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Christian unity – Day 5

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Let us Pray for Christian Unity

Day 5 - Strength: Breaking bread for the journey

Acts 27:33-36

“Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, ‘Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.’After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves.”

Reflection

Paul’s invitation to eat is an exhortation to those in the boat to strengthen themselves for what lies ahead. This taking of bread marks a change of attitude, as those in the boat move from despair to courage. In a similar way the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper provides us with food for the journey and re-orientates us to life in God. We are made strong. The breaking of the bread – at the core of Christian community life and worship – builds us up as we commit ourselves to Christian service. We long for the day when all Christians will be able to share at the same table of the Lord’s Supper and draw strength from one bread and one cup.

Prayer
Loving God, your Son Jesus Christ
broke bread and shared the cup
with his friends on the eve of his passion.
May we grow together in closer communion.
Following the example of Paul and the early Christians,
give us strength to build bridges
of compassion, solidarity and harmony.
In the power of the Holy Spirit,
we ask this in the name of your Son,
who gives his life that we might live.
Amen.

Day 4 - Trust: Do not be afraid, believe

Acts 27:23-26

“For the last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island.”

Cette nuit même, en effet, un ange d
u
Dieu auquel j’appartiens et que je sers s’est présenté à moi et m’a dit
: ‘Sois
sans crainte, Paul
; il faut que tu comparaisses devant l’empereur et Dieu t’accorde aussi la vie de tous tes compagnons
de traversée
!’ Courage, donc, mes amis
! Je fais conf
iance à Dieu
: il en sera comme il m’a dit. Nous devons échouer
sur une île
».

Reflection

In the midst of the tempest Paul’s encouragement and hope contradicted the fear and despair of his fellow travellers. Our common call to be disciples of Jesus Christ entails being a sign of contradiction. In a world riven with anxieties, we are called to stand as witnesses to hope by placing our trust in God’s loving providence. Christian experience shows us that God writes straight on crooked lines, and we know, against all odds, we will not drown or be lost. Because God’s steadfast love endures for ever.

Prayer
Almighty God,
our personal suffering leads us to cry out in pain
and we shrink in fear when we experience sickness,
anxiety or the death of loved ones.
Teach us to trust you.
May the churches we belong to be signs of your providential care.
Make us true disciples of your Son
who taught us to listen to your word
and to serve one another.
In confidence we ask this in the name of your Son,
and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Day 3 - Hope: Paul’s message

Acts 27:22 ; 34

“I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship… none of you will lose a hair from your heads…”

Reflection

As Christians belonging to churches and traditions that are not fully reconciled to one another, we are often discouraged by the lack of progress towards visible unity. Indeed, some have given up all hope and see this unity as an unattainable ideal. Others do noteven see unity as a necessary part of their Christian faith. As we pray for this gift of visible unity, let us do so with steadfast faith, enduring patience and expectant hope, trusting in God’s loving providence. Unity is the Lord’s prayer for the Church and he is accompanying us on this journey. We will not be lost.

Prayer
God of mercy,
lost and disheartened, we turn to you.
Instil in us your gift of hope.
May our churches hope and strive
for the unity for which your Son prayed
on the eve of his passion.
We ask this through him
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
Amen.

Day 2 - Enlightenment: Seeking and showing forth Christ’s light

Actes 27,20

“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.”

Reflection

Christ is our light and our guide. Without the light and guidance of Christ, we become disorientated. When Christians lose sight of Christ, they grow fearfuland divided from one another. Moreover many people of good will outside the Church are unable to see the light of Christ because in our Christian division we reflect Christ’s light less clearly or, at times, block it out completely. As we seek the light of Christ, we are drawn closer to one another, and so mirror this light more clearly, becoming truly a sign of Christ, the light of the world.

Prayer
God, your word is alight to our steps
and without you we are lost and disorientated.
Enlighten us so that, through your word,
we may walk your path.
May our churches crave your guiding,
consoling and transforming presence.
Give us the honesty we need to recognize
when we make it difficult for others to see your light,
and the grace we need to share your light with others.
We ask this in the name of your Son,
who calls us, his followers, to be light to the world.
Amen.

