In Memoriam: Archbishop James Odongo's School of Hard Knocks

Archbishop James Odongo’s School of Hard Knocks

Fr. Deogratias O. Ekisa, S.T.D.

January 19, 2015

No biography on Archbishop James Odongo would be complete without a chapter on his famous school of hard knocks.  This phrase, “the school of hard knocks” is an idiom that usually means the (sometimes painful) education one gets from life's tough experiences.  Because of his no-nonsense approach, in Eastern Uganda and beyond, Archbishop James Odongo has fittingly earned the title of Founder and Headmaster of The School of Hard Knocks.

In this brief chapter/article, I would like to explain the much-misunderstood personality of Archbishop Odongo.  I will first describe what this School of Hard Knocks consists of. I will then explain the reasons behind this School.  I will finally share an additional dimension to Archbishop Odongo’s personality, one that most people do not know.  I will then end by showing the relevance of Archbishop Odongo’s approach to our world today.

What is this school?

If the School of Hard Knocks had a motto, this motto would be: “Discipline, Diligence and Orderliness.”  Already in his early days as Education Secretary, Father James Odongo strictly ensured that these values were upheld in all Catholics schools.  Teachers and Headteachers, especially those who were sloppy in their work, did not look forward to a visit from Father Odongo.  For if he found anything out of order, they would get a piece of his mind, an experience they wished never to repeat.

After his ordination to the episcopate in 1965 and his ascendancy to the See of Tororo in 1968, his School of Hard Knocks now encompassed not just the schools but indeed all parishes and institutions of the then Diocese of Tororo that covered the present Tororo and Soroti dioceses.

Bishop Odongo quickly earned the reputation of being a no-nonsense man, a strict disciplinarian, and a tough-talking man.  He did not suffer fools gladly.  A few examples will illustrate his approach.

• A priest came to see him at his office in Mbale riding a motorcycle without a helmet.  Bishop Odongo ordered the priest to park the motorcycle there and only return to pick it up when he had a helmet.
• On several occasions when the bishop made pastoral and confirmation visits to parishes, despite the best efforts of the parish priest, something would be amiss: the sanctuary was not set up, the choir was running late, the confirmandi were not seated yet.  In short, tardiness, especially avoidable and foreseeable lateness was extremely intolerable for Bishop Odongo.
• Although seminarians of Nagongera Seminary usually looked forward to their bishop’s visits, they were also often worried about being caught off guard.  The Senior Four classes of 1980 and 1983 probably do not have the fondest memories of the bishop’s visit, since as a result of their mischief, they will probably never forget their punishments.
• On one occasion Archbishop Odongo was visiting a parish for three days of confirmation and was going to stay there for three nights.  But he stayed only one night, and commuted from Mbale on the other days, because the bathroom he was given was extremely dirty.
• Finally, Archbishop Odongo’s homilies and speeches were memorable because he did not mince his words and called a spade a spade, especially when he spoke about sin and wrong doing and when he admonished his listeners.

One could go on and on in regaling you with stories that show the discipline, diligence and order that Archbishop Odongo sought to impart in his priests, religious, seminarians and laity.  But the above examples should suffice to make the point.

Why the hard knocks?

We need, however, to explore a little, the reasoning behind Archbishop Odongo’s School of Hard Knocks.  Certainly, it was not out of sheer cruelty or the desire to be tough for toughness’ sake.  In my opinion, I believe Archbishop Odongo took to heart the injunction of Jesus, to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).  And for him, the pursuit of perfection was not limited to things spiritual, but also included things material and behavioural.  After all, how was one to show one’s spiritual perfection if not in external acts smothered with discipline, diligence and orderliness?

Let us consider some of the aforementioned hard knocks and see the inspiration behind them.  Yes, Archbishop Odongo was demanding, but what he was demanding was not impossible.  He demanded excellence, which is difficult, but not impossible.

• Considering the many priests, to say nothing about the many other people who have needlessly died in motorcycle accidents because they were not wearing a helmet, one can understand and even admire Archbishop Odongo’s zealous insistence that his priests always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.  Life has to be preserved, especially a life that is given for the service of God’s people.
• Like any gentleman, any well-bred person, Archbishop Odongo abhorred lateness.  For him, keeping time is a sign of being considerate to other people.  Keeping time is honouring the terms of a contract.  If Mass or a meeting was scheduled to start at 10.00am that time is binding on all concerned parties, and barring a great catastrophe, that time must be adhered to strictly.  For him, keeping time is a sign of commitment to one’s word and respect for the other.
• Discipline, especially discipline among the young was for Archbishop Odongo, a non-negotiable ingredient in having a good education.  Poor academic work and a growth in vice went hand in hand with a lack of discipline.  That is why he did not tolerate indiscipline in any school, but especially in a seminary, the seedbed for God’s priests.
• Archbishop Odongo believed in the ancient saying that cleanliness is next to godliness.  In other words, if you could not keep your body and environment clean, how could you expect to keep your spiritual life clean (cf. Leviticus 15)?
• As for his straight-talking preaching and teaching, Archbishop Odongo was probably doing only what St. Paul had charged another equally young bishop, namely, Timothy his protégé, to do.

. . . proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.  For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.  But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry (2 Timothy 4:2-5).

Archbishop James Odongo has fulfilled his Episcopal ministry for the past fifty years doing so as he knew best, particularly through the School of Hard Knocks, whose reasoning and inspiration we have just seen.  But there is another side to Archbishop Odongo that many people don’t know.

An alternative school

There is no doubt that Archbishop Odongo’s public persona is that of a tough man.  But those who know him personally know that there is another side to this man, a side marked by kindness to the weak, the wounded and weary.  Like many people who have worked with him closely, I have had the privilege of seeing this other side of Archbishop Odongo.

Like most Catholics who are around my age in Eastern Uganda, I first met Bishop James Odongo when he celebrated my confirmation or when he came to our school.   My recollection of these childhood encounters was that Bishop James Odongo was a man in charge, an intelligent man who taught with clarity and confidence.

When I was in Primary Seven, I remember him visiting our newly opened St. James Preparatory Seminary.  As he was walking around the school with the rector, he stopped and asked a group of us little boys: “Who of you will get first division in PLE (Primary Leaving Education)”?  Our initial reaction, like that of any group of village kids before an important person was to keep quiet and nobody said a thing or raised their hands.  Although my academic performance was rather average, since nobody else put up their hands, I decided to raise my hand to the chagrin of my classmates.  I guess even as a kid I had this sense that there was no need to fear this man, just respect him.  And since the man had asked a question, why not oblige him with an answer?  The bishop was very pleased and, after encouraging us to work very hard, wished us all well in our studies.

But my first-hand experience of Archbishop Odongo’s other side was when I worked with him as his secretary/personal assistant after my ordination in 1998 to 2005.  When my appointment to this position was announced, as is to be expected, some people sent me congratulations while others sent me condolences, wondering how I was going to manage working daily right under the nose of the Headmaster of the School of Hard Knocks.

Of course, Archbishop Odongo always maintained and required the highest standards of excellence even in the office and did not tolerate mediocrity.  But during the time I worked with and for him, I was also able to see his kindness and generosity both to those in the household and to others as well.

There was an old woman who used to come to the Bishop’s house about once a month asking for food.  The Archbishop instructed the sisters to always give her a plate of hot food to eat there and then, and then send her off with some kilos of beans and flour from the bishop’s pantry.

I remember many a priest or sister and even some lay people, who were in some serious crisis coming to the bishop, sometimes literally in tears.  The bishop would sit with them sometimes for hours, listening to them and giving them wise counsel, so that they left with their hearts less burdened and often with their problem solved.

My final example of Archbishop Odongo’s kindness has to do with children.  I have seen him speak with children on various occasions as a father and a grandfather would.  Often when adults came to see him with children, the children would be left sitting on the veranda or in the waiting area.  After the serious business with the adults, Archbishop Odongo would go out of his way to speak to the children too even if only to say hullo and ask them how they were doing in school.

Both . . . and

But the best example of his relationship with children comes from a story told by a lady who used to live in the neighbourhood of the bishop’s house as a child.  Like many naughty kids, she and her siblings used to sneak into the bishop’s compound and steal pawpaws, mangoes etc.  Unfortunately, during one of their thieving expeditions, Bishop Odongo caught them red-handed.  They were in trouble, great trouble.

After admonishing them against taking fruits without permission, the bishop then gave them a twofold punishment or penance to do.  For the rest of the school year, they had to come to his compound everyday and pick up the dry leaves that had fallen on the ground.  But they had to do this only after they had done their home work, which they had to show him as well.

Naturally, the children did not like this punishment, but like obedient children, they did it faithfully, especially since their parents agree with the bishop’s judgement.  As it happened, the children not only became more disciplined, but their performance at school slowly began to improve.  They would later do well in secondary school and university and this particular lady is now doing very well in life.

Like this lady, many people in the Archdiocese of Tororo and beyond, owe their success, both spiritually and materially, to the doubled-barrelled approach of Archbishop James Odongo’s style: a School of Hard Knocks combined with Kindness.  Like the Psalmist says when the Lord appears, “Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss” (Ps. 85).

In today’s world, many people accept only one half of that equation, namely they choose only love and peace and reject truth and justice.  However, the principles that undergird Archbishop Odongo’s School of Hard Knocks, namely, discipline, diligence and orderliness are extremely vital if our society is to survive and grow.  To quote the Archbishop, “Education without God produces clever devils.”  Let me add that if discipline, diligence and orderliness are also lacking in our education and lives, then we shall not even produce clever devils, but we shall have rather stupid devils.  If clever devils are able to cause such mayhem in society, just think what stupid ones will do.

I will end with another passage from St. Paul to his protégé Timothy, an admonition that Archbishop James Odongo has attempted to take to heart in his own way, as he has carried out fifty years of Episcopal ministry and many more as a priest.

Command and teach these things.

Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.

Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone.

Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you (1 Timothy 4: 11-16).