News Archive
On Saturday 9th April, 2011, the Secretary General of Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, launched the Golden Bakery [Grote], the Seminary Restaurant and Gardens, which are intended to generate income for Alokolum National Major Seminary...[Read More] 15th PLENARY OF SECAM The 15th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) took place in Accra, Ghana from July 26 to August 2, 2010. After the Plenary a Press Release was issued as follows: PRESS RELEASE From July 26th to August 2nd, 2010, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) held, in Accra, Ghana, its 15th Plenary Assembly which was also the occasion for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of its establishment. About 200 Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and the Lay Faithful from within and outside Africa participated in the sessions under the theme: « SECAM at 40: Self-Reliance, the way forward for the Church in Africa. » The deliberations which took place in an atmosphere of prayers and fraternal communion, started with a solemn eucharistic celebration chaired by the President of SECAM, Polycarp Cardinal PENGO, Archbishop of Dar-Es Salaam, with the assistance of Peter Cardinal APPIAH TURKSON, President of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, Archbishop Robert SARAH, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and Most Rev Léon KALENGA, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana. In his homily, the President of SECAM laid special emphasis on the importance of the theme of the Assembly and pointed out that the theme was not only about material Self-Reliance but also pastoral and spiritual in Africa which is faced with many challenges. The Mass was followed by the official opening session chaired by the Vice- President of the Republic of Ghana His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, on behalf of His Excellency John Evans Atta-Mills who was away at the African Union Summit that took place in Kampala, Uganda. The speeches made at the opening session called for a reflection on the situation of numerous crisis plaguing the African Continent and for solutions to bring the continent out of underdevelopment and put it on the right track. At the beginning of the reflections, exchanges and discussions, the Assembly listened to goodwill messages and encouragement from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Sister Episcopal Conferences–like the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CECE), partner agencies: MISEREOR, Catholic Release Services (CRS), African Federation for Family Action (AFFA), and others. The first part of discussions was dedicated to the evaluation of 40 years of life of SECAM with a key note address delivered by Archbishop Peter SARPONG, Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, presentations on mangement for self-reliance, workshops in groups was led by the facilitators of CORAT- Africa. These facilitators sought to bring out solutions to implement in order to arrive at a real self-reliance of the church in Africa at the continental, diocesan and parish levels. Peter Cardinal APPIAH TURKSON gave a summary of the teachings of the social encydicals of Benedict XVI: Deus Caritas est and Caritas in Veritate. After this part which is purely technical, the Assembly was dedicated to the statutory activity with the reports from the structures of SECAM. The President, Secretary General and the officials of other SECAM offices presented their reports. This was followed by a moment of exchanges and suggestions. Mrs. Marguerite PEETERS, Director General of the Institute for Intercultural Dialogue Dynamics explained to the participants the origins, stakes and risks of the new post modern ethics marked by secutarisation, ambiguity of language and philosophy of discourse of the United Nations Organisation. Monsignor Tony ANATRELA, psychoanalyst and consultant of the Pontifical Council for the Family made a presentation on the topic « Caritas in Veritate and the theory of Gender. » For the speaker, faced with moral and anthropological destabilisations which generate the relativism of the dimensions where the transcending dimension of development is denied and truth is rather linked to a power system, only the teaching of Caritas in Veritate can contribute to an anti viral element against this ideological virus which is the theory of Gender. Friday afternoon on 30th July, a delegation of about twelve participants led by Cardinal Polycarp PENGO, President of SECAM was received by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Prof. John ATTA-MILLS who affirmed the will of his government to continue to work with the Catholic Church in order to promote the spiritual, moral, intellectual and