St. Francis Choir - The 15 Years of Existence

On August 8^th 2003, St. Francis Choir was born. This was after the Parish Priest then Rev Fr. Muwanga Edward  agreed to answer the many calls of Christians especially the English Community, who always went to Christ the King to attend the 10.00O clock  Mass or the 11.00 O clock  Mass, which they deemed convenient after the long hard week  of work. However Many had started experiencing the inconvenience of praying from outside because of the huge numbers of faithful and the lack of Parking.

At 10.30 am, Fr. Muwanga led the Mass and two people, Hon. Zziwa and Mr. Mugerwa, were the choir. Of course after Mass, a call was made to the Parishioners to join the choir and the first 6 members came on board. (Simon, Prosy, Dorothy, Bosco, Josephine, Caboth,) and later David, Cotilda, Andama, Agnes, Edna, and Jacinta joined. The early members came with their previous experiences of singing in various Choirs. They resolved to form a Basic English Choir basing its singing on the Common English Songs both as drawn from the Hymn books of the Mill Hill Fathers and The White fathers. We compiled some of the Common English Songs and we photocopied them to make booklets. Also Fr. Muwanga  and the Parish Council purchased copies of Christ the King Hymn books   The choir started growing as also the number of Parishioners attending the 10.30 am Mass  grew. We Chose St. Francis as our Patron Saint and we named our Choir St. Francis Choir. We received a lot of support from the Parish Priest and the Parish Executive especially in terms of Stationary, and Music Instruments.

We quickly divided ourselves into voices and chose a Choir Conductor who also acted as a trainer, and those to play instruments. The Choir and the Parish at the time had no organ, so we used drums most of the time as our accompaniments. We put a humble request to purchase for us an organ, and the Parish Priest took an effort and purchased for us and the Church the first organ.   From then on the Choir grew and improved in its singing and the Parishioners   were appreciative of the efforts made.

Later that year we decided that we shall hold the Christmas Carols, and we intensified our practice. We were joined by other able members, including Daniel, Expedit, Godfrey, Verstine,  Zawedde, Goreth and others.  We were also joined by Paul who was studying Music at Makerere University who became our organist.  This made the choir real impressive in singing and at that juncture,  Eng Obonyo and his dear wife became our benefactors.   They offered to buy us our first Uniform,(cream Shirt/Blouse and Dar blue trouser/skirts). We resolved to hold Christmas Carols every Christmas period and participate / animate in other Ecclesiastical festivals. We animated in St. Jude Novenas, we sang in Wedding Masses and   other various celebrations.  We became very committed to the service of the Lord with practices every Saturday and Wednesday.

In our fifth year another Parishioner Mr. and Mrs. Lido   also became our benefactors. They supported us with many of our choir needs including a new Uniform (A Busuuti with pink and blue flowers, and pin Shirt).  From here on we formed sisterhood with St. Joseph’s Choir of 8 O’ clock  Christ the King, and this opened more opportunities for us including singing at national festivals like Christmas Carols   at Mayor’s Gardens  and at State House.  We were strengthened by Mr. Kasozi - our Choir Conductor, and Mr. Kivumbi and Mr. Pachuto as our Music directors. We have also received many other young Choristers and strong Bass Voices. 

Our Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Kyeyune and the Parish Council, headed by Mrs. Matovu Sheila, have supported us immensely. The Choir despite the many challenges likes the removal of  Naguru Housing Estate where many of our members resided, and other members leaving because of further studies, or new Employment opportunities in far areas, the Parish Council continued to support us.  Our Curate in charge of Choirs Rev. Fr. Kaseeta   is appreciated for guiding us in many aspects.   We were yet given another Uniform, (the Queen green and black jackets); they pay an allowance to our Music Directors and the organist, and have provided for us in many other ways.  We thank God for his blessing and favours throughout this time of service.

We have received a lot of support from many of you, our trustees like Prof and Dr. Nantulya, Mrs.  Margaret Kibuuka, Mrs. Kakama and family . We are grateful to the Parish Council who resolved that we should be dressed in a Uniform every Sunday and gave us our Current Uniform, Cream and Brown, (to represent St. Francis Colours). We are grateful to our sister Choirs who have complimented us whenever we call upon them. We are proud that our singing has contributed to many faithful to deepen in the love of God and to come and praise.

