'Stop giving saucepans to priests as gifts'

The Chaplain of the Catholic community at Nkumba University, Fr Herman Zziwa, has asked Ugandans not to give newly ordained priests saucepans as gifts.

He said priests are supposed to serve the Church and do not need saucepans since they do not cook food for themselves.

"Do not give priests gifts that will not help them at all in their service. Imagine someone comes with a gift of saucepans and plates, as if a priest is going to cook when he knows that a priest is going to celebrate Mass and also serve the Church," Fr Zziwa said.

He was preaching to Christians who turned up at St Mbaaga-Tuzinde Catholic Parish, Kiwaatule, a Kampala suburb, for the thanksgiving Mass of Fr John Baptist Muyanja, one of the 15 priests who were ordained on Saturday at Rubaga Cathedral in Kampala.

Fr Zziwa advised the Christians to give gifts that help the priests in their work, such as Bibles, books and cassocks. Zziwa also advised Fr Muyanja to be steadfast in his work. "Respect others, do your work with love, make sure you devote your time for God's work.

Pray and attend retreats for priests, relax, exercise and smile," he said. Fr Muyanja is a son of Joseph Mbaziira and Joyce Mary Nabunnya Mbaziira of Kkungu village, Kiwaatule parish in Kampala.