The Catholic Church leadership in Uganda yesterday said they had chosen, 'You Will Be My Witness', picked from Acts of the Apostles 1: 8, as the theme for Pope Francis's November visit.
The Uganda Episcopal Conference, or UEC, said Catholic bishops in the country agreed on the theme and official purpose of the Pontiff's trip during a September 17, 2015 synod at St. Augustine Institute in Nsambya, a Kampala suburb.
The body is an in-country apex assembly of Catholic leaders and runs the church's affairs, particularly advancing its pastoral and social work.
In a statement issued last Friday, Gulu Archbishop John Baptis Odama, who chairs the Episcopal Conference, noted that the Pope is "visiting as a shepherd of God's flock; to strengthen our faith and encourage us as we seek to relive the martyrdom of our ancestors in faith and through self-sacrifice for the good of others".
"We are grateful that the Holy Father has honoured our invitation to visit Uganda to celebrate with us the [51st] anniversary of the Canonisation of the 22 Catholic Ugandan Martyrs," read the statement sent to us on Odama's behalf by Fr Phillip Odii, the executive secretary for social communications.
The 'You Will Be My Witness' theme, according to the New International version of the Bible, is a passage from Jesus Christ's last recorded pre-ascension instruction, including his promise of the Holy Spirit to eternally guide the apostles' missionary work in the world.
Msgr John Baptist Kauta, the secretary general of the conference, said the theme headlines the selflessness and sacrifice of Uganda martyrs "who accepted to die as witnesses to their faith."
The 22 Catholic and 23 Protestant martyrs are a group of individuals killed from 1885-87, in and around the present day Kampala, for breaching Buganda King Mwanga II's orders for them to abandon Christianity.
They belonged to both Catholic and Protestant denominations, and were either set alight or buried at Munyonyo or Namogongo, the biggest religious shrine 13 kilometres northeast of Kampala.
The Vatican early this month confirmed that His Holiness Francis will make an Apostolic trip to Kenya from November 25 to 27 2015; Uganda from November 27 to 29; and, the Central African Republic from November 29 to 30—his first African tour.
The Uganda Episcopal Conference is coordinating all preparations for the Pope's visit, but with government support.
The September 17 synod in Kampala also confirmed the key responsibilities assigned to the committees to ensure the Pope's visit is successful.
The Pope is expected to fly in on November 27, meet President Museveni at the nearby State House, and head to Kampala, waving to crowds along Entebbe highway.
Church to raise Shs60 billion
Meanwhile, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has staked his Mercedes Benz as the grand prize in a raffle that the Catholic Church is running to raise Shs60 billion to rehabilitate two Martyrs' shrines ahead of the Pope's visit in November.
Archbishop Lwanga heads the finance and infrastructure committee of the National Steering Committee, which is coordinating the overall preparations for Uganda to host the pontiff.
The Uganda Episcopal Conference, or UEC, said Catholic bishops in the country agreed on the theme and official purpose of the Pontiff's trip during a September 17, 2015 synod at St. Augustine Institute in Nsambya, a Kampala suburb.
The body is an in-country apex assembly of Catholic leaders and runs the church's affairs, particularly advancing its pastoral and social work.
In a statement issued last Friday, Gulu Archbishop John Baptis Odama, who chairs the Episcopal Conference, noted that the Pope is "visiting as a shepherd of God's flock; to strengthen our faith and encourage us as we seek to relive the martyrdom of our ancestors in faith and through self-sacrifice for the good of others".
"We are grateful that the Holy Father has honoured our invitation to visit Uganda to celebrate with us the [51st] anniversary of the Canonisation of the 22 Catholic Ugandan Martyrs," read the statement sent to us on Odama's behalf by Fr Phillip Odii, the executive secretary for social communications.
The 'You Will Be My Witness' theme, according to the New International version of the Bible, is a passage from Jesus Christ's last recorded pre-ascension instruction, including his promise of the Holy Spirit to eternally guide the apostles' missionary work in the world.
Msgr John Baptist Kauta, the secretary general of the conference, said the theme headlines the selflessness and sacrifice of Uganda martyrs "who accepted to die as witnesses to their faith."
The 22 Catholic and 23 Protestant martyrs are a group of individuals killed from 1885-87, in and around the present day Kampala, for breaching Buganda King Mwanga II's orders for them to abandon Christianity.
They belonged to both Catholic and Protestant denominations, and were either set alight or buried at Munyonyo or Namogongo, the biggest religious shrine 13 kilometres northeast of Kampala.
The Vatican early this month confirmed that His Holiness Francis will make an Apostolic trip to Kenya from November 25 to 27 2015; Uganda from November 27 to 29; and, the Central African Republic from November 29 to 30—his first African tour.
The Uganda Episcopal Conference is coordinating all preparations for the Pope's visit, but with government support.
The September 17 synod in Kampala also confirmed the key responsibilities assigned to the committees to ensure the Pope's visit is successful.
The Pope is expected to fly in on November 27, meet President Museveni at the nearby State House, and head to Kampala, waving to crowds along Entebbe highway.
Church to raise Shs60 billion
Meanwhile, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has staked his Mercedes Benz as the grand prize in a raffle that the Catholic Church is running to raise Shs60 billion to rehabilitate two Martyrs' shrines ahead of the Pope's visit in November.
Archbishop Lwanga heads the finance and infrastructure committee of the National Steering Committee, which is coordinating the overall preparations for Uganda to host the pontiff.
1 comment:
Interesting..it will b fun
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