Day 1 - Reconciliation: Throwing the cargo overboard

Acts 27:18-19, 21

“We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard… Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul thenstood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss’.”

Reflection

As Christians from different Churches and Traditions, we have unfortunately, over the centuries, accumulated abundantbaggage consisting of mutual distrust, bitterness and suspicion. We thank the Lord for the birth and the growth of the ecumenical movement over the past century. Our encounter with Christians from other traditions and our common prayer forChristian unity encourage us to seek mutual forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance. We must not allow the baggage of our past to hinder us from drawing closer to one another. It is the Lord’s will that we let go, in order to let God!

Prayer
Forgiving God,
set us free from the painful memories of the past,
that wound our shared Christian life.
Lead us to reconciliation so that,
through the Holy Spirit,
we may overcome hatred with love,
anger with gentleness
and suspicion with trust.
We ask this in the name
of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus.
Amen.

Christian unity – Day 4

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Let us Pray for Christian Unity

Day 4 - Trust: Do not be afraid, believe

Acts 27:23-26

“For the last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island.”

Cette nuit même, en effet, un ange d
u
Dieu auquel j’appartiens et que je sers s’est présenté à moi et m’a dit
: ‘Sois
sans crainte, Paul
; il faut que tu comparaisses devant l’empereur et Dieu t’accorde aussi la vie de tous tes compagnons
de traversée
!’ Courage, donc, mes amis
! Je fais conf
iance à Dieu
: il en sera comme il m’a dit. Nous devons échouer
sur une île
».

Reflection

In the midst of the tempest Paul’s encouragement and hope contradicted the fear and despair of his fellow travellers. Our common call to be disciples of Jesus Christ entails being a sign of contradiction. In a world riven with anxieties, we are called to stand as witnesses to hope by placing our trust in God’s loving providence. Christian experience shows us that God writes straight on crooked lines, and we know, against all odds, we will not drown or be lost. Because God’s steadfast love endures for ever.

Prayer
Almighty God,
our personal suffering leads us to cry out in pain
and we shrink in fear when we experience sickness,
anxiety or the death of loved ones.
Teach us to trust you.
May the churches we belong to be signs of your providential care.
Make us true disciples of your Son
who taught us to listen to your word
and to serve one another.
In confidence we ask this in the name of your Son,
and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Day 3 - Hope: Paul’s message

Acts 27:22 ; 34

“I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship… none of you will lose a hair from your heads…”

Reflection

As Christians belonging to churches and traditions that are not fully reconciled to one another, we are often discouraged by the lack of progress towards visible unity. Indeed, some have given up all hope and see this unity as an unattainable ideal. Others do noteven see unity as a necessary part of their Christian faith. As we pray for this gift of visible unity, let us do so with steadfast faith, enduring patience and expectant hope, trusting in God’s loving providence. Unity is the Lord’s prayer for the Church and he is accompanying us on this journey. We will not be lost.

Prayer
God of mercy,
lost and disheartened, we turn to you.
Instil in us your gift of hope.
May our churches hope and strive
for the unity for which your Son prayed
on the eve of his passion.
We ask this through him
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
Amen.

Day 2 - Enlightenment: Seeking and showing forth Christ’s light

Actes 27,20

“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.”

Reflection

Christ is our light and our guide. Without the light and guidance of Christ, we become disorientated. When Christians lose sight of Christ, they grow fearfuland divided from one another. Moreover many people of good will outside the Church are unable to see the light of Christ because in our Christian division we reflect Christ’s light less clearly or, at times, block it out completely. As we seek the light of Christ, we are drawn closer to one another, and so mirror this light more clearly, becoming truly a sign of Christ, the light of the world.

Prayer
God, your word is alight to our steps
and without you we are lost and disorientated.
Enlighten us so that, through your word,
we may walk your path.
May our churches crave your guiding,
consoling and transforming presence.
Give us the honesty we need to recognize
when we make it difficult for others to see your light,
and the grace we need to share your light with others.
We ask this in the name of your Son,
who calls us, his followers, to be light to the world.
Amen.

Day 1 - Reconciliation: Throwing the cargo overboard

Acts 27:18-19, 21

“We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard… Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul thenstood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss’.”

