National Catholic youth Conference opens

By Juliet Lukwago                          

The National Catholic youth Conference Saturday opened at YES Center Nsambya with a holy mass under the Theme; “Blessed are the poor in the spirit, for there is the Kingdom of Heaven”.

The conference, the second of its kind in Kampala Archdiocese, has drawn participants from Archdiocese of Kampala, Archdiocese of Gulu, Diocese of Arua, Lira, Nebbi, Kasana–Luweero, Kiyinda–Mityana, Lugazi, Masaka, Archdiocese of Mbarara, Fort Portal, Hoima, Kabale, Kasese Archdiocese of Tororo, Jinja, Kotido, Moroto and Soroti and including those from Naiirobi, Rwanda and Burundi.

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Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga waves to youth after his talk, accompained by Margaret Nakanwangi and Ssabavubuka Bogere PHOTO/JULIET LUKWAGO
 

The opening holy mass was led by the Bishop of Luweero diocese, Paul Ssemwogerere who is in charge of youth in the Apostolate commission of Uganda Episcopal Conference and assisted by pastoral coordinators including Fr Dr Mark Richard Ssajjabbi and several youth chaplains and other priests from those dioceses.

The Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, and host of the conference, said that the conference provides youth with an opportunity to travel, exchange views and experiences as well as interact with fellow youth from all over.

Lwanga urged them to take what they learnt as serious in their lives. He added that in this unique occassion of encounter with Christ in organising the activities of this gathering.

“We have endeavored to provide an atmosphere of fellowship with other youth  from different parts of the country, as culminating in the depeer and personal encounter with Christ; I therefore, encourage you to participate actively and faithfully,” Lwanga said.

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Some of the youth attending the conference

He added that “current statistics indicate that the majority of the population in Uganda are youth. To the Church and the government, it is  a blessing because our future is assured. It is a great pleasure to see so many of you playing an active role in the nation.”

Lwanga urged them to always be examplary and relavant to fellow youth as missionaries of behavioural change against immoral tendencies that are farociously eating away our value in society.

“ I asked you to emulate the Uganda Martyrs who resiliently upheld their dignity as beloved children of God,” Lwanga calls.

In his homily bishop Ssemwogerere congratulated the youth for coming on their 20th National Youth conference in Uganda. He said being youth is the most adventurous stage of life and freedom from sin.

“I am thankful to the youth office of Uganda Episcopal Conference as well as Kampala Archdiocese for accepting to host this conference.”

“I have no doubt that this conference has helped many of you to share the joy of youthness and to learn from one another; I encourage you to build meaningful relations that will maintains the unity and peace that the world still clamors for,” Ssemwogerere said.