FROM THE CROSS TO THE EASTER CANDLE

Dear parishioners of Our Lady and St. Jude Parish Naggulu,

Most of you have participated in the liturgy of the Easter Triduum through Television. Unthinkable! Those are the times we are living in. On Good Friday, you must have seen a cross covered with a red cloth being held up at the entrance of the nave (the area for the congregation). Part of the cross was unveiled and the following was proclaimed by the celebrating priest: “Behold the Wood of the Cross on which hung the salvation of the world,” the same was repeated at the center of the church; and in the front just before you enter the sanctuary. Then the very few participants came up to venerate the cross that brought us salvation. The congregation responded: “Come let us adore”  (Of course we know this from our annual celebration of Good Friday, only this time we were just watching it).

On Easter Vigil,  the Easter Candle was brought into the darkened church. It’s light illuminating the church.  In the same three places where the cross was unveiled, the priest proclaimed: “Light of Christ,” and the very few present responded, “Thanks be to God.” _______The One who hung upon the cross has brought light to a world suffering in its own darkness.

I would like to wish you a Happy Easter. I know that in the present situation here and all over the world, this may sound ridiculous (a Happy Easter?). Yes, it is the reality of life  yesterday, today and tomorrow. The symbolism of the cross and Candle I have just referred to above, brings out the picture of this life of ours. As we walk in the valleys of darkness, along comes Jesus Christ the light of the world  and shines his light among us, so we can walk along the path that leads to eternal happiness without getting lost.

Therefore again I say, Happy Easter! Although we are going through tough times, we hope for better times ahead, because our Lord accepted to shoulder all our troubles when he carried his cross and was crucified on it. On that cross hung the salvation of the world. On that cross hung your life and mine. From the cross came the candle, which shone in the darkness of our. The same one who was crucified, is the one who lights our world…. Because of his Resurrection, we too are assured of our resurrection.

Remember the symbolism; the three places where the cross was revealed are the three places where the Light of Christ is proclaimed.  In a real sense, those are two aspects of one act.  Joining Christ on the Cross, suffering with Him, results in living in His Light.

Today when all of us are in pain in some way or other, but most especially because of the threat of Covid-19; instead of focusing on ourselves, let us unite our pain to Jesus’ pain. Our concern is for others.   Our own suffering, which could turn us into ourselves, instead, through the grace of God, leads us to care for those hurting more than us.  This is how our union with the Lord on the Cross become our union with His Light, our union with His Life.  Good Friday and Easter Sunday are manifestations of God’s Love for us and our love for God. We need to unite the crosses to the candle. 

Finally, I would like to thank you all for being there for us here at the church. We have received lots of support from many of you, both materially and spiritually. Thank you very much for your concern for your priests. We shall continue to pray for you that we all get out of these hard times feeling stronger.

Have a blessed Easter.

Sat 18, Apr 2020 12:04 pm

HOLY WEEK

I welcome you all to Palm Sunday which marks the beginning of the Holy Week. In this most solemn week of the liturgical year, a week we can refer to as the most important week of the year, we witness the total self-giving of Jesus.

We join him on Palm Sunday as he triumphantly enters into Jerusalem and is welcomed, and acclaimed as the one who comes in the name of the Lord. On Holy Thursday we sit with him at the table and receive his gift of himself in the Eucharist and also thank him for giving us the Sacrament of Holy Orders. From the table, we follow him to the Garden of Olives and stay with him as he struggles with fear and anxiety about the cruel death that he is about to undergo. On Good Friday we stand at the foot of the cross with Mother Mary and the beloved disciple, and see him ‘drink’ the fourth cup then hear him say: “It is finished” as he bows and gives his spirit back to the Father.

Come Holy Saturday and we go to the tomb where we remain silent as we remember our sinful ways for which he died. Later, we walk from the darkness of all this to the light of the bright Easter fire and proceed with the Paschal candle representing Christ the light now risen to light up our lives.

