By Claire Creegan
Pope Francis’ scheduled Mass in Uganda in
observance of the 50th anniversary of the canonization of the
Ugandan Martyrs will help revitalize the faith of one of Africa’s youngest
Churches, a local Church official said.
In an interview with international Catholic
charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, secretary
general of the bishops’ conference of Uganda, described how the country’s
violent past has sown the seeds for the rise of a hopeful, vital Church to
emerge.
Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in Uganda
Nov. 27, 2015 and is due to celebrate the special Mass the following day in the
city of Namugongo.
Also on the agenda is a meeting with catechists and teachers in Munyonyo. Father Kauta said more than 2 million faithful are expected to join the Holy Father in honoring the 22 Catholics who died for their faith in the 19th century.
Also on the agenda is a meeting with catechists and teachers in Munyonyo. Father Kauta said more than 2 million faithful are expected to join the Holy Father in honoring the 22 Catholics who died for their faith in the 19th century.
The prelate also stressed that the theme of
the Pope’s visit to Uganda–‘You Will Be My Witnesses’–is taken from the Acts of
the Apostles 1:8, which deals with the subject of martyrdom.
The priest added: “We too are called to
witness in one way or another. Our faith must be alive and shown through our
good work.”
He added that “the Pope’s simple life is a
beautiful example. He revitalizes the people’s faith and reminds us there is
always room for improvement.”
Father Kauta said the visit was an excellent
reminder of the universality of the Church, which is particularly important for
Uganda, where the Church is relatively new in some of some of the nation’s
states.
Pilgrims from Kenya, Tanzania, Australia and
the United States are expected to make the journey to see the Pope.
The spotlight on Uganda prompted by the papal
visit will be a boost to the tourism industry, while Father Kauta hopes the
visit will also encourage interreligious dialogue; he noted that Uganda’s
Muslim community had passed on their warm wishes for a successful papal sojourn
in Uganda.
The Pope is also scheduled to meet a number
of married couples and more than 100,000 young people, an occasion the priest
hopes will strengthen the faith of the youth. He said:
“It is like he is saying: ‘We appreciate what
you are doing, keep up the good work.’ It gives faith to all of us. We are
flourishing, though we are experiencing the pangs of birth as a new church in a
new age.”
The Ugandan Church relies on significant
outside support, including aid from ACN in the form of means of transportation
for many of the country’s 14,000 catechists who are responsible for ministry in
enormous parishes in the countryside.
Aid to the Church in Need also supports
Ugandan priests through Mass stipends, and is backing a number of construction
projects. In 2014, ACN provided the Ugandan Church with close to $1M in aid
earmarked for some 90 projects.
With picture of a monument to the martyrs of Uganda (© ACN)
Editor’s Notes:
Directly under the
Holy Father, Aid to the Church in Need supports
the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need.
ACN is a Catholic charity - helping to bring Christ to the world through
prayer, information and action.
Founded in 1947 by Father Werenfried van Straaten, whom Pope John Paul
II named “An Outstanding Apostle of Charity,” the organization is now at work
in over 145 countries throughout the world.
The charity undertakes thousands of projects every year including
providing transport for clergy and lay Church workers, construction of church
buildings, funding for priests and nuns and help to train seminarians. Since
the initiative’s launch in 1979, 43 million Aid to the Church in Need Child’s Bibles have been distributed
worldwide.
For more information contact Michael Varenne at
michael@churchinneed.org or call
718-609-0939 or fax718-609-0938. Aid to the Church in Need, 725 Leonard Street,
PO Box 220384, Brooklyn, NY 11222-0384. www.churchinneed.org