Reflection

As Christians from different Churches and Traditions, we have unfortunately, over the centuries, accumulated abundantbaggage consisting of mutual distrust, bitterness and suspicion. We thank the Lord for the birth and the growth of the ecumenical movement over the past century. Our encounter with Christians from other traditions and our common prayer forChristian unity encourage us to seek mutual forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance. We must not allow the baggage of our past to hinder us from drawing closer to one another. It is the Lord’s will that we let go, in order to let God!

Prayer
Forgiving God,
set us free from the painful memories of the past,
that wound our shared Christian life.
Lead us to reconciliation so that,
through the Holy Spirit,
we may overcome hatred with love,
anger with gentleness
and suspicion with trust.
We ask this in the name
of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus.
Amen.

Christian unity – Day 3

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Let us Pray for Christian Unity

Day 3 - Hope: Paul’s message

Acts 27:22 ; 34

“I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship… none of you will lose a hair from your heads…”

Reflection

As Christians belonging to churches and traditions that are not fully reconciled to one another, we are often discouraged by the lack of progress towards visible unity. Indeed, some have given up all hope and see this unity as an unattainable ideal. Others do noteven see unity as a necessary part of their Christian faith. As we pray for this gift of visible unity, let us do so with steadfast faith, enduring patience and expectant hope, trusting in God’s loving providence. Unity is the Lord’s prayer for the Church and he is accompanying us on this journey. We will not be lost.

Prayer
God of mercy,
lost and disheartened, we turn to you.
Instil in us your gift of hope.
May our churches hope and strive
for the unity for which your Son prayed
on the eve of his passion.
We ask this through him
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
Amen.

Day 2 - Enlightenment: Seeking and showing forth Christ’s light

Actes 27,20

“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.”

Reflection

Christ is our light and our guide. Without the light and guidance of Christ, we become disorientated. When Christians lose sight of Christ, they grow fearfuland divided from one another. Moreover many people of good will outside the Church are unable to see the light of Christ because in our Christian division we reflect Christ’s light less clearly or, at times, block it out completely. As we seek the light of Christ, we are drawn closer to one another, and so mirror this light more clearly, becoming truly a sign of Christ, the light of the world.

Prayer
God, your word is alight to our steps
and without you we are lost and disorientated.
Enlighten us so that, through your word,
we may walk your path.
May our churches crave your guiding,
consoling and transforming presence.
Give us the honesty we need to recognize
when we make it difficult for others to see your light,
and the grace we need to share your light with others.
We ask this in the name of your Son,
who calls us, his followers, to be light to the world.
Amen.

Day 1 - Reconciliation: Throwing the cargo overboard

Acts 27:18-19, 21

“We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard… Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul thenstood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss’.”

Reflection

As Christians from different Churches and Traditions, we have unfortunately, over the centuries, accumulated abundantbaggage consisting of mutual distrust, bitterness and suspicion. We thank the Lord for the birth and the growth of the ecumenical movement over the past century. Our encounter with Christians from other traditions and our common prayer forChristian unity encourage us to seek mutual forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance. We must not allow the baggage of our past to hinder us from drawing closer to one another. It is the Lord’s will that we let go, in order to let God!

Prayer
Forgiving God,
set us free from the painful memories of the past,
that wound our shared Christian life.
Lead us to reconciliation so that,
through the Holy Spirit,
we may overcome hatred with love,
anger with gentleness
and suspicion with trust.
We ask this in the name
of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus.
Amen.

Peace as a journey of hope

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Peace as a Journey of Hope

Dialogue, reconciliation & ecumenical conversion

Presentation of a message written by Pope Francis for the 53rd World Day of Peace on January 1, 2020.

Pope Francis peace message 2020

Christian unity – Day 2

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Let us Pray for Christian Unity

Day 2 - Enlightenment: Seeking and showing forth Christ’s light

Actes 27:20

“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.”

Reflection

Christ is our light and our guide. Without the light and guidance of Christ, we become disorientated. When Christians lose sight of Christ, they grow fearfuland divided from one another. Moreover many people of good will outside the Church are unable to see the light of Christ because in our Christian division we reflect Christ’s light less clearly or, at times, block it out completely. As we seek the light of Christ, we are drawn closer to one another, and so mirror this light more clearly, becoming truly a sign of Christ, the light of the world.

