Christians start fasting season
Feb 21, 2007
Hundreds of Christians yesterday thronged churches to mark the beginning of 40-days of fasting and abstinence known as Lent.
By Josephine Maseruka
Hundreds of Christians yesterday thronged churches to mark the beginning of 40-days of fasting and abstinence known as Lent.
At Christ the King Church, father Paul Ssemwogerere called for a spirit of reconciliation.
He appealed to the Government to release prisoners who were granted bail by the courts but are still under detention and those who have stayed long in prison without trial.
He told the full church that he had read about a neighbouring country that recently released all prisoners. “We appeal to our leaders to emulate this country,†he stated.
Rwanda recently released over 8,000 prisoners.
Ssemwogerere, who is the Vicar general of Kampala Archdiocese, based his summon on the Book of Isaiah in which the prophet calls for the release of all the ‘bound and to set free the oppressed.’
After saying he was overwhelmed by the big turnup for the Ash Wednesday lunch service, the priest remarked, “Being smeared with ash should not be for showing off. It must be reflected internally so that it is a complete conversion and a struggle against evil.â€
He explained that the overwhelming attendance attests to an earlier proclamation by the born-again Christians that Kampala is a City of God. But he lamented the sorry state of the city. “People are weeping, wailing and full of tears including teargas.†The remark threw the congregation into laughter.
“In Kampala, promiscuity and nude dancing are rampant including the unbecoming behaviour of people on Valentine’s Day. We should commit ourselves to bringing social changes to the City of God.â€
He urged Catholics aged 14 to 68 to have one meal a day and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent.
Hundreds of Christians yesterday thronged churches to mark the beginning of 40-days of fasting and abstinence known as Lent.
At Christ the King Church, father Paul Ssemwogerere called for a spirit of reconciliation.
He appealed to the Government to release prisoners who were granted bail by the courts but are still under detention and those who have stayed long in prison without trial.
He told the full church that he had read about a neighbouring country that recently released all prisoners. “We appeal to our leaders to emulate this country,†he stated.
Rwanda recently released over 8,000 prisoners.
Ssemwogerere, who is the Vicar general of Kampala Archdiocese, based his summon on the Book of Isaiah in which the prophet calls for the release of all the ‘bound and to set free the oppressed.’
After saying he was overwhelmed by the big turnup for the Ash Wednesday lunch service, the priest remarked, “Being smeared with ash should not be for showing off. It must be reflected internally so that it is a complete conversion and a struggle against evil.â€
He explained that the overwhelming attendance attests to an earlier proclamation by the born-again Christians that Kampala is a City of God. But he lamented the sorry state of the city. “People are weeping, wailing and full of tears including teargas.†The remark threw the congregation into laughter.
“In Kampala, promiscuity and nude dancing are rampant including the unbecoming behaviour of people on Valentine’s Day. We should commit ourselves to bringing social changes to the City of God.â€
He urged Catholics aged 14 to 68 to have one meal a day and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent.