Catholics mark 139 years of First Mass

PIC: Msgr Kasibante gives children Holy Communion  during the thanksgiving mass of the 139th anniversary of the first Catholic mass at Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic Church on Monday. (Credit: Mathias Mazinga)

RELIGION

The Vicar General of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kampala, Msgr Charles Kasibante has asked local Catholics to be more supportive to the Church. He said the foreign aid that the Church used to get during the missionary days had ceased, which was why the local Church had to be self-reliant.

"When our fathers in the faith, the White Fathers had just come, they used to get enormous assistance from their home countries. Today there is little aid that comes from Europe. So, we have to take up the responsibility of supporting our Church."

PIC: Fr Richard Nnyombi of the White Fathers Missionary Society delivers his remarks, while on the right, Msgr Charles Kasibante delivers his homily

Msgr Kasibante was presiding over the celebrations for the 139th anniversary of the first Catholic mass, at St John the Baptist, Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic Church, on Monday.

When the pioneer Catholic missionaries, Fr Lourdel Mapeera and Bro Delmas Amans arrived in Uganda on February 17, 1879, they could not say mass because they had left behind things like the portable altar, hosts and wine, which they required to celebrate mass.

They had to wait for their colleagues that they had left in Tanzania to arrive, and subsequently, they celebrated the first mass at Nabulagala (their first mission station) on June 25, 1879. This is why it became a religious practice for Catholics in Uganda to make an annual pilgrimage of faith to Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic Church (in Rubaga Division), on June 25, to commemorate the first ever Eucharistic celebration (Catholic mass) in Uganda.

PIC: Msgr Kasibante blesses the foundation of the toilet project of Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic Church

Delivering his homily during the function, Msgr Kasibante asked Catholics to always yearn to receive the Eucharist, which he described as "the highest expression of the Catholic faith."

"The Eucharist is a great gift that our Lord Jesus Christ gave us when he was going back to heaven. When we receive the Eucharist, we get the strength that we require to do our vocation of witnessing to Christ.

The Eucharist is very dear to us as Catholics, which is why we feel bad when we hear some people ridiculing the Sacrament. The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is mysterious. We may not be able to comprehend it with our human wisdom. So, it is better to keep silent if you don't understand it."

PIC: Catholic priests in procession during the thanksgiving mass 

Kasibante argued that if Christians developed a deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Eucharist, they would be empowered spiritually and be able to resist such evil practices as corruption, murder, prostitution, land-grabbing, child-kidnappings, etc.

The function was also attended by members of the missionary society of White Fathers, who included Fr Richard Nnyombi and Fr Bernard Choma, the parish-priest of Nabulagala.

PIC: The choir from St Kizito Catholic Sub-Parish, Namungoona singing during Mass

Fr Nnyombi reminded the pilgrims that the diocesan phase of the inquiries for the cause of the beatification of the pioneer missionaries, Fr Lourdel Mapeera and Bro Amans would be concluded at Rubaga Cathedral on September 8. He asked the Christians to turn up in big numbers for the historic function. Nnyombi also announced a novena to Mary Immaculate, which will run daily until July 2. Mass takes place at Mapeera Pilgrimage Centre, Nabunnya, at 5:00pm, every day.

Fr Benard Choma asked Christians and all Ugandans of good will to donate money towards the construction of a state-of-the-art toilet which will be used by both the pilgrims and residents of the area.

PIC: Msgr Kasibante with the children who received first Holy Communion during the function