Kinyamasika Seminary to mark silver jubilee

PIC: Bishops John Baptist Kaggwa and Odama with seminarians after mass. (Credit: Mathias Mazinga)

St. Paul's National Major Seminary, Kinyamasika, has launched preparations for its silver jubilee.

The seminary located in Fort Portal was started by the Catholic Bishops in 1992. It offers a four-year theological and priestly formation course to major seminarians, prior to their ordination to the Catholic diaconate and priesthood.

Preparations for the seminary's 20th anniversary celebrations were announced by the Rector of the seminary, Fr. Dr. Lazarus Luyinda, during the seminary's 20th graduation ceremony, which took place at the seminary in Fort Portal on Thursday.

In preparation of the silver jubilee, all the roads or walk-ways inside the seminary will be tarmacked.

Also, the asbestos sheets on the seminary's old buildings will be removed. Solar power will be installed in the seminary.

 The new chapel that was dedicated. (Credit: Mathias Mazinga)

Fr. Luyinda appealed to Catholics and all people of goodwill to contribute generously towards the seminary's silver jubilee infrastructure projects.

During the graduation function, 34 major seminarians were given Diplomas in Theology of St. Paul's National Major Seminary, Kinyamasika. The function was presided over by the Bishop of Masaka, Dr. John Baptist Kaggwa, who is the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Commission for Priestly Formation and Institutes of Consecrated Life.

But the most glamorous part of the day was the commissioning and dedication of the seminary's new chapel, which has been under construction since 2009.

The chapel, estimated at about sh1bn, sits about 500 Christians.

Archbishop Odama conducts prayers for the dedication of the new chapel. (Credit: Mathias Mazinga)

 A deacon performs the symbolism of lighting the chapel

Bishop Kaggwa (left) and Archbishop Odama sign the certificate of the chapel's dedication

 
The chapel was dedicated by the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, The Most Rev. John Baptist Odama, also the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, who during his homily, asked the seminary community to use the chapel to glorify God in total faith and sincerity.

Odama also thanked Bishop Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale Araali of Kasese Diocese, who started construction of the chapel when he was still the Rector of the Seminary in 2009.

Fr. Luyinda paid tribute to those who had funded the construction of the chapel. These include Kirche In Not (Germany), Sisters of St. Peter Claver (Rome), Rottenburg Diocese (Germany), Archbishop Paul Tschang in-Nam, Paderborn Archdiocese (Germany), St. Agnes Church, Norwich (USA), the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle (POSPA-Rome), the Catholic dioceses of Uganda and friends of the seminary in Kampala and Fort Portal.

 Seminarians playig the Adungu (local harp) during mass

A cross-section of family and friends of those who graduated

 The seminarians who graduated at Kinyamasika

The relics of St Charles Lwanga and St Matia Mulumba which were placed beneath the altar of the new chapel

 The Rector, Fr. Luyinda, plants a memorial tree