socio-economic development of peoples. Other invited guests later during the Assembly introduced their organisations. They are namely, COMITHEOL, APECA, ASUNICAM, RADIO VATICAN, SIGNIS Africa and the Executive Director of the World Youth day celebrations in Spain. The Assembly expressed its condolences and solidarity to the National Episcopal Conferences of Congo (CENCO) after the sinking of a boat in a river which claimed about 160 lives. The Assembly adopted a number of resolutions and recommendations calling for a renewed concrete commitment for SECAM to attain the objectives which it has set for itself. The Assembly has also renewed the mandate of the management team of SECAM to for a three- year term in office as follows:
The next Plenary Assembly will take place in Kinshasa, DRC in 2013. CLOSING THE YEAR OF THE PRIESTS: June 8, 2010-Catholic priests from all around the world gathered in Rome, at the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI, for the closing events of the Year for Priests. In Uganda, over 250 priests from different dioceses gathered at St. Mary’s National Seminary, Ggaba, near Kampala, to celebrate the Year of the Priests. The priests arrived at Ggaba on May 30th, 2010. They were given talks on the 31st May 2010 by the Archbishop Cyprian K. Lwanga of Kampala and the Rector of St. Mbaaga Major Seminary, adjacent to St. Mary’s. They spent June 1st as a Recollection Day animated by the Bishop Giuseppe Filippi of Kotido. A Solemn Mass presided by Archbishop Denis Kiwanuka Lote of Tororo, marking the end of the Year of Priests, took place on June 2nd at the Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine in Namugongo. After Mass the priests spent the afternoon of June 2nd assisting pilgrims to the Martyrs’ Shrine with confessions and other spiritual needs in preparation for the National Martyrs’ Day celebrations on June 3rd, 2010. A special publication: “Celebrating the Year of Priests”, was released on June 2nd, 2010. It contains messages from Cardinal Wamala, the Papal Nuncio (Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam), the Archbishops of Gulu, Kampala and Mbarara, the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference and other persons. All in all the messages were reflections on the meaning, relevance and importance of the priesthood. Approximately 25 Ugandan Priests were fortunate to join the Holy Father at the official conclusion of the Year of the Priest celebration in the Vatican. [ picture below]
The 3-day celebration begun on Wednesday, June 9, with a meditation on the priesthood by Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne, Germany, in the basilica of St. Paul-Outsid-the-Walls. After a period of Eucharistic adoration in that basilica, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, the prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, presided at a Mass there. Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, the Secretary of the same Congregation, presided at another Mass in the basilica of St. John Lateran. On Thursday evening the priests gathered in St. Peter’s Square for a vigil or prayer and witness, Eucharistic adoration, and a discussion with Pope Benedict. It was a simulcast to audiences in Jerusalem, Buenos Aires, Hollywood, and Ars, France–where pilgrims were celebrating the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, the patron of priests. On Friday, June 11, which was the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Pope Benedict presided at a Mass in St. Peter’s Square to close the Year for Priests. During that Eucharistic celebration the Pope led all the priests in renewing their vows.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, June 11, 2010: The New Chairman/ President of Uganda Episcopal Conference At their last Plenary meeting, memebrs of the Uganda Episcopal Conference [UEC], elected new Office bearers. Most Rev. John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu, President of their Conference for a period of four years with effect from June 2010. Rt. Rev. Joseph Antony Zziwa, Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana is the Vice Chairman. For all other Office Bearers, click on the Commissions' Page. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
News Archives
Tuesday, April 6, 2010: Installation Ceremony The Installation Ceremony and taking canonical possession of the diocese of Jinja by Bishop Charles Martin Wamika was done on 25th April 2010 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral- Rubaga Jinja. A Holy Mass procession started at 10.00am. Thousands of christians including the His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, Ms. Rebecca Kadaga - the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, graced the occasion.