We pledge to continue in the service of the Lord and to maintain St. Augustine’s Powerful saying that ‘’when you sing, you pray twice”.

Our Song will always be

Count your Blessing Name them one by one; it will surprise what the Lord has done.

Yours proud Choir. St Francis Choir.

Tue 28, Aug 2018 07:08 am

REQUIESCANT IN PACE

The final day of the second solemn novena to St. Jude, is usually celebrated in our ceremonial gardens. Before the concluding Novena Mass begins, a brief prayer service for the three priests to whom this novena is dedicated, is held at the graves of two of the priests (Msgrs. John Baptist Kanyi and Anatoli Kamya). The third priest, Rev. Fr. Henry Steegmans, was laid to rest elsewhere.

Rev. Fr. Henry Steegmans

Fr. Henry Steegmans was a Mill Hill Missionary priest, from the Netherlands, and the founder of  Our Lady and St. Jude Catholic Church, Naggulu (1954). His name, Steegmans, means: ‘the son of the man in a small street’. I happened to see him on a few occasions, although I never had a chance of  participating in one of his Eucharistic celebrations. He was still in Uganda at the celebration of Naggulu Parish Golden Jubilee (2004). However , shortly afterwards he returned to his home country where the Lord called him to eternal rest in June 2009. 

Msgr John Baptist Kanyi

The monsignor originated from Sudan, but grew up and became a priest in Uganda. I participated in his Novena Masses. Devotees of the St. Jude devotion would come from up Country and neighbouring countries to attend these novenas. Their participation was always serious, pious and active. You would notice that they were recollected in Spirit, their souls and bodies united in prayerful harmony.  They listened to the readings with full attention and responded to hymns, prayers and acclamations with enthusiasm. At the time of consecration, even the people outside would kneel on the ground; the environment was very conducive spiritually (1Kg 19:ll-13).  

We have to remember that at that time there were not many prayer centers as we have them today, and people as always wanted God to give them answers to their problems or thank Him for his providence. This was one of the few available places.

Msgr. Kanyi successfully promoted the Devotion to St. Jude. He died and was buried behind the Church.

Msgr Anatoli K. Kamya

A priest of the soil (Muganda) he was the Parish Priest of Naggulu (1990—2001). He was very principled indeed. One time a group of Christians approached him and requested him to be celebrating Mass in English also,  but he answered, "Even if there is only one person in the Church, I shall celebrate Mass" (for the 2nd Vatican Council says, "Mass is to be celebrated in the Language of the people of the Area i.e. in Luganda in Buganda).

At another time he was distributing Holy Communion. He held the Communion to "X" and said "Omubiri gwa Kristu" but "X" kept quiet. He said it the second time and the third time. When "X" did not say, "Amiina", he never gave communion to "X".

One Christmas day, when he was celebrating Mass, the Children's Ministry presented a SKIT imitating the Clergies. A very young girl who imitated him said, "You have come to meet your God, to meet Him in His word and in the Sacrament, are you ready to receive Him? If not, you must go for confession and that is why those confessional boxes are there. I am Msgr Anatoli Kamya". The congregation laughed and clapped, because that was exactly how he used to preach. Msgr was so amused and happy that from that moment onwards, he was calling the  Children's Ministry, "ABAANA BANGE".

To meet Jesus in His Word, means you have to come early for Mass. That is why Rev. Fr. Godfrey Kyeyune wrote in the parishioner, "the Faithful are encouraged to be in time" - so that they can meet Jesus by listening to the Readings and Homilies.

The monsignor also promoted the Devotion to St. Jude, but he handed the instrument of power (PARISH PRIEST) to Rev. Fr. Edward Muwanga. I was so privileged and blessed that I saw and witnessed the installation of Rev. Fr. Edward Muwanga as Parish Priest of Naggulu.

As if he knew that his time was about to come, Msgr. now spent most of his time in prayer. He would sit at a corner near the Tabernacle praying. When the time came for him to rest in the Lord, some of us visited him at Nsambya hospital. We stood near his bed, he could neither recognize us nor talk.

When he breathed his last, he was buried next to Msgr. Kanyi behind the church. The Bible is right to tell us that we should be ever because we do not know the Time (hour) and the day.