Have a good Holy Week and rise with Jesus on Easter Sunday: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Sat 04, Apr 2020 15:04 pm

SEEN THE POWER OF THE ONE ABOVE ALL ?

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, has forced us to celebrate another Lenten Sunday in our homes. Our cherished six Sunday Masses at Our Lady and St. Jude are still a no go. Is there anyone who ever thought this would be happening in our lifetime? Very doubtful. We need to get out of this problem. so wherever you are spending these weeks of “stay at home”, adhere to the guidelines given by our civil and religious leaders.

As it is, we are not alone, there are many like us across the globe. Isn’t this is a wake-up call.? If we did not know, it is beginning to dawn on us, that we are like the little finger of our hand; the smallest of the five. So are we in relation to God and his mighty hand. Hopefully, this will set many of us on a reflection course and begin to seriously put ourselves in our proper position as we let God be where He must be; _________above all.

I have been doing some reflection myself. God is indeed above all. This is how the psalmist puts it:

“A mighty God is the Lord, a great king above all gods. In his hands, are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his. To him belongs the sea, for he made it, and the dry land shaped by his hand” (Ps. 95:3-5).

As my reflection went over those words from Psalm 95, I began to hum that famous hymn/song  -  ‘He’s got the whole world in his hand’. The truth of it all became clearer and clearer in my mind and sank deeper and deeper in my heart. What did I not see?

Nations were busy strengthening their economies, sports bodies strictly carrying on their regular events, businessmen and women looking for ways of making profits and expanding their investments, pastors ministering to their flocks, schools trying to go through syllabuses in time and families doing their best to be happy, etc……….: when a submicroscopic pathogen (virus) invisible to our naked eyes, struck. And when it struck, we all began to be shaken one by one, group by group and country by country. Nations started to get on their knees slowly by slowly, those who thought it would not affect them, soon realized that the bug was serious and very powerful! As in the days of Noah, so it was with us; some heard or saw what was happening elsewhere but continued with life as usual. They said they would either stop the virus from coming their way or destroy it in a matter of days. They dared it to step a foot in their territories and taste the venom of their scientific discoveries.

It is obvious that those with such or similar ideas about the virus were totally wrong. The invisible pathogen is visible everywhere in the hospitalized and the dying, the masked faces, grounded airlines, closed borders, collapsing economies and closed places of worship; just to mention but a few.

We are trying to find a solution to the problem, and no doubt by and by, we shall do so. But by that time a lot of damage will have been done! Many of us will have gone. Time to accept that we have our limitations, and to recognize that there is One who is above all -  One to whom we must bow and bend low; One who made us and to whose pasture we belong; One who leads us by his hand; One whose voice we must listen to and never harden our hearts when we hear the message.

During this fifth week of Lent, we continue to pray that Jesus Christ who was sent to make known the ONE who is above all;  he who rebuked the winds and sea; and there was a dead calm, is with us during the storm of Covid-19. no need to panic we only need to let go of our pride, have faith in him and wait for his move.

Sat 28, Mar 2020 15:03 pm

LAETARE SUNDAY! WITH COVID-19?

From the Association of Catholic Priests, Ireland, I have borrowed the following relevant situation regarding the Covid-19 crisis.

The question: Is there a Christian way of facing the Covid-19 crisis?

The answer: Is, yes there is. The author gives four characteristics:

i. We must move from “I” to “we”. He explains that “This is a frightening situation that we face together. The common good must be given first place, we will find our own good with in the common.” We should know that this is a very Christian, even a very Catholic virtue.

ii. He names the second one as an attitude of concern and compassion. Even if we must be isolated in our own homes or workplaces, modern communications allow us to stay in touch in a way that was impossible before. This is a great benefit. Staying in contact with others makes them feel that they are wanted, cared for and are not abandoned.

iii. A respect for truth, comes next. In recent years, the truth has suffered in public discourse, giving rise to a horrible expression, the post-truth era. In these days, we need to pay attention to science and medicine and less attention to opinion-makers and rumours. A society without truth cannot last. Today, right now, we need truth more than ever before.

iv. The fourth is simply a fact of Christianity. Prayer. We can pray in particular for scientists, medical personnel and politicians. These are wonderful people with a huge job of work before them. As we pray for ourselves and our families and friends, we pray too for all who look after the common good.  (Kieran O’Mahony).

