Blessed Daudi Okelo
Blessed Daudi Okelo (born c. 1902 AD in Ogom-Gwok, Acholi, Uganda; died October 18, 1918 AD in Paimol, Acholi, Uganda) was a Ugandan Catholic catechist and martyr of the Acholi people who was killed by tribesmen in northern Uganda in 1918 because of his Christian faith and his work as a catechist. Together with his companion Blessed Jildo Irwa, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 20, 2002, in Rome. His feast day is October 18.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Daudi Okelo
| Blessed Daudi Okelo | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | October 18 |
| Profession | Catholic catechist; Acholi youth; martyr; lay catechist of the White Fathers mission in northern Uganda |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa); Ugandan Catholic Church; Acholi Catholic tradition; East African catechist tradition |
| Patronage | Uganda; Acholi Catholics; catechists; young martyrs; youth who defend the faith; East African Catholics; northern Uganda |
| Attributes | Catechist's cross; Acholi traditional dress; palm of martyrdom; spear (instrument of martyrdom); October 18 feast |
| Birthplace | Ogom-Gwok, Acholi, Uganda |
| Death Place | Paimol, Acholi, Uganda |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; killed by tribesmen at Paimol in the Acholi region of northern Uganda on October 18, 1918; he was approximately 16 years old; he was serving as a catechist under the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) in Paimol; local tribesmen who opposed the spread of Christianity killed him and his companion Jildo Irwa; he refused to abandon his faith or his catechetical work and was speared; he died on October 18, 1918; he was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 20, 2002 |
| Primary Shrine | Paimol, Acholi, Uganda; feast October 18; JPII beatification October 20 2002 |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; October 18 feast in Uganda and the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Daudi Okelo was born around 1902 in the Ogom-Gwok area of Acholi, in northern Uganda. He was baptized and received catechetical formation from the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa), who were evangelizing the Acholi region.
He became a catechist — a lay teacher of the faith — serving in Paimol, a remote mission station in the Acholi subregion. Together with his younger companion Jildo Irwa, he taught the faith to his community.
On October 18, 1918, local tribesmen who opposed the spread of Christianity came to kill the catechists. Daudi refused to flee or apostatize and was speared to death at approximately 16 years of age. His companion Jildo Irwa was killed the following day.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 20, 2002, in Rome, together with Jildo Irwa. His feast day is October 18.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Ogom-Gwok, Acholi, Uganda
Death location: Paimol, Acholi, Uganda
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Feast day
October 18
Veneration
Blessed Daudi Okelo (c. 1902–1918) was a Ugandan Acholi catechist and martyr who was speared to death at Paimol on October 18, 1918, at the age of about 16, for refusing to abandon his faith or his catechetical mission; beatified John Paul II, October 20, 2002. Feast October 18.
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