Catholics faithful asked to emulate pioneer missionaries’ unwavering faith

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A senior confrere of the Catholic missionary society of the White Fathers (also called Missionaries of Africa), the Very Rev Fr Richard Nnyombi has asked the Catholic faithful to emulate the deep faith and hope of pioneer Catholic missionaries, Fr Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro Delmas Amans.

He has praised the two French missionaries for their sacrificial love and commitment to God, the reason they left their beautiful country and offered themselves as the pioneer Catholic preachers in Uganda.

Rev Fr Richard Nnyombi delivers his homily during the thanksgiving mass for the commemoration of the 146th anniversary of the arrival of Fr Lourdel Mapeera and Bro Delmas Amans at Kisub. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

“We thank God for the gift of the Catholic faith that was introduced to this country by Mapeera, Amans and their companions. We pay tribute to Ssekabaka Muteesa I of Buganda, who out of a deep desire for his people to have holistic development, wrote to Queen Victoria of England on April 14, 1875, requesting her to send him missionaries and professional experts to transform his kingdom. We further thank Ssekabaka for welcoming the missionaries and supporting their work by giving them land on which they established their mission stations, schools and hospitals.”

“Mapeera, Amans and their companions were men of faith and hope. Even when they encountered serious challenges, they still pushed on. As a result of their resilient missionary activity, we now have a vibrant Church. Like Fr Mapeera and Bro Amans, we the Catholic believers are expected to have deep faith and hope in God. Even when the going gets tough, let’s not abandon our faith or our noble objectives. We just have to pray for protection, deliverance and providence,” Nnyombi said.

He was delivering his homily during the thanksgiving Mass for the 146th anniversary of the arrival ofMapeera and Bro Amans at Kisubi (in Wakiso district) on February 19, 2025.

The newly-appointed headteacher of Kisubi-Mapeera SSS, Fr Benedict Kaweesa Munene delivers his thanksgiving remarks. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

Records in the archives of the Catholic Church indicate that Mapeera and Bro Amans arrived by canoe at Kigungu Landing Site in Entebbe Municipality on February 17, 1879. They intended to travel by water to Munyonyo and then find their way to the palace of King Muteesa I at Lubaga, to seek his permission to preach the Gospel in his kingdom. Unfortunately, the canoe they were using broke into pieces as they approached Kaweta, near Bugonga (in Entebbe). They abandoned the canoe and opted to walk. On their way, they made a stop-over at Kisubi (the current location of Kisubi-Mapeera SSS) on February 19 (1879) and spent the night there.

Every February 19, Catholics make a pilgrimage of faith to Kisubi-Mapeera SSS to commemorate Fr Mapeera’s arrival and dwelling at the place.

This years’ pilgrimage was bigger than the previous ones. It attracted pupils and students from neighbouring schools including Kisubi Seminary, Kisubi-Mapeera SSS, St Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK), St Donozio Boys PS Kisubi, St Theresa Girls P S Kisubi and God’s Glory PS Kawuku.

In his latter remarks, Nnyombi put it to the pupils/students and adult Catholics to be virtuous in their disposition because Ssekabaka Muteesa I desired his people to have holistic enlightenment.

“Ssekabaka Muteesa I was a visionary man, He wanted his people to develop spiritually, economically and morally. He detested bad habits. So dear students, treasure education. Love and be committed to the faith that the missionaries brought. It is our light,” Nnyombi said.

Nnyombi encouraged the Catholic faithful to pray through the intercession of Fr Lourdel Mapeera, or Bro Delmas Amans and to report to the catechists and priests any favour or miracle they get through the same intercession. He said Rome was awaiting a proven miracle as the remaining requirement for beatifying and later canonizing the two missionaries.

The newly appointed headteacher of Kisubi Mapeera SSS, Fr Benedict Kaweesa Munene marvelled at the religious devotion and missionary sincerity of the pioneer missionaries, who he said, came looking for Ugandans and Uganda, not the wealth of Uganda and Ugandans. He asked them to love and support Kisubi-Mapeera SSS, which he said, has the rare blessing of hosting the messengers of God and sharing the history of the Catholic Church in Uganda.

The mass was beautifully animated by the chapel choir of St Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK). After mass, the pilgrims were entertained by the music, dance and drama ensemble of Kisubi Mapeera SSS. The ensemble threw many exciting items, including a beautiful poem that chronicled the events of the advent/development of the Catholic faith, and the marvellous attributes of the pioneer missionaries of the society of White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) who introduced it (in 1879).