Catholic Church peace prayers for November

The Catholic Church is on November 27 scheduled to hold prayers for peace in all catholic parishes and sub-parishes in the 19 dioceses in Uganda.

This was disclosed on Saturday by the chairperson of episcopal conference, Archbishop John Baptist Odama during a press conference held at St Augustine at Nsambya, to re-launch the campaign against violence.

It will be held under the theme "merciful parents, peaceful families". The scripture guiding this campaign is Luke 6:36, in which Jesus challenges christians to be merciful just our Father is merciful.

The ceremony was attended by several clergymen including Archbishop of Tororo archdiocese, Emmanuel Obbo, bishop of Arua, Sabino Ocan Odoki, Giuseppe Franzelli, retired bishop of Lugazi, Matthias Ssekamaanya, Callistus Rubaramira of Kabale, auxiliary bishop of Mbarara, and Lambert Bainomugisha.

Others were retired bishop of Hoima, Edward Albert Baharagate, Damiano Giulio Guzzetti, bishop of Moroto, nuns including superiors general of Immaculate  Heart of Mary Reparatrix - Ggogonya, Sister Anna Christine Kiiza,  Sister Jancinta Tuhairwe of Our lady of Good Counsel Mbarara among others.

Odama  noted that the initiative is part of the Catholic church's effort to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) and promote women empowerment (WE) in the country.

"As the Catholic Church in Uganda, we have been running the national campaign against domestic violence and promotion of peace in families since 2010, in partnership with Irish aid, which aimed at creating awareness such problems to bring about behavior chance, is implemented across the 19 dioceses in Uganda," Odama said 

He explained that the campaign is aimed at creating awareness about the problem of GBV and to bring about behaviour change in the society such as women empowerment. It will be implemented in all the 19 dioceses of the Catholic Church in Uganda making an endeavor to reach out to all our parishes and families.

The Archbishop noted that according to a Police report, domestic violence is one of the most common forms of abuse in Uganda leading to loss of life.

"The report shows that 314 out of 2,421 homicide cases investigated were domestic violence related death of gravity of this cancer which is quietly destroying the foundation of the society and the families."