Prayer
God, your word is alight to our steps
and without you we are lost and disorientated.
Enlighten us so that, through your word,
we may walk your path.
May our churches crave your guiding,
consoling and transforming presence.
Give us the honesty we need to recognize
when we make it difficult for others to see your light,
and the grace we need to share your light with others.
We ask this in the name of your Son,
who calls us, his followers, to be light to the world.
Amen.

Day 1 - Reconciliation: Throwing the cargo overboard

Acts 27:18-19, 21

“We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard… Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul thenstood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss’.”

Reflection

As Christians from different Churches and Traditions, we have unfortunately, over the centuries, accumulated abundantbaggage consisting of mutual distrust, bitterness and suspicion. We thank the Lord for the birth and the growth of the ecumenical movement over the past century. Our encounter with Christians from other traditions and our common prayer forChristian unity encourage us to seek mutual forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance. We must not allow the baggage of our past to hinder us from drawing closer to one another. It is the Lord’s will that we let go, in order to let God!

Prayer
Forgiving God,
set us free from the painful memories of the past,
that wound our shared Christian life.
Lead us to reconciliation so that,
through the Holy Spirit,
we may overcome hatred with love,
anger with gentleness
and suspicion with trust.
We ask this in the name
of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus.
Amen.

Christian unity – Day 1

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Let us Pray for Christian Unity

Day 1 - Reconciliation: Throwing the cargo overboard

Acts 27:18-19, 21

“We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard… Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul thenstood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss’.”

Reflection

As Christians from different Churches and Traditions, we have unfortunately, over the centuries, accumulated abundantbaggage consisting of mutual distrust, bitterness and suspicion. We thank the Lord for the birth and the growth of the ecumenical movement over the past century. Our encounter with Christians from other traditions and our common prayer forChristian unity encourage us to seek mutual forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance. We must not allow the baggage of our past to hinder us from drawing closer to one another. It is the Lord’s will that we let go, in order to let God!

Prayer
Forgiving God,
set us free from the painful memories of the past,
that wound our shared Christian life.
Lead us to reconciliation so that,
through the Holy Spirit,
we may overcome hatred with love,
anger with gentleness
and suspicion with trust.
We ask this in the name
of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus.
Amen.

Henk van Kessel, R.I.P.

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo
Society of the Missionaries of Africa

Father Jozef de Bekker, Provincial Delegate of the sector of the Netherlands,
informs you of the return to the Lord of Father

Henk van Kessel

on Tuesday 31st December 2019 at Veghel (Netherlands)
at the age of 93 years, of which 68 years of missionary life in
Zambia.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

Download here the announcement of Father Henk van Kessel’s death

(more…)

Merry Christmas

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

Compliments of the Season

Live from Mar Estephan (St Stephen Cathedral) in Lebanon,
together with Marianne Alwan (Vocals) and Lucas Sakr (Piano),
we wish you a Merry Christmas Season and a Happy New Year.

150th Pilgrimage – Day 1 – Lubaga

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

150th Jubilee - Pilgrimage

Day One - Lubaga

Lubaga Hill is one of the key places in the history of the Catholic Church in Uganda in particular and of Christianity in general. Kabaka Muteesa Ist had his palace on this hill; and the place occupied by the present Cathedral was one of the key areas of that palace. From here, on 14th April 1875, Muteesa wrote a letter to Queen Victoria requesting her to send to him experts in various fields of education and skills to train his people, and also to send teachers of religion.

“… I beg you to send me experts in various fields of education and skills to train my people in those lines you have in your country. Please send me trustworthy persons who will not betray my country and who will not lead my people to bad behaviour. But only those who will give good examples and proper education that can lead us to good administration of my country. Send me some teachers of religion so that I may understand God.” (Kabaka Muteesa Ist, 1875) 

It was here that Muteesa Ist received the pioneer missionaries, both the protestants (1877) and the Catholics (1879). It was here that the first public proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was carried out during the daily public audiences with the King. Debates between the different groups – Catholics, Protestants and Muslims as narrated in the writings of the missionaries give a similar picture as that of St. Paul in Athens (Acts of the Apostles, 17: 16ff)

St Mary of Lubaga

At the dawn of the evangelization of this country (2nd July 1879), the missionaries consecrated their lives, work and this country to Mother Mary. In a month or so after, in spite of the fact that the missionaries were at Lubya-Nabulagala, (about 4 kilometres from Lubaga), they named their mission St. Mary of Lubaga. This name was kept when they moved to Nalukolongo (1885-1888) and Nabunnya (1889-1891).

