____________

The grand celebration of the 100^th anniversary of St. Joseph’s Seminary Nyenga, which took place at the seminary in Buikwe on Saturday (March 16, 2024) was a music-laden affair.  

Much as the seminary is highly regarded for its rich musical tradition which it inherited from its founders, the Mill Hill Fathers, the level of musicianship that the seminarians projected during the function took everybody by surprise.

The topnotch musical action started manifesting right at the start of the function as the seminarians’ brass ensemble played music for the guests who were flocking the seminary for the great function. The guests were later on wowed even more by the seminary’s mass choir which led the singing during mass. The choir was superbly accompanied by its talented percussionists, the string and wind instrumentalists who demonstrated even greater expertise when playing the hymns of the White Fathers, including Yezu Waffe, Tuzze Gy’oli, and Ye Yezu Wange Azze.  

Earlier at the start of the mass, the seminarians also demonstrated their musical drama expertise as they acted the procession of the gospel. They carried the Holy Book in an improvised canoe and took it to the deacon who removed it from a container made in the design of the seminary’s chapel before exposing it to the massive congregation. The seminarians were basically imitating the arrival of the Mill Hill Fathers (the founders of the seminary) who left their home country, travelled by sea and brought the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ to Uganda.

Later after the thanksgiving mass, the seminarians treated the guests to a rich repertoire of entertainment songs, cultural/creative dance and poems.

The Bishop of Lugazi, Christopher Kakooza (himself a celebrated musician/organist) was very impressed by the seminarians’ superb musicianship.

“Dear seminarians, you have sung so well. The music was awesome, spiritually nourishing and uplifting,” Kakooza said.