master Missionaries (MIDM). I am a proud Lugbara from Yumbe District.
My parents, Mr. Alex Alokore and Mrs. Rose Alau, passed away when I was very
young, my
father when I was 2 year, and my mother when I was 3 years. My father was a
primary school teacher, and my mother served as a nurse at Yumbe Hospital. I
am the last born in my family.
I grew up under the care of my faithful uncles, I was introduced to the
Catholic faith and a life of devotion. They were exemplary Christians,
they offered guidance, support, and daily inspiration. Together, we attended
Holy Mass every day and prayed the Holy Rosary each evening after supper,
This
formed the foundation of my spiritual journey.
Where pain planted a seed, God made a vocation bloom
A journey from orphaned childhood to priestly mission, all thanks to God’s unfailing love.
God took my broken beginnings and wrote a beautiful vocation
Orphaned as a young child in Yumbe
District, I was raised by my faithful uncles. In their home, daily Mass and the family
Rosary became my foundation.
The defining moment came at my mother’s deathbed. Witnessing her receive the Anointing of
the Sick and pass in peace revealed to me the power of a life rooted in God. That day, a
seed was planted.
That seed grew through service at the altar, through the inspiring stories of missionaries
like St. Daniel Comboni and Fr. Bernardo Sartori, and through my time as a catechist. I
learned that God uses our deepest sorrows to shape us for His greatest joys.
At Makerere University, serving in the Catholic Chaplaincy, my call clarified: to lay down
my life for my friends, as Christ did. My vocation is a simple response to a love that never
abandoned me, even in loss.
The death of my mother had a great impact on my life and my calling. Witnessing her enduring
faith in her final moments receiving Jesus through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the
Sick and then peacefully passing away touched my heart deeply. From that moment, I felt a
strong desire to draw closer to God, praying the Holy Rosary daily and taking Mother Mary as
my own spiritual mother.
When I reached Primary Seven, I began participating in daily Mass and serving at the altar.
I found great joy in being part of the liturgy, helping to lead the faithful in prayer.
In 2005, I joined St. Charles Lwanga College, Koboko as a Senior One student. It was here
that my vocation to the priesthood began to take shape. I continued serving at the altar,
and my desire to dedicate my life to God grew stronger. A Comboni Missionary, Fr. Romano
Dada (MCCJ), gave a talk about his missionary experiences in Latin America. His words
inspired me to read about the life of St. Daniel Comboni, whose perseverance through
hardships and deep faith mirrored challenges I had seen in my own life. This stirred in me
the longing to celebrate Mass, preach the Word of God, and administer the Sacraments.
During my time at school, I also served as Liturgy Minister and Head of Altar Servers,
learning more about the responsibilities of a priest. In Senior Five, I read about Fr.
Bernardo Sartori (MCCJ), the founder of my parish. His devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
constant prayer, and tireless work in establishing five parishes inspired me greatly. He
even knew the day of his death and passed away in front of the Blessed Sacrament, a
testimony to a life wholly given to God. His example became a model for the priest I wished
to become.
In high school, I also served as a catechist, leading prayers and services in our chapel.
These experiences, along with the lives of St. Daniel Comboni and Fr. Bernardo Sartori,
strengthened my resolve to serve God as a priest.
I have experienced God’s love through the care of others and through His constant guidance
in my life. I am convinced that God is faithful and provident, and I want to respond with my
whole life, sharing His love with others. The words of Jesus in John 15:9 “I have loved you;
remain in my love” and John 15:13 “No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life
for one’s friends”guide my vocation and my desire to serve.
My calling became clearer when I joined Makerere University and became actively involved in
the St. Augustine Catholic Community Chaplaincy. I learned how to reach out to young people
and the educated, sharing Christ’s love through pastoral care, Catholic education, and
social engagement. It is here that I realized my mission: to serve God and His people,
especially the youth, and to witness Christ through my life and ministry.
Vocations Animator