At the end of 1891, twelve years since they had named their mission, St. Mary of Lubaga, the mission post finally moved to the very place of its name. For the missionaries, this “announced to the whole of Uganda that Mary has finally taken possession of this country: Regnum Ugandae, regnum Mariae (The Kingdom of Uganda, the Kingdom of Mary). ( Lubaga Diary, 19th January 1891.)

Indigenous Consecrated life

Very soon after the arrival of the White Sisters (1899), the pioneer female religious in Uganda, some indigenous young girls and even middle-aged women got attracted to the way of life of these religious women. Requests were made to join the Bamaria, as the natives called the Sisters (NB: This term could have meant “Those of Mary”, but also “Many Mary’s” since all the pioneer sisters each was called Mary so and so!). Eventually, in March 1901, some of these aspirants were admitted to start a sort of “catechists’ novitiate”. This was the bud of the future Sisters of the Daughters of Mary of Bwanda (Bannabikira), the first local female Institute of Consecrated Women.

Key historical dates and events

    • 1879 (23 February): First encounter between Kabaka Muteesa Ist and Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera. Muteesa gave permission to the Pioneer Catholic Missionaries to stay in his country and to teach their religion.
    • 1881 (10 March 1881): Muteesa left Lubaga Palace for Kasubi-Nabulagala because of the plague and he never came back.
    • 1890: Kabaka Mwanga gave Lubaga Hill to the Catholic Missionaries.
    • 1891 Beginning of the building of the first church on the top of the hill. The mission post by then was down the hill at Nabunnya, the place where Fr. Lourdel Mapeera died on 12th May 1890 and was buried the following day. The transfer was completed at the end of that year.
    • 1892 (24 January): Destruction of the first church during Catholic-Protestant war. Six more churches were built after the first one, between 1892 -1901.
    • 1895 (28 October): Ordination of Bishop Antonin Guillermain (3rd bishop of the Vicariate of North Nyanza) by Bishop Henry Hanlon of Nsambya. It was the first episcopal ordination in Uganda.
    • 1899 (18 October): Arrival of the pioneer Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (White Sisters). They established their first convent on Lubaga Hill, not far from the Cathedral on the side of Lubaga Hospital.
    • 1899: Foundation of Lubaga Hospital, the first Catholic hospital in Uganda. It was started by the White Sisters.
    • 1906: Foundation of St. Mary’s College, the first Catholic College within the White Fathers’ Vicariate. It was transferred to Kisubi in 1924.
    • 1906 (15 March): First ordination to priesthood in Uganda, of a Consolata Father from Kenya, ordained by Mgr Henri Streicher. (In 11th church)
    • 1913: Beginning of the construction work of the present Cathedral (12th church) under the supervision of Brother Cyprian Jozef van Grinsven. The contribution of the local Christian community to this work, under the leadership of Stanislaus Mugwanya need to be recognised.
    • 1917 (November): Episcopal ordination of Bishop John Forbes, coadjutor of Bishop Henry Streicher. (In the 11th church). Mgr Forbes, the first Canadian WF was key in fundraising for building Lubaga Cathedral.
    • 1925 (31 October): Consecration of the new Cathedral. Kabaka Daudi Chwa was present for the occasion. It coincided with the centenary of the birth of Cardinal Lavigerie who sent the pioneer missionaries to Uganda.
    • 1941: Two White Sisters were miraculously cured of bubonic plague (kawumpuli) through the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs. This miracle made possible the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs in 1964.
    • 1966: Death in Lubaga Hospital and burial in the Cathedral of Archbishop Joseph Kiwanuka, 1st African Bishop (1939) in modern time.
      NB: Bishop Michaud Edouard WF (+18th June 1945) is also buried in this Cathedral.
    • 1969 (31 July): Visit of Pope Paul VI. He presided the concluding Mass of SECAM. In his words pronounced in this Cathedral, we see the realisation of our Founder’s dream: “Missionaries must be in the first place initiators. The enduring work can only be carried out by the Africans themselves, once they become Christians and apostles.” The Pope said: “By now, you, Africans, are missionaries to yourselves. The Church of Christ is well and truly planted in this blessed soil… ‘Missionaries to yourselves’, in other words, you Africans must now continue, upon this Continent, the building up of the Church.”
    • 1984 (28 January): Visit of Archbishop Robert Runcie of Canterbury.
    • 1993 (9 February): Visit of Pope John Paul II.
    • 1998: Visit of Archbishop George Carey of Canterbury.
    • 2015 (28 November) : Visit of Pope Francis.
    • 2016 (6 November) : Official opening of the cause for the beatification of Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro. Amans Delmas.
Day1_Lubaga1
Une des premières cathédrales de Lubaga
Une des premières cathédrales de Lubaga
Frère Cyprien - van GriesvenJoseph 1872-1938
Frère Cyprien - van GriesvenJoseph 1872-1938
Muteesa 1er rencontrant le P. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera et le Fr. Delmas Amans 1879
Muteesa 1er rencontrant le P. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera et le Fr. Delmas Amans 1879
Mugwanya Stanislaus 1849 - 1938
Mugwanya Stanislaus 1849 - 1938
Le Roi Muteesa 1er
Le Roi Muteesa 1er
Le Palais de Lubaga 1879
Le Palais de Lubaga 1879

