By Juliet Lukwago

POPE Benedict XI has honoured Father Lawrence Kanyike, the Chaplain of St. Augustine Makerere church, in Kampala Archdiocese with the title of monsignor.

Monsignor is a title bestowed on a priest either because of prominence in the diocese or because of years of faithful and esteemed service in a diocese.

It carries no extra power with it. It is simply a title of honour.

Priests who are honoured as monsignors are considered members of the papal household and are thus listed in the papal book

The function took place on Holy Thursday at Rubaga Cathedral during the annointing Oil Day celebrations.

The Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who was the main celebrant, praised Fr. Kanyike for rightly guiding God’s flock despite his old age.

“He is 63 years old and has spent 37 years in priesthood. As priests, we should emulate him and promote the institution of priesthood. Let’s be happy in our priesthood because nobody commands us to be priests,” the archbishop said

Born on February, 25, 1948, to John Ddamba and Kevina Bulya of Luvumbura in Katende parish, Mpigi district, Kanyike attended Katende Primary School between 1957 to 1961. He joined St. Peter’s Nsambya in 1962 and later proceeded to Nyenga Minor Seminary.

After spending five years at Nyenga, he enrolled at Katigondo National Seminary where he spent one year.

In 1971, Kanyike joined the Catholic Seminary of Indianapolis for three years and between 1974 to 1978, he was in Notre Dame University, Indiana, where he spent over four years.

In December 1973, Kanyike was appointed a deacon at St. Monica’s East Peoria by the bishop of Peoria.

After one year, on June 30, 1974, he was ordained a priest by the late Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga at the same place.

Kanyike then worked in different areas starting with Namilyango parish in Mukono where he was posted in 1978 as an assistant parish priest for six months.

In December 1978, he took up a lecturing post at St. Mbaaga Major Seminary, Ggaba where he has served as a lecturer up to date.

Besides lecturing, Kanyike has served as chaplain of Makerere University from April 12, 1984 up to date.

In September 2009, he became a parish priest of St. Joseph’s Parish Kyengera.

Kanyike obtained degrees, including a masters in divinity conferred on him on May 23, 1974, from the University of Notre Dame, USA.

He attained a Phd in Dogmatic Theology on May 24, 1978 from the same University.