Archbishop Lwanga preaches peace, talks on pope's visit
Jun 25, 2015
The clock had just chimed 9:30 when the choir started with that song, Twebaaze Katonda Eyatuwa Mapera (if you are Christian you’ve heard about it, it’s such a beauty to listen to), signaling the commencement of the celebrations to mark 136 years of Holy Eucharist in Uganda.
By John Agaba and Juliet Lukwago
The clock had just chimed 9:30 when the choir started with that song, Twebaaze Katonda Eyatuwa Mapera (if you are Christian you’ve heard about it, it’s such a beauty to listen to), signaling the commencement of the celebrations to mark 136 years of Holy Eucharist in Uganda.
And as the Archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, flanked by the Bishop of Kasana-Luweero diocese, Paul Ssemwogerere, and the Parish Priest at Mapeera Catholic Church in Nabulagala, Fr. Anthony Koffi, led the procession from the priests’ house to the altar, you could tell the day was going to be another of those when Christians lay bare their devotion and sing-praise their master.
There was so much tranquil, so much chastity, and so much melody cutting through the waves in the half-valley where the church is located. It was yet another display of what is beautiful, what is fundamental in the Catholic faith.
The Rev. Fr. Joseph Mukasa Muwonge of the Uganda Martyrs’ devotion said the Eucharist is the “highest prayer” in Catholic faith. It is a divine moment when God’s children camaraderie with their father.
And this was first introduced to Uganda in 1879, on June 25, 136 years ago, after Fr. Simeon Lourdel (Mapeera) and Br. Amans Delmas canoe had docked at the shores of Lake Victoria at Kigungu in Entebbe and the white fathers been given leeway by Kabaka Mutesa to spread Christianity in Uganda.
“It was the missionaries (Fr. Simeon Lourdel and Br. Amans Delmas) that brought Christianity. They had spent about four months (in Uganda) before they said the first holy mass, here, at Nabulagala,” said Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.
Paul Ssemwogerere said the Holy Eucharist was the most fulfilling decorum in Catholic faith, reminiscent of the last supper Jesus had with his twelve. After the sermon, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga led the faithful to light candles and place them in front of the monument of Fr. Simeon Lourdel saying the very first mass in Uganda.
At the function, the clergy called for peace in Uganda, especially as the country prepares for the 2016 general elections. Lwanga called on the laity to prepare for Pope Francis’ anticipated November 27 - 29 visit to Uganda. He said the Catholic Church has started a fundraising drive for renovation of the Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine at Namugongo that the Pontiff is expected to pay homage to when he visits.
2015 promises to be a special year in the history of the Catholic Church in Uganda, similar to 1969 and 1993 when Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II visited the country respectively. The June 3 Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations were a success, with about 3 million pilgrims approximated to have come to Uganda to pay homage to the 45 martyrs killed by Kabaka Mwanga in 1886.
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