Kinyamasika Seminary founders awarded

ANNIVERSARY l KINYAMASIKA SEMINARY

The founding stakeholders of St Paul's National Major Seminary, Kinyamasika in Fort Portal, Kabarole district have been given awards of appreciation.

The awards were given in acknowledgement of the important role they played in the establishment and development of the seminary.

Those who were honoured include Emmanuel Cardinal Dr Wamala, who was the Chairman of the Episcopal Conference at the time the seminary was founded; and Archbishop Paul Bakyenga, who was the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Commission for Priestly Formation.

 

Others were Fr Peter Isingoma (first Rector), Bishop Francis Kibira Araali (second Rector), Sr Lillian Sullivan (long-serving librarian), Banyatereeza Sisters and Fort Portal diocese, which donated the land on which the seminary sits.

The awards were handed over to the respective recipients by the chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Archbishop John Baptist Odama, during the seminary's silver jubilee celebrations, which took place at the seminary (in Kabarole District) on Saturday.

 

The Jubilee Celebrations
The celebrations started with a thanksgiving mass, led by Archbishop John Baptist Odama, who concelebrated with over 15 Catholic Bishops and about 350 priests, who were mostly Old Boys of the seminary.

Archbishop Odama asked the major seminarians to work for unity in the seminary and their communities."This seminary was built for unity, not divisions. Learn to love and care for one another. The Church needs credible, relevant and responsible future priests. The culture you acquire here in the seminary will determine how you will live in the community. As we mark 25 years of Kinyamasika Seminary, let us renew our commitment and responsibility to form priests who are dedicated to serving God and his people," said Odama.

The Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Commission for Priestly Formation, Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa encouraged Catholic Major Seminarians and priests to consider doing their ministry outside their home dioceses.

 

"Mind to share the needs of the universal Church. Learn the languages and habits of your fellow seminarians so that the day you go to another diocese, you will not be a stranger. Prove that you are worthy of your priestly call. The values you receive during your formation in the seminary should be reflected in your character," Kaggwa said.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Michael August Blume also said to the seminarians and priests: "God wants you to go out to the existential peripheries of society, where people feel ignored and are in great need of the mercy of God. Don't be a prisoner in a particular institution or house. Reach out to the disadvantaged people, preach to them the good news and give them the hope of the gospel."

 

The Rector of the Seminary, Fr Dr Lazarus Luyinda thanked the Catholic Bishops of Uganda for starting Kinyamasika Major Seminary.  He also paid tribute to the friends and benefactors of the seminary for facilitating its development.

Earlier before mass, Archbishop Odama blessed/inaugurated the statue of St Paul, the monument for the seminary's jubilee. The celebrations ran under the theme: How great are your works Lord (Psalm 92:6).

Kinyamasika Major Seminary was started by the Catholic Bishops, in 1992, to cater for the increasing number of candidates, who applied to receive priestly training. Its pioneer Rector was Fr Peter Isingoma, who was followed by Bishop Francis Kibira.