UJCC prayer week draws to an end

Jan 25, 2014

The prayer week organized by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) that started last Sunday at the Orthodox Church, Namungoona ends on Sunday 26.

By Juliet Lukwago       

The prayer week organized by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) that started last Sunday at the Orthodox Church, Namungoona ends on Sunday 26.

The annual occasion, started at Rubaga Cathedral in 2008, is intended to bring all Christians together and rotates in the churches and in parishes of all churches.

UJCC secretary Fr. Sylvester Arinaitwe said this occasion is celebrated throughout the world annually and this year’s occasion has been held in Uganda under the theme: “Has Christ been divided?”

“The prayer week in Uganda was jointly adopted by the pontifical council for promoting Christian unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches,” he said.

The prayers started off last week with Kampala Archbishop Dr. Cyprian Kizito-Lwanga as the main preacher at Namungoona.

The week of prayers is scheduled to be wrapped up at the Sacred Heart of Mary Cathedral, Lubaga where Church of Uganda’s Archbishop Stanley Ntagali will be the main preacher.

Accordingly, Archbishop Lwanga told Christians to learn to forgive one another and stop being jealous to one another.

He mentioned that to eliminate poverty from their homes, people ought to work hard and stay away from witchcraft, as practicing rituals would not save them from being impoverished.

The UJCC was founded by the late Archbishop Joseph Kiwanuka of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Leslie Brown of the Church of Uganda and Archbishop Theodorous Nankyama of the Orthodox Church.

At St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, Archbishop Jonah Lwanga of the Orthodox church, who was the main preacher on Thursday said: “Uganda as nation is faced with numerous problems including economic and social, which need prayers so that God helps mankind to know the right path.”

“Truth and justice is also lacking among the people while prices of commodities including food are too high for the ordinary Ugandan,” he said.

“The youths are being swayed with what they see and read in the social media.”

Jonah Lwanga said that the theme of this year’s prayer week should challenge every Christian to work for unity and reconciliation.

“The young generation needs prayers and encouragement to live in harmony as people of the same family with a common destiny,” said the clergyman.

Bishop Wilberforce Kityo-Luwalira of Namirembe, who was the host, expressed gratitude to Christians and clergy from different churches and hailed the spirit of togetherness that had been displayed at his Church.

On his part, Kampala Archbishop Lwanga hailed the founders of UJCC for being far-sighted.

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