Uganda Martyrs make 50 years as saints

Oct 19, 2014

Saturday marked 50 years since the 22 Catholic Uganda Martyrs were declared saints (canonised) by Pope Paul VI at St Peter’s Basilica Rome

By Juliet Lukwago

The Catholic Church Saturday celebrated 50 years since the twenty-two Uganda Catholic Martyrs were canonised at St Peter’s Basilica Rome by Pope Paul VI on Mission Sunday, 18 October 1964. 

Coincidentally, the beatification ceremony of Pope Paul VI also take places today (Sunday) at the conclusion of the 3rd Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY/JULIET LUKWAGO

The awe-inspiring function at Lubaga Cathedral started with congress, then later on Holly Mass led by Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop August Michael Blume, assisted by Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, Archbishop Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Auxiliary bishop of Kampala, Christopher Kakooza, retired bishop of Hoima, Edward Albert Baharagate, episcopal secretary, Msgr John Baptist Kauta  and several.

Other guests in attendance were retired archbishop of Church of Uganda, Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo, ambassador of Tanzania to Uganda, former DP president, Paul Kawanga Ssemwogere, Entebbe Mayor, Vincent Kayanja and many others.   

The Uganda Martyrs were Christian converts – Anglican and Roman Catholics — who were murdered for their faith by the King of Buganda between 1885 and 1887, after they refused to offer sacrifices to the traditional gods.


Priests (above and below) lead a procession into Lubaga Cathedral where holy mass was said to mark the 50 years since the canonisation of the Uganda martyrs


Pope Paul VI also became the first pope in history to visit the sub-Saharan Africa. He was in Uganda between July 31 and August 2, 1969. He was the first pope to make a pilgrimage to the shrine at Namugongo, where he laid a foundation stone for the present minor Basilica at the spot where St. Charles Lwanga was killed.

Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Monsignor Michael August Blume led a holy mass to mark  the celebrations

(L-R) Auxiliary bishop, Kampala Archdiocese, Bp Kakooza; Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, Papal Nuncio August Blume, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga at the front row of a group photo after the celebratory mass

Beatified by Pope Benedict XV on June 6, 1920, the Uganda Martyrs were declared saints after two nuns, Sisters Aloyse Criblet and Richildis were miraculously cured of the bubonic plague through their intercession.

Though the martyrs were canonized in October, the main celebrations annually take place on June 3 which is the Uganda Martyrs Day in the liturgical Calendar.

Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga said October 18 (the day of canonization) always passes as a low key celebration.

“But this year it’s a special because its’ the eve of the beatification of Pope Paul VI who canonized the Ugandan Martyrs 50 years ago.
 

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