Cardinal Wamala cautions clerics against sacerdotal pomp
Apr 14, 2017
"We must ensure that our actions don't cause misery and suffering to the Christians, whom God entrusted us to lead to heaven," Wamala said.
Emmanuel Cardinal Dr. Wamala praying for seminarians who presented themselves for the order of Catholic Diaconate. Photos by Mathias Mazinga
The Archbishop Emeritus of Kampala Archdiocese, Emmanuel Cardinal Dr Wamala has asked Catholic priests to shun all forms of mischief that puts them in disrepute.
"Priests are consecrated people, set apart by God. They link God to the people by preaching the gospel and administering sacraments. A priest is supposed to bring joy and hope to the people. As priests, we must be mindful of our positive expectations. We must ensure that our actions don't cause misery and suffering to the Christians, whom God entrusted us to lead to heaven," Wamala said.
Wamala was presiding over the Chrism mass at Rubaga Cathedral on Thursday (April 13). Chrism mass, or the mass of the holy oils, is celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church, in commemoration of the institution of the Holy Sacraments of sacerdotal ordination and Holy Eucharist by Jesus Christ, during the last supper (Luke 22:7-20).
Wamala later asked the priests not to lose focus of their priestly ministry.
"Priesthood is not about pompous life-styles. We must always remember that God called us and set us apart to preach the gospel and lead his people to heaven. Even in the face of acute permissiveness and materialism, we must never lose focus of this."
During the mass, Wamala blessed the oils, which the priests will use to administer sacraments. The oils included Chrism oil, which is used to administer the Sacraments of ordination and Baptism, the oil of the sick and the oil of the catechumens, who are mature Christians that are baptised on Easter Eve.
Cardinal Wamala also blessed 19 Major Seminarians, who presented themselves for ordination into the Catholic diaconate ministry.
As a traditional practice of the mass, Catholic priests working in the Metropolitan Archdiocese e of Kampala renewed their sacerdotal promise of obedience to Cardinal Dr Wamala, who represented the Metropolitan Archbishop, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.