MISSIONARY SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF AFRICA AT LUBAGA

Arrival at Lubaga

October 18 1899 will remain a key date in the life of the religious life in Uganda. It was on that day that the first group of six Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (White sisters) arrived at Lubaga. These were: Sr. Joachim, Sr. Mechtilde, Sr. de l’Esperance, Sr. Dorothee and Sr. Restitute. They arrived from Algiers with Bishop Streicher. They established their first convent on Lubaga Hill, not far from the Cathedral on the side of Lubaga Hospital. On 26th November they started to learn the language and, not long after, started teaching catechism and singing lessons to girls. From 1901, some of these girls were being trained as teachers.

Foundation of Lubaga Hospital

The Foundation of Lubaga Hospital dates back in the very year the Msola arrived in Uganda, that is in 1899. It is the first Catholic hospital in this country. It is also in this hospital that two Msola – Sr. Richildis and Sr. M. Aloyse – were miraculously cured of bubonic plague (kawumpuli) in 1941 through the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs. This miracle was a major step forward in the cause for the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs in 1964.

Lubaga Girls School

In January 1968 the former Junior Secondary School of Lubaga was changed into a private Senior Secondary School. This was in answer to the request from the parish priest and the parents. Sr. Luce Tessier was the headmistress of both the primary and secondary schools. Among the many things she did, was the installation of a well-equipped science laboratory.

In January 1969 the administration of the school was handed over to the Institute of the Daughters of Mary (Bwanda Sisters).

Cemetery

Many of White Sisters are buried in the old cemetery downhill behind the Cathedral. Some White Fathers had been buried in the same cemetery, including Father Simeon Lourdel, but their remains were removed and interred at Nabulagala in 2015.

Psalm 66: A Song of Praise and Thanksgiving

    1. Praise God with shouts of joy, all people!
    2. Sing to the glory of his name;
      offer him glorious praise!
    3. Say to God, “How wonderful are the things you do!
      Your power is so great
      that your enemies bow down in fear before you.
    4. Everyone on earth worships you;
      they sing praises to you,
      they sing praises to your name.
    5. Come and see what God has done,
      his wonderful acts among people.
Concluding prayer:

God of all people of the world, you sent your Son to show us the path to yourself. We thank you for the missionaries who came to our land in Uganda and lived here to bring the Good News of Jesus to his people. We thank you for the missionaries who taught our people and who healed them and worked beside them. Help us to honour their memory by living our lives as people who bring the Good News of Jesus to others and continue to entrust into your hands all your faithful children, students, the medical staff and all people who came seeking for treatments. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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150th Pilgrimage – Day 1 – Nalukolongo