___________________________

Comment

So as we go through the first Sunday of our 32 days of no church services or Mass as a community of Our Lady and St. Jude, we should look at the four points above by Kieran O’Mahony)——- and remember that the crisis that we are facing; must be faced with faith. We are Christians; not atheists, animists or whatever….

Jesus gave us a new commandment, the law of love; we must therefore not think about “I” only but turn to our neighbor and show that we are concerned about their situation, that we care and have compassion for them. We also have to be truthful about what is going on! Why should anyone want to take advantage of others by spreading untruthful information about such a dangerous virus? A Christian should definitely not be in that category. And of course the greatest weapon of them all is prayer. We Christians know that, God is the God of our salvation. We must pray to Him. He will come to our assistance.

__________________________

THAT I MAY SEE

Today as the church tells us to rejoice, there is plenty of darkness around us. We are blinded by so many ugly things happening everywhere we turn. The Virus, the injustices, political imbalances and family break-downs ; darkness! Darkness!

May the Lord throw light in this darkness; may this be an opening of our eyes so that we may see with both our body and soul. Amen

Sat 21, Mar 2020 16:03 pm

BUILDING COMMITTEE MESSAGE, MARCH 2020 NOVENA

On behalf of the Building Committee, I greet you all and welcome you home, to Our Lady & St. Jude Parish Naggulu—the National Shrine of St. Jude.

As you were previously informed; we benchmarked with similar projects, revitalized the building committee, got a technical team and agreed on the new concept designs.

Since then, the team has worked tirelessly to complete the architectural detailed designs. I am happy to report that they are now complete. The geotechnical and land surveys were done and the structural designs, ventilation, lighting, and acoustics plans are also complete.  In order to fulfill all the requirements, the following studies are now being undertaken:

• Traffic Impact Assessment
• Environment Impact Assessment
• Demolition and Excavation Plans
• Storm Water Management Plan

These studies should be finished within the next 2-3 weeks.

Arrangements are being made to move to the parish hall which shall be our place of worship during construction. We hold regular meetings every Wednesday and are working with Rev Fr. Male who is concerned with such projects in the archdiocese.

Summary of Funds received in the various initiatives from Nov 2019 – Feb 2020

Vigorous fundraising activities for the project resumed in November 2019, starting with the Christmas envelopes. We are currently running the; tent sales, kamu kamu and the Tofaali lyo mu Musingi campaign which was launched during this novena. I strongly appeal to you to participate in this initiative by contributing at least 50,000 shillings each for the foundation of the church building.

May the Almighty God continue to bless you.

Mr. Michael K. Sebalu

Vice Chairman

Building Committee

Fri 20, Mar 2020 09:03 am

Rev. Fr. Ignatius Mbaziira

This year’s Annual Retreat for the Priests of the Archdiocese of Kampala, ended with His Grace Archbishop Cyprian K. Lwanga, handing out appointment letters to a number of priests he had transferred to various parishes and institutions. Naggulu is one of the beneficiary parishes, as we have been given a young priest, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Mbaziira, as curate to serve God among us.

Below is a brief profile of the newly appointed priest to our Parish……….

Name: Fr. Ignatius Mbaziira (son of Nyansio Ssemmanda and Mauricia Nanfuka Namusoke)

Born: 22nd April, 1989.

Siblings: 12 (11 girls and a boy).

Home Parish: Mitala Maria.

Schools: St. Theresa Primary School Mitala Maria (1996-2002),  Mitala Maria Hill School (2003-2004). St. Balikuddembe SSS Mitala Maria (2005-2008), St. Mbaaga's Major Seminary, Ggaba (2009-2017).

Ordained Deacon: 13th August, 2016. (Lubaga)

Ordained Priest: 12th August 2017. (Lubaga)

First Appointment: Curate St. Matia Mulumba Parish, Nakawuka (10th Oct. 2017-10th Oct. 2018)

Second Appointment: Curate St. Peter's Parish, Kanyanya (10th Oct. 2018-1st Feb. 2020)

Third Appointment: Curate Our Lady and St. Jude Parish, Naggulu (1st Feb. 2020-).

Rev. Fr. Ignatius Mbaziira

Thu 06, Feb 2020 10:02 am

OH COME LET US ADORE HIM!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In the hustle and bustle that leads up to our celebration of Christmas, many of us find ourselves asking, "What's it all about?" We sometimes wonder in the rush, the stress and the hurry, whether we have somehow missed the real meaning of it all. I have been pondering over this question myself as I prepare for Christmas, and I hope that some of my reflections might help us tune our minds relatively into this celebration of the birth of Christ, the Prince of peace.

Christmas is, first and foremost, about Love, God's Love. How much does God love us? He loves us so much that He gave us the most precious gift imaginable, His own Son Jesus Christ! That's the  heart of Christmas!

This great and wonderful love calls us to love one another, to share love through our human relationships. Love isn't always a warm and cozy feeling; it is a commitment and a decision to stick by others, come what may, through thick and thin, when the going is easy and when the going gets more challenging. The love that we share in our human relationships is a reflection of the love of God, calling us to give of ourselves to others.

At Christmas, we remember that Jesus was born in poverty, in a stable among the poorest people and farm animals. What does this mean to us today? We are called to look for the face of Christ in the poor, those in our own communities and in places away from us. Love can be a plate of food offered, a hand held, a smile shared, or comforting and consoling words shared with a challenged brother or sister, in our communities. I believe that, in the end, we shall also be judged by how much we cared for the needy.

Christmas is also about repentance of our sins and forgiveness of those who wrong us and also to those we wrong.  None of us is perfect, but with God there is mercy, forgiveness, and a second chance. Therefore, let us use the opportunity of God’s mercy to renew our lives with fresh starts, and well thought resolutions to create a better society for the new year.

We often hear the phrase "Keep Christ in Christmas" and we wonder how that is done! I think that Jesus himself gave us the best insight; if you want to keep Christ in Christmas, look around you, and look for Him. Here he is……feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give someone a shoulder to lean on, forgive the guilty, welcome the stranger, care for the sick, visit the imprisoned, and love your enemies.

Matthew 25:40 says, “The King will reply, I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these members of my family, you did it for me!”

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all! Kindly accept my sincere and heartfelt appreciation to each one of you individually for all the love and support you have extended to our Parish, may the good Lord reward you and bless you all.

May we, like Mary and Joseph, listen to God’s direction in our lives so that we can experience the love of Christ at Christmas! And may we share that Christmas gift with others every day by WORD and DEED.

Shalom!

Margaret Sheila Matovu

Fri 27, Dec 2019 11:12 am

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM THE PARISH PRIEST

Dear Parishioners,

Had I written my Christmas message a month ago it would have begun in a different tone than this one. As you all know God who continually visits us in various ways, paid us a visit on 28th November 2019 and took back home His long-serving servant and our beloved oldest priest here, Rev. Fr. Peter Katongole Byangwa. God had the right to come for his priest and give him rest, but we still loved to have a priest of that age among us from whom we could seek advice on many topics…….. In addition to Fr. Peter, a number of our relatives and parishioners were called home by the Father during the course of the year. We can only say with Job: “...the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Then as a community, we must do what we can to move forward.

