Construction of Archbishop Flynn Secondary School
The December 2005 Newsletter details the background on the Archbishop Flynn Secondary School.
It has long been Monsignor Matthew’s dream to build this school. In 2003
it became apparent this dream could become a reality. He decided he
would like to build this school as something memorable to his American
friends in Minnesota and particularly to Archbishop Harry Flynn who has been very supportive of his work for many years.
Click here to download the December 2005 Newsletter and read about a brief history of education in Uganda, the design concept for the school, construction phases and construction costs.
Below are updates on our largest project.
June 2008
Progress has been made with the two
classroom blocks. The constructor will finish the work
and hand over the keys to the Board of Directors by the
second week of June. Doors are being fixed, painting is
in progress and other related activities. Recently, the
Board of Directors identified three new constructors and
is in the process of signing contracts with them to put
up a dining hall, dormitories for girls and boys, nun’s living
quarters, one staff house and a water tank. It is our
hope that the buildings will be ready by December to
enable us to open the school in February 2009.
We have
dedicated the school to the protection of St. Joseph, to
be its patron saint and provider of the needs of this
school that is meant to provide quality education to our
young girls and boys rooted in the Christian Values and
Virtues to be able to translate knowledge into action for
good leadership and governance, fight poverty and
improve the quality of life of the people. Our biggest
immediate challenge now is the need to construct a science
laboratory for physics, chemistry and biology.
Please join us in a prayer each day to St. Joseph for the
needs of this school.
Classrooms at school
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ARCHBISHOP FLYNN
SECONDARY SCHOOL:
I first met Archbishop Flynn in
1995 through our dear friends Dan & Bobbi Vaughan in
Minnesota. The Archbishop became a great friend and
supporter of the work I do. Each year when I return to
Minnesota for a visit, Archbishop Flynn invited my
friends Dan & Bobbi, Pete & Dottie Truax and I for lunch
and ice cream at his residence. He is a friendly shepherd
with a warm and compassionate heart who encouraged
the people of his Archdiocese to be generous to my
work of forming priests at Sacred Heart Seminary.
Since then the American people have been very generous with
their prayers and resources. Archbishop Flynn touched
my life. He became my spiritual mentor and inspired me
to love my priesthood. In October 2002 he traveled to
Rome with 12 of his parishioners to attend the beatification
of two of our catechists, Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa,
killed for the faith the weekend of October 18-20, 1918
and beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 20, 2002.
My Archbishop, John Baptist Odama, invited him for this
historic occasion and had him concelebrate with the
Holy Father at the beatification Mass. We were truly honored
by his presence.
On September 28, 2003, Pete and
Dottie prepared a wonderful reception in their home for
Archbishop Odama who was in the U. S. for a conference
on peacebuilding at Notre Dame and high-level
meetings at the National Security Council and State
Department in Washington related to the war in northern
Uganda. Archbishop Flynn attended this reception. It
was on this occasion I called aside Archbishop Flynn,
Archbishop Odama, Dan and Pete to get a blessing from
Archbishop Flynn for building a secondary school in the
Archdiocese of Gulu to be named after him. When I presented
my request to him in the presence of Archbishop
Odama and others his response was, “That will be an
honor for me and my people. Go ahead Monsignor
Odong and build that school…” With those words
Archbishop Flynn Comprehensive Secondary School
was born. Thanks to the love and generosity of
Archbishop Flynn and all the wonderful American people.
Msgr. Matthew and Archbishop Flynn
For us in Gulu Archdiocese, this school will be a
constant reminder of the love and solidarity of our
American friends with the people of northern Uganda
especially for the young boys and girls who have suffered
so much from the effect of 21 years of conflict
between the LRA and Government of Uganda which
denied them the fundamental rights to education. It is a
school that will give a future to thousands of young people
who will be the future leaders of this nation torn
apart by the long conflict. The Holy Spirit has interceded
and guided us in the decision to proceed with the construction
of the school and we trust in that continued
intervention and guidance to bring it to completion.
Please pray with us and for us.
Msgr. Matthew Odong
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December 2007
In the months of September and October, north and northeastern
Uganda experienced heavy rains and flooding which
destroyed crops, grass thatched huts, some bridges, roads and
other property. Some people were reported killed by the floods
with most roads being impassable for weeks. This phenomenon
slowed down progress of the construction of our school
for nearly two months. Thank God the floods have subsided
and the construction work has resumed.
Our goal still remains
to have the school in operation in early February 2008. To
speed up the construction work the Board of Directors has
contracted with additional constructors to build student’s dormitories,
nun’s living quarters, a three-bedroom house for the
head teacher, bathrooms and kitchen.
We are convinced that
Archbishop Flynn Comprehensive Secondary School is an
answer to the aspirations of many young girls and boys for
quality education to give them a brighter future. Once the
school begins to operate we shall invite all our friends, especially
from the USA, to come and spend some weeks during
which they can do some teaching or do some developmental
work for the school as volunteers. This will provide some intercultural
enrichment to both the students and teacher.
Msgr. Matthew Odong
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June 2007
Click here to download the June 2007 Newsletter to see pictures of the construction progress.
Construction began in February on phase one. This
phase consists of 8 classrooms, 4 dormitory buildings
(2 for girls & 2 for boys), a nuns quarters to house 8
sisters, 6 drainable latrines, a dining hall & kitchen and
1 teacher’s house that will function as an administration
building.
Work is progressing well on the classrooms. They are
planned to be completed by the end of August.
