Cardinal Wamala commissions Acolytes as Church commemorates 138 years 

The Archbishop Emeritus of Kampala, Emmanuel Cardinal Dr Wamala has asked priests of the Roman Catholic Church to be fully committed to the sacerdotal promises of celibacy, obedience and chastity, which they make during their ordination.

He also clarified that the priests were at liberty to seek laicisation, through proper channels, if they felt that they could no longer lead a celibate life.

Cardinal Wamala incenses the holy altar during the mass.

 
Wamala was commissioning seminarians of Kampala Archdiocese as Lectors and Acolytes at Rubaga Cathedral on Sunday.

The ministries of Lector and Acolyte are minor ministries, which seminarians are given, before being ordained as Deacons.

Msgr Charles Kasibante baptises a baby during the celebrations.

 
The two ministries give the respective seminarians the qualification to read the Word of God before the congregation during Divine Liturgy, and to assist the priests during the celebration of mass, among several other things. 

The 11 Seminarians who became Lectors and Acolyte have just completed their philosophical studies in major seminaries like Katigondo, Alokulum and St Mbaaga's Major Seminary Ggaba.

Cardinal Dr Wamala and the priests with whom he celebrated mass conclude the novena prayers before the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 
Wamala later asked the newly commissioned Lectors/Acolytes to serve the people with joy, love, dedication and simplicity during the one-year period that they will spend doing pastoral work in the parishes.

Church commemorates 138 years of Uganda's dedication

The function of commissioning Acolytes coincided with the commemoration of 138 years since the pioneer missionaries of the Society of White Fathers (also called Missionaries of Africa) dedicated Uganda to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The celebrations started with a procession from Mapeera Pilgrimage Centre, Nabunnya, from where the Christians carried a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, up to Rubaga Cathedral, where the Marian novena, was concluded.

Rev Fr Richard Nnyombi, a senior member of the missionary society of White Fathers urged the Christians to continue praying for the beatification and eventual canonisation of Fr Lourdel Mapeera and Bro Delmas Amans, the two pioneer missionaries of the missionary Society of White Fathers, who brought the Catholic Faith in Uganda on February 17, 1879.

Emmanuel Cardinal Dr Wamala hands over a Bible to one of the Seminarians who received the ministries of Lector and Acolyte.

 
Nnyombi also asked Catholics to contribute money to facilitate the activities of the commissions that are working on the process of of the beatification of the two missionaries.

The function was also graced by the Administrator of Rubaga Cathedral, Fr Joseph Mary Bbuye and the Vicar General of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kampala, Msgr Charles Kasibante, who also baptised children.