Every Thursday after the Holy Hour, and every Saturday before the Rosary at grotto, the Children's Ministry visits their Tombs and prays the Prayer of the Faithful Departed.

For these three heroes of Naggulu Parish we say: “May they rest in peace. Amen”.

Wed 15, Aug 2018 09:08 am

MASS FOR MEMBERS OF ST. PONSIANO KABONDO ON THEIR WAY TO SOMALIA

On Thursday, 2 August, 2018, the members of St. Ponsiano Small Christian Community (Kabondo), organized themselves and came to the church for a Eucharistic celebration. The purpose of the Mass was to pray for eighty of their members, who were going to Somalia for a one year peace keeping Mission.

The Mass started at 10:00 a.m., the congregation included the eighty police men and women, for whom we were praying.

The celebrant commended them for putting the Mission in the hand of God and thanked them for their service to the Nation and outside. He reminded them that, as they had sought God’s assistance, they should continually remember that they are like clay in the potters hand, and let Him re-work them into the vessel He likes. This will lead to the success of their Mission.

After Mass the celebrant gave them a special blessing. May they have a successful Mission and come back safely.

Mon 06, Aug 2018 14:08 pm

Christ Offers Himself for Us in Mass

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, the Beloved, carries His Cross on His Shoulders up to Calvary, where He offers Himself as a Sacrifice of infinite value for all men. In the book of Genesis, we read that Isaac was made to carry the wood for the holocaust; he is a figure of Christ who was made to carry His Cross on His Shoulders. He was crucified onto the cross he carried as both priest and victim. A Priest because he offered the Father his obedience, and a victim, because he died! Today, ordained priests have the task of carrying the wood for the sacrifice.

This priestly ministry of Jesus is made present in every celebration of the Eucharist. In the celebration of Mass and through the ministry of the priest, Jesus offers to his Father the perfect worship, he thus brings about the sanctification of his people. It is the highest sacrifice acceptable to the Father. Nothing can ever rival this sacrifice in its perfection; as we read in the first letter of Peter “The price of (our) redemption was not something of fleeting value like gold or silver, but the costly shedding of the blood of Christ, the lamb without blemish or defect” (1Peter:18-19).

Mass, therefore, has an infinite, immense value beyond our understanding. Though there is a priest we see at the altar when Mass is celebrated, Christ remains the principal priest; the victim truly offered and Sacramentally immolated (offered as a sacrifice). He offers himself.

The Mass is the best means we have, to render God the highest form of worship, thank Him for all His blessings, obtain reparation for all our sins, obtain all the blessings we desire, release souls from purgatory and shorten our own time there, preserve us from all dangers to soul and body, be consoled at the hour of death, intercede for us at the Judgment Seat of God and to bring down God's blessings.

Reader, you see how important Mass is? Therefore, during Mass we should neither talk to each other, walk up and down, nor allow our children to play about. Also do you see how important Priests are? Sr. Mother Tereza said, "Without Priests we cannot receive Jesus'. Let us meditate now in the Presence of God on how well we pray for Priests, how we treat them, how we Care for them, how Grateful we ought to be to them for having responded positively to our Lord's Call, how to Help them persevere and be Saints.

Tue 31, Jul 2018 08:07 am

HE WAS BORN 66 YEARS AGO

Last Monday 23^rd July, our Parish Priest, Fr. Godfrey Kyeyune made 66 years of age. Congratulations Father!

Parishioners who attended the 1:00PM ( lunch time) Mass that day,  mobilized a cake and treated Father to a cocktail. This birthday celebration was held at 6:00 P.M that evening. Though  it was at a very short notice, a sizable number of  parishioners attended. Thank you everyone for the support and donations.

May Father grow stronger and stronger.

Tue 31, Jul 2018 07:07 am

2nd Annual Solemn Novena to St. Jude, 7 July to 15 July 2018

Members of St. Jude Thaddeus Devotion, all devotees of St. Jude, Naggulu parishioners and interested people of God, on (7/7/2018) evening, opened the second annual solemn novena to St. Jude. The ceremony, which started with a procession at 04:00 p.m,  took place in our church during a solemn Eucharistic celebration) Mass.

As usual, we are celebrating the novena Masses in the evening, and concluding with St. Jude Novena prayers. The faithful are encouraged to be in time, and the organizers are expected not to waste time with unnecessary speeches or lengthy announcements. All concerned are reminded that some of the faithful come from far and evening transport tends to be problematic.