The architectural design for the nun’s quarters has
been finalized and adopted. Work shall commence in
June and be completed by the end of October.
The construction of the latrines is scheduled to begin
in July to be finalized by the end of September.
Architectural plans for the dormitories are at the final
revision stage. Construction shall start on July 1st and
be completed by the end of October.
The teacher’s house (administration building) is also
planned for the July to October time frame.
The contract document for the construction of the dining
hall is now being compiled, but it is unlikely the
work will commence before August. This is the only
facility that may not be ready by January 2008 when
the school will open.
A generator for the water pump has been procured so
we have a means of pumping water from the well. A
water system, which would require an elevated holding
tank and water pipes, is not part of the first phase.
Details of the water supply are being worked on for
implementation in 2008. It would be good if we could
build the water supply yet this year if we can find
funding. If not jerry cans of water will be carried from
the well.
The first phase of the tree planting and compound
design will be done in June. It will consist of:
Planting of slow growing commercial tree fencing
along the external boundary of the school,
Planting of short life-fencing along the internal boundary
of various plots, Clearing of road network of tree stumps and general
brush clearing of the school area,
Compound dressing and planting of shrubs and trees
within constructed areas,
Playground clearing.
Rise in fuel prices: There was a breakdown of the
supply line to Uganda from Kenya. This was created
by poor contingency planning of the upgrading project
meant to increase the supply line between Uganda
and Kenya. The fuel shortage hit hardest in the month
of April with a near doubling of fuel costs in some fuel
stations. These prohibitive prices bogged down
progress on stockpiling of materials. Fortunately, fuel
supply is now steady although the prices are still high
and is predicted not to normalize until the end of the
year when the new pipeline is commissioned. This
unforeseen cost increase in fuel affects costs of getting
building materials to our remote building site.
Overall good progress is being made and we plan to
be ready for the first 120 students in January 2008.
Robert Odong – Architect & Superintendent
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December 2006
With the prevailing relative peace in place, we are now determined to begin the construction of Archbishop Flynn Secondary School in Pader. We think we can begin the
work before the end of December. Robert Odong (architect), Mother Superior, Sr. Viola Akulu, Fr. Charles Oloya, some local people and myself were in Pader recently to
meet with the local people to discuss and plan the way forward for the construction of the school. The people of Pader are very excited about the school. Our appreciation
and gratitude goes out to each and every one of you, our dear American friends.
Msgr. Matthew Odong
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June 2006
The construction work has been delayed by insecurity at the building site. I am happy to inform you that the following progress has been made:
* Purchase of the land for construction of the school.
* One well has been drilled to supply clean water.
* Formation of the Board of Directors who will act as the school’s policy making body to guide and advise the Archdiocese and donors of action necessary for the development of the school.
* Encouraging the local people to get involved in the construction of the school and look at it as their school.
Our hope is that with the present relative peace in the Pader area and promises made to us by the recently elected District Local council leaders to station a military detachment at the site to provide security,
we look forward to beginning the construction work soon. We see the school as one of the most important projects in the rehabilitation of our people’s lives after the war. Education is the solution to poverty,
ignorance, conflict, illiteracy, hunger and underdevelopment. To educate is to build capacity and empower people for transformation of our society.
Msgr. Matthew Odong
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December 2005
Click here to download the December 2005 Newsletter and read about a brief history of education in Uganda, the design concept for the school, construction phases and construction costs.
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December 2004
For 18 years, the education of young people in Northern Uganda has been badly affected by the on-going conflict. Most schools (physical buildings) in the suburban areas have been abandoned by the population who fled for their lives. The rebels
burned classrooms with grass-thatched roofs. Amalgamated schools have been formed in town areas where children and teachers feel more protected from rebels’ threats. The problems facing the educational sector are lack of educational facilities, textbooks and basic school supplies. Thanks to Divine Providence,
a 40-foot container of textbooks donated by Books for Africa in St. Paul, Minnesota is scheduled to arrive in Gulu within the next few weeks.
Plans for the construction of a new secondary school in Pader district with a capacity of 800 children is in progress. The school is going to be named ARCHBISHOP HARRY J. FLYNN COMPREHENSIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL. We hope that once
peace returns to Northern Uganda, some American teachers will come to lecture in this school.We need your support to assist us in constructing this school, which will provide hope for many
young people. Education is the best tool for fighting ignorance and poverty. Please join hands with us in this valuable project for our youth.
Msgr. Matthew Odong
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June 2004
Due to the high level of poverty caused by the 18 year old conflict
in the Archdiocese of Gulu, we have felt the need to construct a comprehensive
secondary school to be named after Archbishop Harry
Flynn of the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis in appreciation
for the generosity of our American friends in Minnesota. Our intention
for construction of this school was accepted and blessed by His
Grace Archbishop Harry Flynn in September 2003 at a reception
hosted by Pete and Dottie Truax.
The school is meant to address the pressing needs of nearly 800
children in the war-affected district of Pader. Pader district does not
have a secondary school to offer opportunity for quality education to
the children in this area. Most of the parents of these children are in
the internally displaced persons camps where they do not earn any
income to support the education of their sons and daughters outside
Pader district.The school will be for both girls and boys, age 13 to 22.
We have acquired the land. Now we need to construct classrooms,
dormitory, library, staff room, kitchen, dining hall and drill a well.We
invite all our dear friends to support this viable project to give a future
to the children. Remember the words of our Lord to His disciples;
“Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, that you
have done for me… When I was hungry, naked…” (Mt. 25:45).
Msgr. Matthew Odong
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