BEGINNING ADVENT THE RIGHT WAY

Last Sunday as the church was getting ready to liturgically celebrate the solemnity of Jesus Christ King of the universe, here in Uganda, we woke up to the news of a shocking event on Lake Victoria. Saturday evening, a cruise boat had capsized on the lake, leaving an unknown number of people dead. (By the time of writing this piece, the number of confirmed dead is 33). Tragic! Very sad! May the departed brothers and sisters rest in eternal peace. Amen.

Against that back drop, to some of us, the celebration of the Solemnity, became more of an occasion for soul searching than a time of jubilation. A time to meditatively say, in our hearts and actions, the famous “Viva Cristo Rey (Long Live Christ the King)”. Not because accidents of this nature are to be hailed, — Oh, no! —- but because of the whole idea behind the Solemnity of Christ the King. Namely, in the end, in spite of the many, many things we go through in this world, the various happenings whether joyful or sad, which more often than not, prevent us from seeing the true ’ruler’ of our lives; Christ the King must rule our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies. He  will reign for ever.

As this tragic event continues to dominate our conversation, discussions and prayers, to day we have woken up to a new Church liturgical Season: Advent. As it is the case most of the time, the themes of the last week of the outgoing season, merge with the opening themes of the incoming Season. We do not build walls between the two, we instead make it happen “re-lay style”.

Last week of outgoing Season

For example the whole of last week Mass readings, have been telling us of the End Times; …. “the angel of the Lord set his sickle to work on the earth and harvested the whole vintage of the earth and put it into a huge winepress, the winepress of God’s anger……….., Babylon has fallen…., the Lord God will shine on them….., there will never be night again; There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven…… then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.”

First day of incoming Season

The new season begins with Mass readings telling us: “……  the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I am going to fulfil the promise I made……. be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints…...‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves …..Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man”. 

Relay Style? Looks like it from where I am standing.

Begin Advent the right way

Here are two examples to set each one of us reflecting on what God expects of us during this four-Sunday season. No offense or disrespect intended, but the examples happen to be about a sinking boat. 

Missing the signal!

The first example is from Fr. Anthony Kadavil, pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish in the Archdiocese of Mobile US.

In its day, the Titanic was the world’s largest ship, weighing 46,328 tons, and it was considered unsinkable. Yet, late during the night of April 14-15, 1912, the unthinkable happened to the unsinkable. Near midnight, the great Titanic struck an iceberg, ripping a three-hundred-foot hole through five of its sixteen watertight compartments. It sank in two and a half hours killing 1,513 people.

Before the Titanic sank, warning after warning had been sent to tell the crew that they were speeding into an ice field, but the messages were ignored. In fact, when a nearby ship sent an urgent warning, the Titanic was talking to Cape Race about the time the chauffeurs were to meet arriving passengers at the dock in New York, and what dinner menus were to be ready. Preoccupied with the trivia, the Titanic responded to the warning, “Shut up. I am talking to Cape Race. You are jamming my signals!”

Why did so many die that night? Perhaps the crew disregarded the danger of the weather; there were not enough lifeboats on board; and the radio operator of nearby California was off duty; perhaps those responsible did not heed the warnings; they were preoccupied with other things!

Lesson: Sometimes we believe that our ‘ship’ is unsinkable, our life is all well planned, and the unthinkable can never happen to us. We need to read the signs of the times, we need to pay attention to the warning signals. But if we are preoccupied with the trivial things of life we will miss the most important things till it is too late. The First Sunday of Advent gives us the warning to be watchful, waiting and prepared.

Would we keep arranging deckchairs on a sinking ship?  

The second example is again from Fr. Kadavil (as in the 1st one), but this time he gets it from the magazine, ‘Sunday Liturgies’ by M. Link.

On the night of April 15, 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank.  Over 1,500 people lost their lives in one of the worst sea disasters in history.  A few years ago a magazine recalled the great disaster and asked its readers this shocking –almost blasphemous question:

“If we’d been on the Titanic when it sank, would we have arranged the deckchairs?” 

At first we say to ourselves, “What a ridiculous question!  No one in his right mind would ignore wailing sirens on a sinking ship and rearrange its deck chairs!  No one with an ounce of sanity would ignore the shouts of drowning people and keep arranging deck chairs!” But as we continue to read the magazine, we see the reason for the strange question.  And suddenly we ask ourselves:

 “Are we perhaps, rearranging the deckchairs on a sinking ship? For example:

 - are we so caught up with material things in life that we are giving a back seat to spiritual things? 

- are we so busy making a living that we are forgetting the purpose of life? 

- are we so taken up with life that we are forgetting why God gave us life?” 

Wed 05, Dec 2018 10:12 am

KAMPALA ARCHDIOCESAN DAY 2018

28th October,2018 at Lubaga: Our Parish Priest, Fr Godfrey Kyeyune and Mr. Michael Mawerere , Secretary to the Parish council greeting His Grace Archbishop Kizito. Lwanga.

Wed 14, Nov 2018 09:11 am

NTINDA PARISHIONERS VISIT THEIR ROOTS

Ntinda parishioners in a group photo after St. Jude novena Mass on 21st October,2018. They were led by their Parish Priest, Fr. Edward Muwanga;

Eng Bakawa, the Head of the Laity and Mrs. Audrey Kahara Kawuki , the Deputy Head of the Laity. Ntinda Parish donated to us 25 Million shillings towards the construction of our new church. Thank you so much

Wed 31, Oct 2018 08:10 am

Kampala Archdiocesan Day: Some facts about the Diocese

Kampala is the result of territorial changes:

Victoria Nyanza Vicariate (1883)

The Vicariate Apostolic Victoria Nyanza was established by the Holy See in 1883 and was entrusted to the Missionaries of Africa commonly known as the White Fathers. Lubaga became the seat of the Bishop.

