American Bishop William Shawn McKnight graced a Holy Mass in Kampala conducted in honour of the Holy Innocents Day on Wednesday.

McKnight, 54, is the Bishop of Diocese of Jefferson City in Missouri in the US.

He was accompanied by Jake Seifert and Anna Kampeter, as they graced the mass led by the Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere, at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo.

Holy Innocents Day is observed annually on December 28 in remembrance of the massacre of young male children in the city of Bethlehem by King Herod three days after the birth of Jesus.

Biblical accounts explain that Herod ordered for the killings out of fear that he would lose his throne to the newborn "King of the Jews" (Jesus) as earlier announced to him by the three wise men from the east.

Mary Sasha (11) in Primary Five at Global Junior School Ssonde

For the mass, Ssemogerere was assisted by the chancellor of Kampala Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Pius Male Ssentumbwe, director of Bannakizito, Fr Joseph Mary Ssebunnya, Fr. Boniface Kasita and others.

In his homily, Archbishop Ssemogerere condemned child trafficking, incest and kidnapping and thanked parents and guardians who look after their children well.

He said emerging reports of mistreatment and murder of children, some as sacrifice, are disturbing and urged all stakeholders to commit to protecting the lives of the young people.

Ssemogerere added that forcing children to beg on the streets is a violation of their rights.

Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere celebrate a Holy Mass at Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo to remember the day King Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the vicinity of Bethlehem (Innocent day) on Wednesday December 28, 2022

“I think you have seen children on the streets begging and later their parents ask them to hand the money to them. Let us pray for those parents who do not care so that they change their behaviors.”

During the prayers, rosaries brought by Archbishop McKnight were distributed to the congregants. Every child present received one.

Mary Sasha, a Primary Five pupil of Global Junior School Ssonde, was delighted to pick a pink rosary. She said it is her favourite colour.

Bishop William Shawn Mcknight from the of Diocese of Jefferson City in Missouri in United States of America interacting with Fr Boniface Kasita (he came with from USA) after the Holy Mass at Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo to remember the day King Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the vicinity of Bethlehem (Innocent day) on Wednesday December 28, 2022

“I know how to recite the rosary well. My mother taught me, and we recite it sometimes at home. I will make sure that I pray for Bishop William, who has given us these rosaries, and for my fellow children who are suffering in Uganda and in the whole world," said the 11-year-old.

Sasha now has two rosaries, having received the first one at her baptism last year at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine.

Some of the Bannakizito Association members before the mass at Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo on their arrival to remember the day King Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the vicinity of Bethlehem (Innocent day) on Wednesday December 28, 2022

"So let Bishop William and our Archbishop Ssemogerere be assured of my prayers every time," she added.