Church commemorates Fr. Bill

By Mathias Mazinga

A massive Bible Convention in memory of Fr. Dr. Joseph Kuruppamparambil, locally known as Fr. Bill, is underway at Mayors Garden in Entebbe.

The weeklong convention, which will climax on Saturday (March 14), starts at 12:00 noon and ends at 8:00pm, daily.

It is running under the theme: For mortals it is impossible but not for God, with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27).

The late Fr. Bill's tomb

The convention’s main preacher is Fr. Rony Mukkuzhy, the Director of the Vincentian Divine Retreat Centre in Assam, India.

Other preachers will include Msgr. Expedito Magembe of Mount Zion Prayer Centre, Bukalango, Fr. Athanasus Mussajjakaawa, Fr. Joseph Ssebayigga, Fr. Joby Kalathil and the Metropolitan Archbishop, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

The Vincentian Prayer centre in Entebbe, built by Fr. Bill

Fr. Bill was a celebrated Indian retreat preacher, exorcist and miracle worker, who introduced the Catholic religious society of the Vincentian Fathers in Uganda. Bill died at St. Mary’s Hospital, Lacor, in Gulu, on March 14, 2008.

He had come to Uganda three days earlier, to conduct a weeklong peace crusade in Gulu. During the previous four days, he preached to hundreds of people at the crusade. But he later developed breathing complications, admitted to the Hospital on March 12 and died a couple of days after.

Christians worshipping at the Vincentian Retreat Centre in Nsangi

He was subsequently buried at the Vincentia Retreat Centre, Entebbe, on March 19, 2008.

In an interview with The New Vision, the Director of the Vincentian Retreat Centre Entebbe, Fr. Raphael Karalathukaran said:

“Our brother Bill zealously preached the gospel with utmost simplicity.  God also used him mightily to bring spiritual and physical healing and deliverance to Catholics and non-Catholics. He had immense concern for the poor and less privileged. His influence among the people of Uganda and elsewhere was thus enormous. Many people still visit his tomb everyday for prayers, deliverance and healing. These people also come back and give testimonies of miraculous divine intervention in their lives.”

Bill was first invited to Uganda by Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, to preach a retreat for priests and the religious, in the 90s.

He later returned and started to give public retreats/popular missions/crusades. Fascinated by the strong religious devotion and warm personality of Ugandans,  Bill eventually built a permanent prayer centre in Entebbe and declared that he be buried in Uganda if he died.

The dynamic presence of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in Uganda is attributed to Bill, who through his simple and down-to-earth homilies helped thousands of Christians to embrace radical spiritual conversion. Bill also built the Vincentian Retreat Centre and the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Entebbe.

Subsequent to his death, the Vincentian Fathers have carried forward Fr. Bill’s out-reach ministry of preaching, exorcism and deliverance.

Further to ministering at their Centre in Entebbe, the Vincentian Fathers also inaugurated a new retreat Centre at Kitemu, about 13 kms on the Kampala-Masaka road.

Also related to this story

Bill deserves to be a saint - Kajura