Upper Nile Vicariate (1894)

On July 13, 1894, the Holy See erected the Upper Nile Vicariate dividing it from Victoria Nyanza Vicariate and entrusted it to the Mill Hill Missionaries. Nsambya became the seat of the Bishop of that Vicariate. The name of Victoria Nyanza Vicariate was also changed to Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Victoria Nyanza.

Vicariate Apostolic of Uganda (1915)

After the erection of Vicariates in territories beyond the Nile on the southern side, the name of Northern Victoria Nyanza Vicariate was changed to the Vicariate of Uganda on Janaury 15, 1915.

Vicariate of Kampala

On June 10, 1948, the name of Upper Nile Vicariate was also changed to the Vicariate of Kampala which later became the Diocese of Kampala in 1953.

Archdiocese of Rubaga (1953-1966)

The Catholic Hierarchy in Uganda was established on March 25, 1953 and the Vicariates of Uganda became the dioceses of Uganda. Lubaga became an Archdiocese with 5 suffragan dioceses namely; Gulu, Masaka, Kampala, Mbarara and Tororo. The first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Rubaga was Archbishop Louis Joseph Cabana WF (1947-1960) who died in retirement in 1981. He was succeeded by Archbishop Dr. Joseph Kiwanuka(1960-1965)

Archdiocese of Kampala (1966-)

On August 5, 1966, the Holy See joined together a section of the Diocese of Kampala and the Archdiocese of Rubaga to create the Archdiocese of Kampala. It was covering most parts of Central Uganda. His Grace Emmanuel K. Nsubuga (later Cardinal) was consecrated on 30th October 1966 to become the first Ordinary of the newly created Archdiocese of Kampala. He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal on 24 May 1976. He retired on 8 Feb 1990 and died on 20 April 1991. He was succeeded by His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala (1990-2006). Since then, three other new dioceses have been created namely: Kiyinda-Mityana (August 21, 1981), Kasana-Luweero (December 16, 1996) and Lugazi (December 16, 1996).

The line of succession to the See of former Rubaga Diocese (Cathedral: Lubaga)

The Rt. Revs:

Leon Livinhac, W.F. (1883-1890) Jean Hirth, W.F (1890-1894) Guillermain, W.F. (1895-1897) Henry Streicher, W.F. (1897-1933)————John Forbes, W.F. (1918-26)(Co-adjutor) Edward Michaud, W.F. (1933-1945)————James Smith, W.F. (1945-1947),(Pro-Vicar) —————————— Louis Joseph. Cabana W.F. (1947-1960)———–———————Joseph Kiwanuka, W.F. (1961-1966)

The line of succession to the See of former Kampala Diocese (Cathedral at Nsambya)

The Rt. Revs:

Henry Hanlon, MHM (1894-1911) John Biermans, MHM (1912-1924)  John W Campling, MHM (1925-1937)————————————John Reesinck, MHM 1938-1947) Vincent Billington, MHM (1947-1966)

The line of succession to the See of the Archdiocese of |Kampala

His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga (1966-1990)—————His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala (1990-2006)——————The Most Reverend Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga (2006-)

Additional info:

Area: 3,644 km²;

Population: 1,740,000 Catholics (41.0% of 4,242,000 total) (2014)

Suffragan Sees:, Kasana Luweero  Kiyinda-Mityana, Lugazi, Masaka.

67 parishes, (2017), ( more or less 360 priests (288 diocesan, 72 religious), 951 lay religious (285 brothers, 666 sisters)…..

Source: Uganda Episcopal Conference.

Wed 31, Oct 2018 07:10 am

The third and final Annual Solemn Novena to St. Jude Thaddeus,

The third and final Annual Solemn Novena to St. Jude Thaddeus, starts on Friday 19 October, 2018 at 04:00 p.m.

Rev. Fr. Joseph Kato is expected to be the Main Celebrant, and the choir will be from St. Paul Sub Parish Banda.

Brothers and sisters of St. Jude, are also sons and daughters of Mary. We continue to say our daily rosary during the Novena to St. Jude.

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Saturday 27 October will be the final day of the Novena, and on that day we shall also anticipate the Feast of Ss. Simon and Jude. We shall celebrate St. Jude’s Feast Day as we conclude the Novena.

Fort Portal Diocese will be in charge of leading the liturgy of the day.

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During the Novena, the 40 bead chaplet to St. Jude will be available, along with the prayers.

Registered members can get “Essaala y’Ekibiina - Kampala Archdiocese” from :

Ms. Florence Kyomugisha, Chairperson - 0704788369, 0788825588

Tue 16, Oct 2018 07:10 am

REFUGE OF SINNERS - PRAY FOR US

The Pope asked Catholics to pray the rosary every day during the month of October for protection of the Church from the devil.

A Vatican statement says: “ the Pope is asking the faithful of the whole world to pray so that the Mother of God puts the Church under her protective mantle to preserve her from the attacks of the evil one, the great accuser, and to make [the Church] all the more conscious of the faults, the mistakes, the abuses made in the present and in the past, and more committed to fighting without any hesitation for evil not to prevail.”

The Pope has also asked us to say the prayer to Michael the Archangel for the same purpose.

The two prayers:

(1) Invocation: Sub Tuum Praessidium (Under Your Protection)

We fly to thy protection, O Holy Mother of God; do not despise our petitions in our necessities but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.

(2) St. Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Fri 12, Oct 2018 13:10 pm

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