The Chairman of the Lay Apostolate Commission of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, the Rt Rev Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere has paid tribute to members of the Legion of Mary for their voluntary involvement in the pastoral activities of the Church.

He particularly commended them for their kindness and charity to vulnerable people, especially the sick people in hospitals.

Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere delivers his blessing

“The legionaries are generally acknowledged for their love and charity. They visit the sick in hospitals and give them spiritual, moral and material comfort and support. They also assist priests and religious men and women in their evangelistic work. Today we have many challenges including immorality, the cancer of death, the Covid-19 pandemic. So, the Church and the country need the ministry of the legionaries even more than ever,” Ssemwogerere said.

He made the remarks during the launching of the centennial celebrations of the Legion of Mary at St Peter’s Proto-Cathedral, Nsambya on Tuesday.

Ssemwogerere congratulated the legionaries on clocking 100 years. He nonetheless asked them to be even more committed to their ministry as they enter into a new century.

A portrait of Mother Mary in St Peter's Proto-Cathedral during mass

“We need to reflect on our life as legionaries. Let’s dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the service of God in all circumstances. The Servant of God Frank Duff, who founded our movement in Ireland, 100 years ago, wanted us to emulate the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave priority to the will of God.  Like Mary, let’s put God’s will above everything else. Let’s continue to lead an active life of prayer.

“Legion of Mary is not just a movement; it is a way of life. Let’s renew our commitment to the Lord, striving to keep His commandments and guidelines. Let’s continue to exercise the great commandment, that is, Love of God and Love of neighbour. Let’s continue to visit the sick in hospital and offer them spiritual, emotional and material support. We must remain agents of kindness and charity in all circumstances. Let us listen to the calling and teaching of God.

The Choir from St Augustine's Chapel, Makerere University leading the singing

“The contemporary socio-economic, moral and health challenges which include corruption, the cancer of death and the Covid-19 pandemic make the ministry of the legionaries even more relevant than ever. Legion of Mary is not for elderly people as some people think. It embraces Catholics of every age group and profession. Currently it is the most visible Catholic lay apostolate movement. It is everywhere; in schools, in prisons, in corporate organisations,” Ssemwogerere said.

The Chairman of the Uganda National Council of the Laity, Gervase Ndyanabo also commended the legionaries for putting in practice the great commandment of Love of God and neighbor. He promised to work together with the leaders of the movement, using the structures of the Church, to make the movement better understood and also, to boost the number and quality of its members.

Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere (wearing a mitre) poses for a group photo with Catholic priests after the thanksgiving mass for the centenary of the Legion of Mary at St Peter's Proto-Cathedral, Nsambya. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

The movement’s President in Uganda, Susan Mary Nsubuga, the Executive Secretary of Lay Apostolate at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat Fr Frederick Tusingire, Fr Ronnie Mubiru (the assistant national spiritual Director of the Legionaries), Emmanuel Cardinal Dr Wamala, Archbishop Luigi Bianco (the Apostolic Nuncio) and the President of the Legionaries in the world, Mary Murphy, also gave a message of thanksgiving and encouragement to the legionaries.

A spectacle of Christians during the thanksgiving mass

The function climaxed with the lighting of the centenary candle, which will be taken to all the 19 dioceses of Uganda, during the course of the centennial year. Each diocese will organize its centennial celebration on receiving the candle. The centennial anthem, Rejoice Region of Mary (composed by Past President Raphael Owor), was also launched.

A spectacle of Christians during the thanksgiving mass

A Brief on Legion of Mary

Legion of Mary (meaning the army of Mary) is a lay apostolate movement of the Catholic Church, founded in Ireland by the Servant of God, Frank Duff, on September 7, 1921.

St Peter's Proto-Cathedral, Nsambya, where the celebrations took place

The movement basically encourages its members to take active participation in the life and pastoral activities of the Church. Members of the movement work in solidarity with priests and the religious men and women.

The movement was introduced in Uganda by Venerable Edel Quinn on July 22, 1938. It currently has 400,000 Ugandan members.