Vision Group's Ndyanabo tips Catholics on ecclesial self-reliance

RELIGION

MPIGI - The head of the Catholic laity of Uganda, who is also the Company Secretary of Vision Group, Gervase Ndyanabo, has asked Catholics to be more supportive of the Church.

He argued that after 140 years since the pioneer missionaries introduced the faith in the country, Catholics no longer had any credible excuse for not making the Church self-sustaining.

"Today there is an even greater need for us Catholics, in all our respective dioceses, to support our Church. There is no reason why all of us cannot make our Church self-sustaining. Let us work together with our priests to promote the integral development of every one of us. We can achieve this by working harmoniously with our pastors and playing our due role in the Church's evangelistic mission."

The Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga (centre) greets the LC5 Chairman of Mpigi, Peter Claveri Mutuluuza as Fr Dennis Kizito Ssebunnya (left) looks on.

 
He made the remarks during the grand celebration for the 120^th anniversary of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Parish, Mitala-Maria, in Mpigi district, on Sunday (September 15).

Ndyanabo stressed the need for all the parishes in Uganda to heed to the Church's model of holistic evangelisation, which takes into account the spiritual and material development of the human person. He also called for solidarity among the various dioceses and parishes, to promote the unity of the Church.

Ndyanabo later thanked the parish-priest of Mitala Maria (who is also the Episcopal Vicar of the Catholic Vicariate of Mitala-Maria), Fr Dennis Kizito Ssebunnya and his pastoral council for developing a comprehensive strategic plan, which he said addressed the issue of holistic Evangelisation and ecclesial self-reliance.

Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, the heir of St Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe (left) being introduced to the congregation by Fr Joseph Mukasa Muwonge during the function.

 
He thanked the parishioners of Mitala-Maria for establishing a relationship with the parish of Budaka (in the Archdiocese of Tororo). He said the partnership between Mitala-Maria and Budaka demonstrated the solidarity and universality of the Catholic Church, which every parish in the country needed to promote.

Earlier, before Ndyanabo's speech, Fr Ssebunnya (the parish-priest of Mitala-Maria) unveiled the strategic plan of the parish, which involved among other things the renovation/beautification of the churches and shrines of the Uganda Martyrs, construction of a model village chapel (for holistic evangelization), strengthening of the family institution, promotion of the welfare of pastoral agents and the creation of sustainable income-generating projects to facilitate the pastoral activities of the Church.

Children from Budaka Catholic Church, Tororo Archdiocese, performing a liturgical dance during the function

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who presided over the thanksgiving mass, asked the parishioners of Mitala-Maria to show their gratitude to God for the 120 years of the parish's existence by being more committed to the tenets of the faith.

The Prelate also reminded the parishioners about the significance of their parish: "Mitala-Maria was one of the parishes that the White Fathers established during the early years of their evangelistic activity. It is from this parish that hails the first black African Bishop, Dr. Joseph Kiwanuka and the first-ever Black Nuncio, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja. Mitala-Maria is also is the birthplace of two of our martyrs, St Joseph Mukasa Balikudembe and Mugagga Lubowa."

Lwanga later thanked Fr Ssebunnya and the parishioners of Mitala-Maria for promoting the parish's holistic development, which he said was evident in the beauty of its infrastructure and the increase in the number of sub-parishes.

Lwanga also used the occasion to denounce the wave of senseless murders in the country and called upon the perpetrators to repent.

Some of the 400 children that were confirmed by Archbishop Lwanga during the function

 
"Life is a precious gift from God that must be respected.  As Christians, we have the obligation to love God and our neighbour. This is the greatest commandment. But even if you are not a Christian, you are obliged to respect the national motto: For God and my Country. Before doing anything, first ask yourself: "Am I doing this for God and my country?"

The function was also graced by dignitaries such as Hon Jolly Lutaaya (a former minister of the Kabaka), the LC5 Chairman of Mpigi, Peter Claveri Mutuluuza, Hon Susan Nakawuki of the East African Legislative Assembly, and the Mpigi District woman MP Sarah Nakawunde Temulanda.

Visiting Christians from Budaka parish (Tororo Archdiocese) also graced and animated the thanksgiving mass alongside the choir from Buwama Catholic sub-parish.

Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, the heir of Saint Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, the Ugandan martyr, also graced the function.

During the function, Lwanga confirmed 400 children into the Catholic faith. The Prelate also wedded five couples.