Catholics celebrate Marian month with memorable procession
Msgr. Kasibante thanked the devotees of Mary for their commitment to the faith before encouraging them to continue being prayerful.
Catholic youth of the Xaverian Movement carrying the statue of Mary into Lubaga Cathedral ahead of the Marian month inaugural mass on May 2, 2026. (Photos by Mathias Mazinga)
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The Catholic Church has concluded the month of Mary (May) with a call on the members of the church to emulate the virtues of faith, humility, obedience and responsible parenting that the Blessed Virgin Mary exhibited.
Fr. Dr. Joseph Mary Ssebunnya, a lecturer at St. Mbaaga’s Major Seminary Ggaba, is one of the devotees of Mary.
“Today, we hear people demeaning Mary. They also criticise us for elevating her. We don’t worship Mary. We just honour her for the important role she played in the salvation of the world. She accepted the will of God and became the mother of Jesus Christ our Lord. Together with her husband Joseph, they looked after the child Jesus, until He grew and accomplished his earthly ministry. Mary is influential and powerful. Actually, if you love Jesus, you should love Mary. If you want to reach Jesus, walk with Mary. Loving Mary does not mean denying Jesus,” Ssebunnya said.
Msgr. Charles Kasibante (left) presiding over the Marian month inaugral mass at Lubaga Cathedral on May 2.
The devotees of Mary carry offertory during mass.
“You legionaries are very important members of the Church. You do the work of God, although you don’t do it in the presbytery. Continue doing your ministry of loving and saving souls with even greater love, zeal, energy, determination and humility, of course guided by Mother Mary. Your ministry is a voluntary one. There is no money. We thank you. We also pray for you. Remain firm. Continue to endure. Be obedient soldiers of the faith.”
Memorable Marian procession
The Marian month (which has just been concluded), was opened by a prayer vigil at St. Peter’s Nsambya Proto-Cathedral parish grounds (in Makindye Division) and a Marian procession/crusade on May 2. The procession started from Nsambya, through Makindye and Ndeeba. It ended at Lubaga Cathedral, where the pilgrims participated in mass led by the former Vicar-General of Kampala Archdiocese, Msgr. Charles Kasibante.
During the procession, the Marian devotees, led by M-Lisada Brass Band, made a number of stop-overs at various places, including Farmers’ House Kibuye, Mapeera Bakateyamba’s Home Nalukolongo and Queen of Peace Primary School Lubaga, where they prayed the Rosary and also received teachings about Mary.
Christians during the Marian procession on May 2.
M-Lisada Brass Band leading the Marian Procession on May 2. 
Delivering his homily during mass, Msgr. Kasibante thanked the devotees of Mary for their commitment to the faith before encouraging them to continue being prayerful. He further asked them to work with other Catholic movements for purposes of complementarity.
The President of the Legion of Mary Senatus of Uganda, Aloysius Kiribaki thanked the devotees for their dynamic involvement in the Marian crusade and procession, which he said, was a clear statement that they were sent by Jesus and guided by Mary.
“After this powerful practical statement, let us go out where we work and in the communities we live, and light the same fire of faith. Make Kampala feel Christ. Let us pray the Holy Rosary and encourage our children to do the same. We must initiate young people into the devotion of Mary because they are the ones who will carry it forward.”
The administrator of Lubaga Cathedral, Fr. Achilles Mayanja, also called on the devotees of Mary to be prayerful.
“There is a general decline in religious conviction. We have to pray for the faith. Let us strengthen the family. Let us return to the Sacraments. We have the obligation to fight Satan and poverty. Mary is the Mother of all of us.”
Rev. Fr. Robert Ssali (of the congregation of Holy Cross) put it to the Christians to know the facts about their faith and then teach the doctrine to others. He said all believers had the mandate of preaching the faith as given to them in Matthew 28.
The Marian prayer vigil/procession was organised by Holy Cross Family Ministries. A good number of Catholic priests from the congregation of Holy Cross, including Fr. John Baptist Ssemaganda, Fr. John Baptist Nsubuga and Fr. Denis Lule, attended the celebrations.
Fr. Robert Ssali of the congregation of Holy Cross preaching the Marian Crusade at Queen of Peace Primary School Lubaga on May 2.