Posted on by Vitus Danaa Abobo

150th Jubilee - Pilgrimage

Day One - Nalukolongo

Nalukolongo Mission was founded in 1885 by Frs Simeon Lourdel Mapeera, Pierre Giraud and Bro. Amans Delmas. It was the second Catholic mission post in Uganda after Nabulagala (1879). The land was donated by Kabaka Mwanga to the missionaries on their return from Tanganyika. Mwanga wanted to give them a piece of land near his palace at Mengo, but they preferred this site because it was more accessible to the ‘poor and the little ones’ (abakopi). The mission’s church served as the first Cathedral in Uganda for Bishop Leon Livinhac. This post lasted for three years (1885-1888).

Hundreds of catechumens were baptised at this place after the martyrdom of Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe (15th November 1885) and during the general persecution of 1886. Among these were thirteen (13) future martyrs, namely: Charles Lwanga, Denis Ssebuggwawo, Pontian Ngondwe, Athanasius Bazzekuketta, Gonzaga Gonza, Noa Mawaggali, James Buuzabalyawo, Ambrose Kibuuka, Anatoli Kiriggwajjo, Achilles Kiwanuka, Adolph Mukasa Ludigo, Bruno Sserunkuuma and John-Mary Muzeeyi.

It was at Nalukolongo that the first seeds of the indigenous vocation of consecrated life sprouted up in the private vows of celibacy taken by Maria-Mathilda Munaku and Celestin Namusanga, in view of total commitment to the service of the missionaries and the needy. These two did so on their own initiative, before Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera. The latter speaks about Celestin as “our first Black African brother” and about Mathilda as “our first Black African Sister”. Celestin was ransomed in 1885, baptised at the end of the same year; took his temporary vow for one year in 1887; unfortunately he drowned in Lake Victoria when the missionaries were escaping from Buganda after being expelled by the Muslim army in October 1888. Matilda, sister of St. Noa Mawaggali, was baptised in July 1886 and took her temporary vow in the same year; she served in different mission posts and seminaries for all her life until she died in 1934 at the age of 76. She was buried in Bukalasa Seminary cemetery.

Other key historical facts about Nalukolongo:

    • First baptisms of Ugandan women administered by the missionaries themselves were celebrated here.
    • Many young slave boys and girls were ransomed and cared for together with other poor people at this place. This inspired the late Cardinal Nsubuga to found Mapeera Bakateyamba Home (for disabled and needy, 1978) at this place. Two years before (1976), he had founded the Institute of the Good Samaritan Sisters for the same cause with their Mother House at this place. Talking about the vocation of these Sisters, the Cardinal said: “l have abolished the saying that “charity ended with Mapeera”! Let mercy not die with Mapeera, but continue being seen through the charitable works of these girls towards the poor and destitute who will be brought here at Nalukolongo.” (8 December 1978) It is this long tradition of works of charity that in 2015 (28 November) Pope Francis made a pilgrimage to this place in recognition of the importance of the Church’s commitment to reach out to the poor, the handicapped and the sick. On that occasion, he made this appeal: 

“I wanted very much to visit this Home of Charity, which Cardinal Nsubuga founded here in Nalukolongo. This is a place which has always been associated with the Church’s outreach to the poor, the handicapped and the sick. Here, in early times, slave children were ransomed and women received religious instruction (from the missionaries for the first time). | greet the Good Samaritan Sisters who carry on this fine tradition, and | thank them for their years of quiet and joyful service in this apostolate…. Today, from this Home, | appeal to all Parishes and Communities in Uganda and the rest of Africa – not to forget the poor.” (Pope Francis at Nalukolongo)

    • 1886 (13 June): Amidst persecutions and killings of Christians, the missionaries renewed their consecration to B.V. Mary. They signed the act and put it under her statue as they had done at the beginning their mission in Uganda in 1879 (2 July).
    • 1888 (18 October): The Missionaries, after having been imprisoned for five days with the exception of Bro. Amans, were expelled out of the country by the new king Kalema and his Muslim supporters. The mission was completely looted and destroyed such that when they returned in October 1889, they could not come back here.
    • 1893: The remains of Charles Lwanga and Mathias Mulumba which had been buried here in the sacristy of the first church in November 1886, were found after a long search which lasted for many months. Mgr Hirth expressed their joy on that day with these inspiring words:

