Cardinal asks Catholics to emulate missionaries

Sep 11, 2018

The function took place at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mapeera-Nabulagala on Saturday (September 8). It was presided over by the Episcopal Vicar of Kampala Catholic Vicariate, the Rt Rev Msgr Gerald Kalumba. Rev Bro Reginald Cruz, a delegate of the Vatican, supervised the function.

RELIGION

 

KAMPLA- The process of the sainthood of the pioneer Catholic missionaries, Fr Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro Delmas Amans, has entered a second phase. This follows the official closure of the Kampala Archdiocesan inquiries into the life, heroic virtues and intercessory powers of the two missionaries that has been underway for about two years.

 

The function took place at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mapeera-Nabulagala on Saturday (September 8). It was presided over by the Episcopal Vicar of Kampala Catholic Vicariate, the Rt Rev Msgr Gerald Kalumba.  Rev Bro Reginald Cruz, a delegate of the Vatican, supervised the function.

 

Mapeera and Amans, both missionaries of French ancestry, belonged to the Catholic Institute of White Fathers (also called Missionaries of Africa).

 

The missionaries arrived in Uganda on February 17, 2018. They subsequently started to preach the Catholic faith after getting permission from the Kabaka of Buganda, Mutesa I, who also gave them land at Nabulagala-Lubya (in Rubaga division), where they established their first mission station (the current location of Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic Church where the function took place).

 

Fr Simeon Lourdel Mapeera

 

 

How the historical function manifested

 

The session of the closure of the diocesan inquiries for the beatification and eventual canonization of Mapeera and Amans took place was introduced by the Vice-Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Fr Joseph Serugga.

 

After the singing of the Sancta Maria (the anthem of the White Fathers) and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, the officials of the tribunal made a prescribed oath that they had fulfilled their duties "faithfully and diligently."

 

The Secretary to the Tribunal (Notary), Fr Aloysius Bwangatto then read the acts of the inquiries of the two missionaries, currently referred to as Servants of God. The tribunal's Promoter of Justice, Fr Dr Andrew Kato then took a prescribed oath to confirm the authenticity of the documents, which totaled over 12,700 pages. The respective members of the tribunal then affixed their signatures on the acts.

 

Finally, Bro Reginald Cruz (the Vatican delegate), certified and sealed the documents (packed in about 30 boxes). Msgr Kalumba then appointed and assigned Fr Richard Nnyombi (the tribunal's Vice-Postulator) to carry the acts to the Apostolic Nunciature at Mbuya, from where they will be transported to the Vatican. Fr Nnyombi then took a prescribed oath to the effect.

 

Msgr Gerald-Kalumba (third left ) delivers his blessing during the closure of the-diocesan inquiries for the cause of the beatification of Mapeera and-Amans at Nabulagala Catholic Church on Saturday

 

 

The function concluded with a homily by Msgr Kalumba, who delivered the message of Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga and that of Cardinal Dr Emmanuel Wamala, who both congratulated the Christians of Kampala Archdiocese on completing the first phase of the inquiries.

 

Archbishop Lwanga clarified that after completion of the diocesan inquiries, the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints was going to conduct further investigations before deciding to beatify (and eventually canonize the two missionaries).

 

He encouraged the Christians to pray through the intercession of the two Servants of God and also to exercise patience because the process may take long to conclude.

 

Cardinal Wamala encouraged the Christians to emulate the religious devotion and virtues of Fr Mapera and Bro Amans, to visit their historical sites, and, to make financial contributions towards their cause.

Msgr Kalumba receives offertory during mass

 

 

The Cardinal asked the Christians to deposit their financial donations in Centenary Bank on the account numbers below:

 

-Servant of God Amans Delmas, Account Number: 3820600076

 

-Servant of God Fr Simeon Lourdel Mapeera, Account Number: 3820600077

 

You can also send mobile money on telephone number 0775 877 433 (in the names of Fr Richard Nnyombi).