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.
APRIL 22 UPDATE FROM MSGR. MATTHEW
The work on the additional classrooms began several weeks ago and is proceeding well. The science laboratory is
about to be completed. It is the long building with a green roof near the classrooms. Dr. Gary Ivins laid the foundation
of this building. We received 20 used computers from Computers for Africa for the school. The computers will be installed
in the one of the new classrooms when they are completed.
The students and staff of AFSS send their love and prayerful best wishes to you and your families.
AFSS Science Lab
Return to top of project updates
AFSS/ACADEMIC YEAR 2010
Archbishop Flynn Secondary School opened on Monday, February 1st with the on-going 35 students, who are now in Senior 2.
81 new students reported on February 15th as the second Senior 1 class. Msgr. Matthew was at the school on February 21st
to officially open the academic year with Mass in the newly opened dining hall. The new students were particularly happy
at the way their brothers and sisters now in senior 2 welcomed them to the school and the way they are introducing them
to the culture of AFSS. The boys now sleep in some of the classrooms while the girls are in their dormitory. Due to the
current limited space the School Administration could not take more than the 81 new students admitted. The challenge of
accommodating the boys in particular has been real. However, we are happy the school population has grown to 116. We clearly
see our objectives unfolding into reality and this is very motivating. The teachers this year will have a heavier workload
but we do not anticipate hiring any additional teachers this year. His Grace the Archbishop, Msgr. Matthew and the Head Teacher
have started the process of licensing and registering the school with the Ministry of Education. We hope to have the operating
license by midyear. The overwhelming influx of students this year is an indication of its growing popularity as well as confidence
of parents in the school. But it is also a very big challenge to us to provide the required space and facilities that the students
and parents expect to get in the school. We pray and hope that God will walk with us to see us through these challenges.
We really need to build the Boys Dormitory within the next year so we can accommodate the next class in 2011. We ask for your
prayers and generosity in helping us raise funding for this project.
AFSS Students
Return to top of project updates
June 2009
The school officially opened on February 16, 2009 with
35 students, 10 teaching staff and two cooks. The original
plan was to open with 120 students but due to lack
of completed accommodations we decided to reduce the
number of students for the first academic year. The girl’s
dormitory, nun’s quarters and student’s dinning hall are
now almost complete. We are using the 8 classrooms
currently for classrooms, school administration, infirmary,
store and science lab. We are really squeezed but it is
working out well. The motto of the school is “SAPIENTIS
ET SERVITIUM” which translates “Wisdom and Service.”
The mission of the school is to offer quality education to
our young boys and girls to prepare them for service to
humanity rooted in the Catholic virtues and understanding of wisdom/knowledge. One of the biggest challenges
of our local church here in the post conflict reconstruction
program is to offer our young people the opportunity
for quality education that will equip them with better
knowledge to fight diseases, ignorance, poverty, bad
governance, corruption, injustice and other social justice
related issues. I believe Archbishop Flynn Secondary
School will help the Ugandan community realize this
dream.
Students in classroom
We have begun construction of our SCIENCE LABORATORY,
which we hope to complete by the end of this
year. On May 13, 2009 Dr. Gary Ivins visited the school,
broke ground and laid the corner stone in the presence
of the staff and Board Members of the school. Other
future needs are for a boy’s dormitory, additional classrooms
and other facilities as funds become available.
Msgr. Matthew Odong
Return to top of project updates
Reflections of Deputy Head Teacher
By: Berna Atim
I am the Deputy Head Teacher of
Archbishop Flynn Secondary School in
Pader. I am the last born of ten siblings.
My primary school education
was at Mary Immaculate in Gulu. I then
attended Sacred Heart Secondary
School also in Gulu for both ordinary
and advanced levels. Later I joined
Makerere University in Kampala where
I pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and
attained a degree in Education with English Language
and Literature as my teaching subjects.