“I am in a hurry to share with you the joy that Providence willed to fill us yesterday. It is with great gratitude that you will thank the Lord with me. After a number of months of searching, we finally found in the excavations at Nalukolongo, the small box of bones of our Martyrs of 1886. It is five years since it was hidden by the missionaries, at the time of Arab crisis. Surely it is not without divine providence that God has sent to us this precious consolation in the present circumstances.

With this unexpected favour, it is a new era of graces and blessings, which is being announced for our Mission of Nyanza. Let us all bring together our prayers so that we may not remain unworthy of the grace which is announcing itself! Let us call upon our Martyrs and often repeat these invocations: Queen of Martyrs pray for us. All Holy Martyrs, pray for us.” (Mgr Hirth, Letter to missionaries in Tanganyika, 14 November 1893).

NB: These are the only relics of the Uganda Martyrs which were identified for individual martyrs and kept safely. They are the ones carried at Namugongo during the annual pilgrimage procession.

    • 1923 (3rd June) : Blessing and laying of the foundation stone of the Memorial Chapel, by Mgr. John Forbes. It was built in memory of the Uganda Martyrs, Mgr Livinhac and Fr. Mapeera, and dedicated to the Mother of Jesus, Patron Saint of Buganda (Ya Namasole wa Yezu Omuwolereza w’Obuganda). This noble work was initiated and supervised by Fr. Raux Modeste who was then the parish priest of Lubaga.
    • 1929 (3rd June): Memorial Chapel was blessed by Mgr. Arthur Hinsley. It was the first chapel in Uganda to be built in memory of the Uganda Martyrs.
    • 1954: Little Sisters of Jesus (Charles de Foucauld) established themselves at Nalukolongo. Left Uganda in early 1970s.
    • 1991 (29th April): Burial of late Emmanuel Cardinal K. Nsubuga (1914-1991. It was his will to be buried at Nalukolongo with the intention that whoever comes here to pray for his soul, would remember to help the sick and needy in this place.

Card. Nsubuga was a ‘true grandson of the Pioneer Missionaries, especially of Mapeera’. He secured many historical places linked to the pioneer missionaries and the Uganda Martyrs. He brought back to Uganda the remains of Mgr. Livinhac from Algiers, Bro. Amans from Bagamoyo in Tanzania and Fr. Barbot from Zanzibar. He initiated the cause for the beatification of Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera in 1987.

    • Pilgrimage Site: Because of its link with the Uganda Martyrs, hundreds of pilgrims come to this place during the annual pilgrimage to Namugongo in May/June.

PRAYER AT NALUKOLONGO

“I wanted very much to visit this Home of Charity, which Cardinal Nsubuga founded here in Nalukolongo. This is a place which has always been associated with the Church’s outreach to the poor, the handicapped and the sick. Here, in early times, slave children were ransomed and women received religious instruction (from the missionaries for the first time). I greet the Good Samaritan Sisters who carry on this fine tradition, and I thank them for their years.” (Pope Francis at Nalukolongo)

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of the brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Mt. 25:40)

God of freedom, beauty and truth we believe that your deepest desire, is that all creation might have life, life in abundance. We seek your divine protection for all who are exploited and enslaved.

Restore their dignity and provide them a new beginning. Help us reach out in support of victims and survivors of modern slavery.

Lord, You came to give honour to the least, those forgotten, overlooked and misjudged. You came to give first place to the last, those left behind, misunderstood and undervalued. You came to give a warm welcome to the lost, those who are orphaned, abandoned and destitute. 

Help us to be your ears to listen to their cries. Help us to be your voice speaking out love and acceptance. Help us to be your feet walking beside those in need. Help us to be your hands to clothe, feed and shelter them.

May You continue to renew missionary zeal in ourselves and in the Church; raise up new missionaries who will follow You to the ends of the world. Make us witnesses to Your goodness; full of love, strength and faith for Your greater glory and the salvation of the entire world.

Missionaries of Africa
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