By Juliet Lukwago

Visiting Brazilian cardinal-elect Joao Braz de Aviz has urged members of the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU) to always renew their vows as they continue to serve Jesus Christ.

Cardinal Braz de Aviz, prefect of the sacred congregations based in Rome, was addressing a large gathering of religious congregations during a holy mass he led at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo.

De Aviz is attending the Second conference of the Confederation of the conferences of the Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (COMSAM) that opened on Thursday at St Augustine, Nsambya where he delivered Pope Benedict XVI’s message and blessings to Ugandans.

The conference brings together all members of the Catholic faith from all over the world. The first one was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon in 2009. The ordinary general assembly takes place after every three years.

Over 600 delegates including nuns, brothers and a few priests are attending the conference that is expected to end on February 10. The theme of the conference is: “Witnesses to the truth at the service of Communion and Reconciliation in Africa.”

Papal Nuncio to Uganda Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam is one of the delegates to the week-long conference. Another is the Vicar General of Kampala Archdiocese, Mgr. Charles Kasibante, who represented Archbishop Cyprian Kizito-Lwanga.

 The delegates attending the conference are from USA, Italy, Togo, Madagascar, Tanzania, South-Africa, Malawi, Chad, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda.

During his homily, Cardinal Aviz said: “As we mark the Eucharistic celebrations for the day of the religious, let all of us reflect on the meaning of our own vocations to the society. Our religious vocations demand for being humble and obedient to our vows until death.” 

He urged the religious to serve God with renewed enthusiasm and joy even during hard times.

“My sisters and brothers redouble your hope and joy especially in hard times. We must be like trees that sink their roots down deeper into the soil in times of drought.

“Jesus is the ground that will never fail us, the source that fills us so completely that we can spread our branches out in witness to God’s trustworthiness and love,” Aviz said.

The national chairperson of COMSAM, Sr. Romina Nyemera, from Madagascar hailed the delegates for making it to Kampala to attend the second Eucharistic celebrations.