100 seminarians graduate at St. Mbaaga Seminary

St. Mbaaga's Major Seminary, Ggaba, has held its graduation ceremony with a call on priests to live out their sacerdotal commitments.

Addressing the congregation during the function at the seminary, the Archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga pointed out the promises of celibacy and obedience to the Pope and Bishops, which the Catholic priests pronounce at their priestly ordination, as some the tenets that the priests have to practice without any excuse.

Lwanga further put it to the priests and lay faithful to take the commitment to respect and observe the teachings, doctrines and established authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

During the function, 81 Major Seminarians were awarded Diplomas and Degrees in Philosophy. Twenty other seminarians were also awarded Diplomas and Degrees in Theology. The Degrees and Diplomas were from the Pontifical Urban University and St. Mbaaga's Major Seminary, respectively.

The thanksgiving mass was presided over by the Rt. Rev. Dr. John Baptist Kaggwa, the Bishop of Masaka diocese and Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Commission for Priestly Formation, who asked priests and all Catholics, to trust in the protection an providence of God.

To bring out his point clearly, the Prelate used the imagery of St. Mbaaga's Seminary, which started with meager resources but was able to prevail over its challenges, owing to the trust that its staff and seminarians had in God.

The Rector of the Seminary, Fr. Dr. Joseph Sserunjoji and the Dean of Studies, Fr. Dr. Ambrose Bwangatto asked the Graduands to practice the knowledge, moral and religious instructions they had received during their formation at the seminary.

The Deacons and Seminarians going on Pastoral work during their commissioning. Photo by Mathias Mazinga

St. Mbaaga's Major Seminary, Ggaba, was started by the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga, in 1976, to cater for late vocations in Kampala Archdiocese. Forty years down the road, the seminary has produced 280 ordained priests.

The seminary has also extended its formation services. Today it accepts students from countries like Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya, Cameroon and Italy.