Ugandan youth to participate in Pope's survey

Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga receives a gift from one of the youth at YES Center at Nsambya as youth chaplain Fr Joseph Luzindana and others look on Sunday March 12, 2017.

Ugandan youth have been earmarked to participate in filling a questionnaire formulated by Pope Francis, to gauge youth sentiments on the purpose of life.

This was disclosed on Sunday by the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. He said Pope Francis has organised the Bishop's synod 2018, with the theme focusing on youth.  He however, did not disclose the venue of the event.

 "The world's national bishops' conferences will respond to a questionnaire about how they serve the needs of young people in their countries. The meeting of prelates is set for 2018, and will consider the church's relationship with youths," Lwanga said.

The Archbishop was preaching after unveiling the first ever adoration chapel of youth of Kampala Archdiocese. He said Pope Francis has asked bishops to respond to the draft questionnaire by the end of October, this year. Lwanga said the Pope hopes to have a working document for the synod ready by beginning of next year, to be handed to the youth.

The Archbishop disclosed that the October 2018 synod meeting will run under the theme "Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment."

He noted that the synod will deliberate on the challenges faced by the youth, and how the Church responds to their predicament.

The adoration chapel worth sh350m built at YES Center in the city suburb of Nsambya, is aimed at enabling to youth to recite their private prayers. Lwanga explained that acronym as 'Youth Encounter the Server' centre for youth to Jesus Christ. 

Adoration is a Eucharistic devotion where members of a given parish (or other entity) unite in taking hours of adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament (in most cases, exposed), both during the day and throughout the night, seven days a week, a place where anyone should be able to enter the Adoration Chapel, either at their committed time or as a guest, and find silence in the presence of Jesus.

"Jesus always is at the Adoration chapel always waiting to welcome you. Adoration really helps each one to be open to what God's trying to tell you, going to Him in this way really means a lot to Him," Archbishop explained.  

He noted that youth and children make the biggest number of population in the world, and God has used youth in many situations, citing the Bible, saying different books exhibit how God used the youth.

 At the same function, the prelate reminded Christians to be steadfast during lent and refrain from meat, and alcohol among others. He noted that many people have weaknesses and backtrack.

"Let's be realistic and fulfil what we promise God in our lives, not only in this lent season but always," he said.

He reminded the faithful that the Catholic Church will celebrate the second Sunday of the lent as preparations are made to mark for Jesus Christ's resurrection.

    "I heard that all churches were full to capacity to receive the ashes. This, we are called to do charitable deeds through fasting, and abstaining from whatever we decided to do in our lives, young or old we called to abstain " he said.

Also at the same function, Lwanga reminded the congregants to prepare to mark 50 years of Kampala Archdiocese. The theme of the celebration will be "Remember, Rejoice and Renew", picked from Pope Francis's words he told religious the day he meant them at Lubaga Cathedral.

 The Archbishop decried the rife domestic violence, noting that children copy such acts and do harm to their colleagues at school.

   He asked youth to emulate their patrons Saints Kizito and Charles Lwanga. As Pope Francis urged the day he met you at Kololo always remember that day and the words he told you, it will help you in their lives.

Youth chaplain, Fr Joseph Luzindana applauded the Archbishop for loving youth and also thinking about them always.

Nnabavubuka in Kampala Archdiocese, Margret Nakanwagi, in a brief chat with The New Vision, commended the Pope for prioritising the youth. Ends

Juliet Lukwago