Then on the ninth day  -  Sunday 15th July  -  Mass will start at 10:30 a.m. The main celebrant for this closing Mass is expected to be the chancellor of Kampala Archdiocese, Fr. Joseph Mary Ssebunya. The choir to lead the liturgical singing will be ‘Morning Star Choir’ from Old Kampala Parish.

Msgrs. J.B. Kanyi & A.K. Kamya and Fr. H. Steegmans R.I.P.

Sticking to tradition, the 2nd Annual Solemn Novena, will be dedicated to   Msgr. John Baptist Kanyi who worked devotedly and tirelessly to see that the devotion to St. Jude germinates and sprouts here at Naggulu and in Uganda at large; Msgr. Anatoli Kiriggwajjo Kamya who madesure that what his predecessor started continued to grow stronger, and finally Rev. Fr.  Henry Steegmans who not only founded this parish but also made sure that St. Jude was one of its patrons.

Since Msgrs. Kanyi and Kamya were laid to rest behind our church, on the last day of the Novena, again according to tradition, we shall have a brief memorial prayer service before we proceed to Hill Top gardens for Mass. As for Fr. Steegmans, who is buried elsewhere, our prayers for his eternal rest and our thanksgiving to God for sending him to us, will suffice.

Theme of the Novena

We did not see any good reason to have a different theme from that of the Archdiocese of Kampala, under whose jurisdiction we fall. Thus we continue to: Remember, Rejoice, Renew.

We remember what God has done for us through St. Jude, through the aforementioned men of God and through many other men and women  devoted to St. Jude. We rejoice that the hand of God is still working today through St. Jude, and show our gratitude in visible symbols. Then we renew by tuning our lives to the Good News that St. Jude was sent to spread and by ‘cleaning’ any areas in our lives which may not be shining in the light of the gospel.

Novena at Diocesan Level

We have official branches of the Devotion in the following Diocese: Arua, Bungoma (Kenya) Fort Portal, Gulu, Hoima, Jinja, Kabale, Kampala, Kasana, Kaseese, Kiyinda Mityana, Lira, Lugazi, Masaka, Mbarara, Soroti and Tororo.

The Executive Committee of the devotion recommended that, as we celebrate the three annual novenas here at the center, we should also do likewise at the Parish and at Diocesan levels. Thus the March novena be at the Parish level and that of July, at the Diocesan level. Then for the third, all branches come here at the centre and conclude everything with the celebration of the Feast of Ss Simon and Jude  -  28 October. The recommendation received the approval of the branches and is already operational. We therefore wish all our braches in the various dioceses a successful 2nd Annual Novena. We shall see them in October for the “grand finale”.

Wed 11, Jul 2018 13:07 pm

FUNDRAISING WALK 2018 - THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH

The Parish Executive would like to give a thousand thank you, to all Parishioners, guests friends and well wishers, for successfully completing the activities of the fundraising on , June 17,2018.

The chair and members of the fundraising committee, many thanks for the preparatory meetings, time, leg-work and everything else you put in the function.

All who donated funds thank you. May God give you His blessings.

We cannot forget to thank Fr. N. Kiruma for leading the Mass that preceded the walk.

Our Lady and St. Jude, intercede for us.

Tue 03, Jul 2018 14:07 pm

NAGGULU YOUTH ARISE IN STRENGTH AND IN HIS GRACE

On 13th May,2018, we celebrated our youth day. We thank God for the tremendous work He does in His church through the Youth Apostolate.

There is a growing active Participation of the youth in the church. This comes with in increased awareness of the need to belong somewhere. We are youth for Christ and unless we accept this reality, we risk becoming vagabonds.

I want to thank the leadership of the Youth Apostolate, the support from the Parish, and the youth in the following departments under the Youth Apostolate:

· The Legionaries

· The Xaverians

· The Children Ministry

· The Heaven dancers

· Divine Mercy choir

· Altar servers

· Bible Apostolate

· And all the departments of the Parish in which the youth participate.

Under these departments, the youth are mentored empowered to realize their potentials , given access to meet various opportunities and above all brought close to Christ our master.

