Pope Francis decrees women to take part in foot-washing
Mar 25, 2016
Archbishop Lwanga's pronouncement followed Pope Francis permitting the Church to wash women's feet on Holy Thursday, symbolizing Jesus Christ's washing the feet of the disciples
The Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has announced that Pope Francis has decreed women can also take part in the foot-washing ritual practiced in the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Lwanga's pronouncement followed Pope Francis permitting the Church to wash women's feet on Holy Thursday, symbolizing Jesus Christ's washing the feet of the disciples.
He said that until now, only men were permitted to have their feet washed in.
Lwanga made the historic announcement during his homily as he led the Holy Mass on Thursday at St. Mbaaga's National Seminary, Ggaba.
The prelate congratulated the first women whose feet were washed and all the women upon achieving that honour of participating in the church's ritual. He hailed Pope Francis for the historic decree.
Archbishop Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga washes the foot of Sister Martha Namugabo at St. Mbaaga's Semianrary on Holy Thursday PHOTO BY JULIET LUKWAGO
The pioneer women whose feet were washed during the mass included two lay women and three nuns, namely; Srs Rose Nanteza, Martha Namugabo and Eva Nakate. The ceremony also featured seven seminarians whose feet were washed.
Lwanga said that washing the feet has symbolic significance and implications for church law. He added that what was being celebrated was reminding the Christians of what Jesus Christ did to his disciples at that time.
"As we commemorate Jesus Christ's way of living, we Christians should always remain calm as we keep our identity wherever we are," Lwanga said.
Lwanga also announced that in Kampala Archdiocese only four priests; Msgr. Expedicto Magembe, Fr. Atanansi Musajjakaawa, Fr. Dominic Mwebe and Fr. Lawrence Mubiru are permitted to pratice exorcism.
St. Mbaaga's National Seminary Ggaba has 213 seminarians from different dioceses in Uganda.
A Major Seminary, it was started by late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga.
Archbishop Lwanga performs the foot-washing ritual at St. Mbaaga National Seminary Ggaba during Holy Thursday on March 24, 2016. PHOTO BY JULIET LUKWAGO
It was started to cater for the late vocations to priesthood in the Archdiocese of Kampala.
The seminary was officially opened on February 16, 1976 and was put under the patronage of St. Mbaaga, one of the 22 Uganda martyrs canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964.
The Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Lwanga is the supreme head of this Seminary and is responsible for its staffing and general welfare and drawing the regulations that govern it.