We are thus celebrating Christmas this year. Let us celebrate it in the true sense it deserves. There is so much secularism and commercialism surrounding this solemnity today, that we may forget what the solemnity is all about. We do well to momentarily pause and ask ourselves whether we are not being swept away in the whirlwind of the “world manufactured Christmas”, leaving behind the God made and true Christmas! I would not like to see anyone of us getting diverted from the center of Christmas - our Lord Jesus Christ. It pleases him when he sees us celebrating as we silently pray that the hope, healing and peace he promises to bring may come our way. He will then be gratified that his becoming one like us was not in vain.

None of us knows the number of times we have repeated the following words this year: “remember rejoice renew, starting afresh from Christ”. Indeed as we remember and rejoice in what the Lord has done for us, and as we try to renew ourselves for a holier tomorrow; there is no better time to start afresh from Christ than Christmas time. This is the time when we open our doors to the child who brings the fullness of life and the Good News of God’s love, and invite him in.  Isaiah says this of him: “upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:5). So as he enters with those attributes, can those who receive him fail to have a fresh beginning?

This Christmas, I pray that as a community of Naggulu parish, in everything we do, we start afresh from the child born to us. There are many tasks ahead of us, for example; putting into effect the “Nob View Hotel Brainstorming Conference” resolutions, strengthening our Christian Communities’ leadership, becoming more committed to giving back to God (financially, contributing ideas, offering our talents etc…) by every member of the community, working towards improving everybody’s “Sacramental life” and many other tasks. With our Saviour safely in, we can really start afresh.

As we start afresh, let us pray for one another, especially for those this day will never be the same again because of what has happened to them this year. In our wounded world we need to know that even in these darkest hours, a very bright star will lead us to the heart of Christ who will heal our brokenness, remove all evil from us and fill us with the peace and strength we need to carry on and to reclaim the fullness of life he brings to each one of us and our community as a whole.

Many thanks for being there to strengthen me as I try to live a normal life in spite of my health problems. Your material support, thoughts and prayers have gone a long way to make my quality of life be what it is. Let us go before the child born to us and pray for one another. I wish you all a very blessed, peaceful and joyful Christmas.

Fr. Godfrey Kyeyune.

Tue 24, Dec 2019 14:12 pm

APPRECIATION

On behalf of the Clergy and the Parish Council, I wish to extend our sincere heartfelt appreciation to you all Parishioners and Friends of Naggulu, for your kind support extended to us during the admission to hospital, and the subsequent funeral following the sad death of our beloved Priest The Late Rev. Fr. Peter Katongole Byangwa.

Fr. Byangwa will always be remembered and missed by many of us, because of who he was! We thank God for his dedicated service as a Priest for 55 years and also for his unwavering evangelization especially to us Parishioners of Naggulu.

What Fr. Byangwa needs most now are our prayers, let us remember him in our daily prayers, and also continue to support one another through Prayer, Love, Forgiveness and Charity as a true Family of God.

May the good Lord rest his soul in eternal peace, and may He bless you all too.

Margaret Sheila Matovu 

Tue 17, Dec 2019 15:12 pm

Last Solemn Novena of the Year

Pray the Solemn Novena to St. Jude

October 26th - November 3^rd

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When we gather together to celebrate the Solemn Novena to St. Jude, we are engaging in one of the oldest and most remarkable of traditions of faith. For nine days we offer up our needs, our gratitude, and our hope. We trust in St. Jude to intercede for us, and in this trust we can take great comfort. We invite you to send your special intentions for the Solemn Novena to the National Shrine of St. Jude.

The third and last Solemn Novena of the year to St. Jude, begins in less than a week from today.  On Saturday 19/10/2019 at 04:00 p.m. Rev. Fr. Denis Kibirige from Bukeerere Parish (Lugazi Diocese) will lead the Mass of Day 1 of the nine days. Uganda Martyrs S.S.S.  Choir will lead the singing. We have given a table of the celebrants, choir and time for each day. A more detailed programme is available on the notice board. Have a look at it.

Wed 16, Oct 2019 10:10 am