Catholics remember pioneer missionaries

Thousands of Catholics yesterday made a pilgrimage of faith to Kigungu Catholic Shrine, in Entebbe Municipality, to celebrate the 138th anniversary of the arrival of the pioneer Catholic missionaries, Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro.Delmas Amans.
 

The two missionaries of French origin arrived at Kigungu Landing Site on February 17, 1878. They belonged to the Catholic missionary society of White Fathers, also called Missionaries of Africa.

 

The celebrations were presided over by the Ugandan-born Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium, His Excellency Archbishop Augustine Kasujja. The mass was also co-celebrated by Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala Archdiocese, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa of Masaka diocese, Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere of Kasana-Luweero, and Bishop Anthony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana.

 

Archbishop Kasujja asked Catholics to be fully committed to their faith, following the example of Fr. Mapeera, Bro. Amans and the Uganda Martyrs. The Prelate further cautioned Catholics against the temptation of using religion for pride and self-glorification. He asked them to always remember the past incidents, in order to interpret accurately the present events.

 

Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga asked the Catholic faithful to love and defend their faith. He also asked them to deepen their faith by reading the Holy Scriptures and the documents of the Church.

 

The Uganda Sector Superiour of the White Fathers, the Very Rev. Fr. Gerard Chabannon asked Catholics to live out the values of the faith with even greater zeal and conviction.

 

Fr. Richard Nnyombi asked the Christians to donate money towards the activities of the beatification process of Fr. Mapeera and Bro Amans, which is underway.