Holy Cross Family Ministry offers alternative Valentine's celebration

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The Catholic Church has always claimed possession of Valentine’s Day (February 14), which, according to its records, is the death anniversary of Fr. Valentine, the 3rd-century Italian cleric who defied Emperor Claudius’ imposed military celibacy and wedded army officers clandestinely, a project that consequently earned him a death sentence.

It is thus not surprising that, as the secular world threw Valentine fetes in hotels, bars, and on beaches, the Catholic Church was also busy offering an alternative celebration.

The Holy Cross Fathers, 4rd-5th-left: Fr. John Baptist Nsubuga, Fr. John Baptist Ssemaganda and Fr. Dennis Lule dancing with couples in celebration of St. Valentine' Day at Nsambya Catholic Parish Gardens on Saturday, February 14. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

The Catholic Valentine’s celebration, organised by Holy Cross Family Ministries Uganda, took place at Nsambya Catholic Parish Gardens (in Makindye Division) with the catch-phrase: celebrating love the Christian way.

Of course, just like any Catholic function, it all started with mass during which the main celebrant, Fr. Dennis Lule, gave interesting marital tips to the couples.

The cleric emphasised the necessity for the spouses to always rekindle their love by properly practising the principles of mutual support, tolerance, forgiveness, respect, effective communication and responsibility.

Lule went even to the greater length of singing secular love songs, including Bobi Wine’s Adam ne Kawa (Luganda for Adam and Eve), to make his messages even clearer.

Catholic priests sharing a photo-moment with the couples that graced the celebration of St. Valentine's Day at Nsambya Catholic Parish Gardens on Saturday, February 14. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

During the function, Lule, together with his colleague Fr. John Baptist Nsubuga (the Director of Holy Family Ministries) and Fr. John Baptist Ssemaganda, also prayed special blessings to the married couples, the singles aspiring for marriage, the couples in illegitimate marriage, and those that lost their spouses.

Other spectacular moments of the function included marital testimonies, fun games, gift-exchange, selection/awarding of the best-dressed couple, recognition of the oldest couple, cake-cutting, feasting and dancing, among others.

The celebration ran under the theme: Supporting each other in love.