We want to thank the parents of these youth, our patroness Mama Marcella and the co-patron Ambassador Joseph Ocwet and all the friends that support the Youth Apostolate.

We thank the main celebrant Fr. Joseph Luzindana for honoring our invitation. I want to thank the organizing committee for this year’s Youth day, and all the friends who gave us money and all the support we needed to prepare our day. May God bless you all.

To all the active youth, I want to encourage you to remain strong in the service of God, for it is where we meet our blessing and to invite those who are still lukewarm. To embrace Christ in whom everything is possible. Arise in strength and in His grace.

Yours, Fr. Joseph Kaseeta,

Youth Chaplain

Tue 22, May 2018 09:05 am

Naggulu Parish Youth Apostolate Day 2018 - Arise in strength and in His grace

Thu 10, May 2018 09:05 am

May - A whole month for the Blessed Mother ( Part 1 of two parts)

As we begin the month of Mary, this Tuesday, we should be ready to calmly face the forces opposed to the honor given to Our Lady. In today’s world, where all kinds of “informed people” give us information via a little gadget we hold in the palm of our hand, we may be confused and make the wrong turn. The best line to take is to stick to what Mother Church teaches us and trust in the Holy Spirit who guides her to show us the right way. The same spirit will help us follow the way.

Consider this teaching of the Church: (1) God alone, the Supreme, Infinite Being, must be adored. To adore any creature, however exalted, would be to commit idolatry.  (2) Jesus Christ alone is our Mediator of Redemption. He alone, by his supreme sacrifice, of infinite value, redeemed and ransomed mankind. 

With that teaching in mind, let us look at the way we put the Virgin Mary on a very high pedestal, on so many occasions. A whole month (May), is dedicated to her. Are we not going a little bit too far? What about the way we behave before her images wherever they may be: are we not kind of adoring her? Yet the teaching spells it out; God alone is to be adored, and Christ alone is to be worshiped as our Mediator of Redemption. Why give all this honor to Mary?

Rev. Fr. M.D. Forrest M.S.C., in his article ‘Devotion to the Blessed Virgin’ C.A. January 02, 2007; explains Catholic doctrine and practice regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here are some of the points from his article.

He says that among humans, there is an innate law dictating that “creatures who are clothed with a special dignity”, should be shown special honor…. ‘Children must honor their parents; servants must revere their masters; soldiers must respect their officers; subjects must show loyalty to their rulers.’ Fr. Forrest continues: “God himself has, in fact, positively commanded, in his revelation to man, this honor that the natural law prescribes. Thus besides the supreme honor that we give God, and which we term adoration, there is an inferior honor that we not only may but must show to all creatures who are clothed with special dignity.”

Forrest gives two reasons why Mary’s dignity, transcends that of any other creature. She is: (i) the only creature privileged to adore her son, and (ii) the only one God the Son can address as Mother.

This puts her in a position that: as Forrest puts it, “far transcends that of any other creature as heaven excels earth”.

Scripture plays a part:

The priest goes on to show that the words of the “Hail Mary”, which Catholics use so lovingly and so often to honor Mary are mainly from Luke 1:26-55. In this passage, the angel’s words and those of Elizabeth put together (inserting the names Mary and Jesus), form the first part of the prayer. Thus Catholics follow the Bible in giving honor to Mary. Still referring to that same passage, where Mary in her Magnificat says, “all generations will call me blessed”, the priest asks: who “fulfills this prophecy: those who refuse to apply the adjective blessed to the Virgin Mary, or Catholics, who love to call Mary the Blessed Virgin?” 

Mary is invoked

We ask Mary to intercede for us with her divine Son. Now, Fr. Forrest points out that Christians, non-Catholic ones included, often ask one another to pray for them. So he asks: “if I may say to a sinner on this earth, and he may say to me, another sinner, "Pray for me," for what reason may we not say to the sinless Mother of God enthroned in heaven, "Pray for us"?

“If St. Paul asked the Romans to "help him in their prayers for him to God" (Rom. 15:16); if he wrote to the Thessalonians, "Pray for us," why may we not ask Mary, who is far holier and nearer to God than the Roman and Thessalonian converts, to "pray for us"? ——————

Really we are not going too far when we dedicate a full month to Mary.

PART II —- next week.

Mon 30, Apr 2018 13:04 pm