Thursday, MArch 25, 2010: Pope Benedict donates to Bududa His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, in his solicitude and desire to keep close to the people of Bududa in the Archdiocese of Tororo, donated US$ 30,000 [United States Dollars Thirty thousand] through the Pontifical Council Cor Unum. The funds will be used for assistance of victims and rehabilitation of the displaced peoples of the areas affected by land slides. The Holy Father is sympathetic with all those affected and keeps them in his prayers. The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Paul Tschang-In-Nam, travelled to Bududa Catholic Parish accompanied by the Archbishop of Tororo, Most Rev. Denis Kiwanuka Lote. They celebrated a Holy Mass on Friday, 26th of March 2010 at 11.00 a.m. for the victims, their families, friends, and well-wishers. The Apostolic Nuncio used this occasion to deliver the Pope’s Message and donation.
Thursday, March 04, 2010: Bishops respond to Bududa tragedy We, the Catholic Bishops of Uganda away in Rome for our Ad-Limina Visit, heard with profound shock and sorrow of the tragedy which befell the people of Bududa, in the Archdiocese of Tororo. We want to assure all of our prayers and sympathies. We promise to do all we can to assist the victims and their families through our Conference. Our National Office of Caritas-Uganda, and the Catholic Relief Services, have already undertaken the work of offering assistance to the affected. We appeal to our Catholic communities to offer any help they can through their respective Diocesan Caritas Offices which in turn should forward it to the Caritas Office of the Archdiocese of Tororo. We will continue to pray for all those affected, and may the Almighty grant the souls of the departed eternal rest.
2nd March,2010: Act of the Holy See The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has accepted the resignation of His Lordship the Rt. Rev. Joseph Willigers, from his office of Bishop of Jinja, and appointed as his successor His Lordship the Rt. Rev. Charles Martin Wamika, until now Auxiliary Bishop of Tororo Archdiocese. The Bishop Elect was ordained a priest on 22nd September 1979. Until his appointment, Bishop Wamika has been the Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of Tororo, Vice President of the Catholic Education Commission, and an Alternative Delegate to AMECEA. As we thank His Lordship the Right Rev. Joseph Willigers for his long and fruitful service, we pray for the new Bishop of Jinja and his important new mission at the service of God and His People.
February 24, 2010: Visit Ad Limina From 28th of February to 9th March 2010, 26 Catholic Bishops of Uganda will be in Rome for the Ad Limina Visit. This is a very important event for our Church in this country. You may remember that in 1992, 1997 and 2003 similar pilgrimages of your Bishops took place. The visit Ad Limina is a long–standing practice in the life of the Catholic Church. Its deeper meaning is the expression of communion and solidarity which exists within the Church members and in a special way communion and solidarity with the visible head of the Church, the Holy Father. During their stay in Rome they will concelebrate Masses in the four Major Basilicas, namely, St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s, Mary Major, and John Lateran. They will be received as a group and individually by the Holy Father. They will share their experiences as leaders of the Church in Uganda with members of various Congregations (ministries) and Commissions/Councils which assist the Holy Father in serving members of the Church and the World. Evidently they will seek advice from leaders of those organizations. The Bishops wish to assure you of their prayers for each and all and for our country; but they also ask for yours. 2nd February, 2010: Archbishop Augustine Kasujja Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday February 2, appointed His Excellency Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, as Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria. He was born in Mitala-Maria in Uganda on April 26, 1946, was ordained Priest on January 3, 1973. He entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1979 and has served in the Apostolic Nunciatures of Argentina, Haiti, Bangladesh, Portugal, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Algeria.The cleric was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Algeria and Tunisia on May 23, 1988, to Madagascar, to the Seychelles and Apostolic Delegate to the Comoros and La Reunion on April 22, 2004. He was appointed the same and Apostolic Nuncio to Mauritius on June 9, 2004. He speaks Luganda,English, Italian, French and German. 20th January,2010: The Centenary of the Catholic Faith - West Nile Region (1910-2010) On Saturday, 20th March 2010, Nebbi Catholic diocese will hold a grand celebration to mark one hundred years of the existence of the Catholic Faith in the West Nile Region. The celebration will take place at Pakwach parish where the first Comboni missionaries landed when they came to Uganda by way of River Nile.
|
Pastoral Letters
Other Letters
Email LoginCounter |