Being part of the team at Archbishop Flynn Secondary
School is so exciting. As a teacher of this school, I hope
to gain more knowledge as well as prepare myself for
greater challenges in life as I humble myself in service to
the people of northern Uganda, especially the students
of this school and their families who have been victims of
war for the last decade. Being a part of this community
has been inspirational in achieving my dream of service. I
am therefore dedicated to helping these children develop
socially, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically in
pursuit of their personal development and career to meet
the growing challenges of our time. “Wisdom and
Service” is what we strive for!
Building a great school like Archbishop Flynn has been
the greatest and longest lasting gift that you, our
American friends, could give to the people of northern
Uganda at the time when they need it most. Northern
Uganda is undergoing rehabilitation and education at this
time suits best the needs of the people to help the community
improve their lives. The entire community of
Pader and neighboring districts of northern Uganda
appreciate this precious gift from you the friends in
America, for standing with us in this time of need. You
have given their children a chance to realize their dreams
and shape their future and that of their country and most
excitingly, the school is brought nearer their community!
This secondary school is the only one in Pader District.
On behalf of the teachers, support staff and the entire
student community of Archbishop Flynn Secondary
School, I would like to send my heartfelt appreciation to
all our American Friends who have been and continue to
be supportive of us in all ways. May God bless you all; I
say this for God and My Country.
Return to top of project updates
Archbishop Flynn Comprehensive Secondary School Opens February 16, 2009
The first students began arriving at the school on Monday, February 16th. The remainder of the 34 students (18 girls and 16 boys) are expected to arrive before the opening Mass on February 22nd. Their teachers and staff members greeted the students and their parents. All were very excited and in a jovial mood. The cooks were very busy in the temporary kitchen preparing the first dinner at school. Everyone in Pader District is very excited about the school opening. Many guests including a group from the World Food Program Field Office in Pader were very appreciative of the development and invited our staff to visit their office in Pader to share more of our vision for the school. Who knows where this could lead. Since the dining hall and girl’s dormitory are not yet completed the first year class will be limited to 34 students instead of the planned 120. These two structures should be completed within the next few months. We felt it was important to get the school open at the normal date of a school year beginning, which is February in Uganda, to establish credibility with the people of Pader.
We are happy to advise you that Sister Viola Akulu will be serving as headmistress/head teacher at the school. Sr. Viola recently completed a six-year term as Mother General of her order, the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate. She is also a member of the AFSS Planning Committee.
We thank God and all benefactors who made this dream unfold to where it is. We continue praying and working together so that we keep steady in our growth and forward movement. There is a lot more work to be done in the future to accommodate the other five grade levels to reach our goal of a total of 720 students. By the Grace of God we have come this far and if it is His will we will reach our goal.
Click here to see photos of the school opening.
Return to top of project updates
December 2008
Archbishop Flynn Comprehensive Secondary School,
now under construction with the financial contributions
from our American friends, is meant to be part of the
answer to the magnitude of needs of young people in
this region. The school is named after retired Archbishop
Harry J. Flynn of the Archdiocese of St. Paul &
Minneapolis in appreciation for the generosity of our
American brothers and sisters. As part of their contribution
and support, 60 women living in Pader are working
to clear the school compound. They are convinced that
this school will provide a future for their children. The
local people are very poor but provide their labor as a
contribution toward the building of the school.
In addition to the two classroom blocks, which are now
ready for use, the completion of the following structures
(already in progress) is mandatory for opening the school
in early February 2009 as planned. They include Nun’s
living house, girl’s dormitory, water tank, dining hall and
teacher’s house. We have placed orders for student’s
desks and chairs, beds, office furniture for administration
and other furniture and fixtures. We do not have money for a science laboratory (very important) and library.
Science subjects have now become a priority in the educational
curriculum of the Government of Uganda and it
is mandatory that any new school has a science lab. We
have made St. Joseph the patron Saint of our new
school. Through his powerful intercession, we pray for
Divine Providence to take care of these needs. Please
join us in prayer to St. Joseph.
Return to top of project updates
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
Return to top of project updates
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
Return to top of project updates
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
Return to top of project updates
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
Return to top of project updates
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
Return to top of project updates
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.
Return to top of project updates
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
Return to top of project updates
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
Return to top of project updates