Archdiocesan day to be marked scientifically

Celebrations to mark Kampala Archdiocesan Day 2020 will be held scientifically due to the COVID-9 pandemic.

The annual celebrations are scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 25, at Rubaga Cathedral, according to the cathedral administrator, Fr Achilles Mayanja.

He said a few people will attend because of the number allowed in regards to the COVID-19 guidelines.

Mayanja was speaking during celebrations to mark Mission Sunday last week. The celebrations were graced by the national director of Pontifical Society in Uganda, Fr Ponsiano Kaweesa, as well as the in charge of societies in Kampala Archdiocese, Fr Deogratias Ssonko.

The chancellor, Fr Dr Pius Male Sentumbwe, who represented Archbishop Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, explained that every last Sunday of October, all Christians from 69 parishes that make up Kampala Archdiocese gather to celebrate the day with their archbishop.

In the archbishop's message, which also contained the Pope's message, the archbishop called on Catholics, non-Catholics and all churches to revive missionary awareness and commitments.

He said: "Pope Francis' 2020 message wants all of us to discharge our mission duty by volunteering with prophet Isaiah, ‘here I am, send me to alleviate the sufferings of our COVID-19 stricken brothers and sisters'".

He explained that Mission Sunday observance was instituted 94 years ago by Pope Pius XI's papal decree.

"This annual celebration gives us a chance to reflect on the importance of mission work for the life of the Church, and it reminds us that we are one Church around the world, committed to carrying on the mission of Christ," Lwanga said.  

Lwanga expressed worry that the Government was collecting a lot of money in terms of taxes and there was nothing to show for the money collected.