UGANDA: Christian in Uganda Cautioned Against Hypocrisy and Jealousy

By Masereka Peter

Christians of Kasese Diocese, in Uganda, have been cautioned against hypocrisy and jealousy, as the two vices are not only sinful but also major obstacles to unity, peaceful coexistence, and the spread of the Gospel.

The Local Ordinary Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale said this shortly after presiding over an ordination Mass at St. John the Evangelist Minor Seminary–Kiburara on Saturday, June 27, where four diocesan deacons and one missionary were ordained to the priesthood, while three seminarians were ordained to the Order of Deaconate.

In his address that moved many members of the congregation, the bishop struggled to hold back tears as he recounted the death of a young priest from Kampala Archdiocese who passed away on the very day he was scheduled to travel to Rome for further studies, describing the incident as deeply disturbing and a reminder of life’s unpredictability.

On Vocation and family, Bishop Kibira described family as the first and irreplaceable environment, and it is like the first soil in which seeds of human, religious, and priestly formation are first sown, cared for, and raised.

He continued to say that it is also the family that provides the soil and water for all seeds of life to germinate and to grow, noting it is the responsibility of the parents with the help of God to provide good soil and water and fertile environment for all seeds of human and spiritual virtues to germinate ad grow properly in their children among whom God can call and choose out to be priests.

Quoting Pope John Paul II (now the Saint) Apostolic Exhortation: Familiaris Consortio on the role of the Christian family in the Modern world, he described a family as a seedbed and training ground for the catholic faith and also for human and spiritual virtues and values in the Church and society

In the family, he said, we first learn and experience how we can cultivate love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation, respect for others and human dignity, personal responsibility, honesty and sincerity, faithfulness, cooperation, all forms of social etiquette among others, above all fear of God and love and respect of human dignity.

One of the Members of Parliament, Hon. Cadet of Bunyarunguru, while addressing parents, said: “if we raise our children without the fear of God, love and respect, we shall end up raising intellectual devils”. A rector once told seminarians thus, “A priest without human formation is like a useless barren fir tree”

The Bishop invited all parents, husbands and wives in the Catholic church to join Catholic men’s lay apostolic movements, and women’s lay apostolic movements to learn to grow together and to support each other to ensure the safety and good care of families. Good and strong priests can only come from faithful and strong families.

The Kasese Diocesan Vocation Director, Rev. Fr. Richard Businge Sausi, urged young people intending to join the priesthood or consecrated life to pray, trust in God’s plans, and reach out to their vocation’s office for guidance, later asked the Christians to continue praying for the newly ordained priests and for the increase in vocations in the Diocese.

Speaking on behalf of the newly ordained priests, Rev. Fr. Robert Mathande urged his colleagues to remain humble and draw inspiration from Christ in their priestly ministry; emphasizing that unwavering focus, commitment, and faithful service would enable them to fulfill their vocation and achieve greater heights in their ministry.

Speaking at the same function, the Bukonzo East County Member of Parliament, Hon. Julius Monday Rude, praised the Church for taking a leading role in promoting adherence to SOPs to curb the spread of Ebola, noting that its continued efforts to raise public awareness and encourage compliance with preventive measures were critical in the fight against the disease.

The Head of Laity for the Diocese of Kasese, Mr. George Mayinja, praised Bishop Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale for spearheading numerous development projects within the diocese, highlighting the ongoing construction of the new cathedral as a landmark achievement.

He noted that the magnificent structure, made possible through the generosity and commitment of Christians, has not only transformed the skyline of Cathedral Hill but has also given Kasese Municipality a new and impressive face.

He asked Christians for continued support to the Bishop. END

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