Catholics urged on charity during Lent

CATHOLICS | CHARITY | LENT

WAKISO - Kampala Catholic Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere has asked Christians to focus more on praying, helping the needy and fasting as they prepare to celebrate Easter.

Ssemogerere made the call while preaching during Holy Mass at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo in Wakiso district during his pastoral visit on Sunday.

He said during Lent, his call to Christians is to exercise charity as it is a frequent theme of the gospels. 

Ssemogerere said during Lent, his call to Christians is to exercise charity as it is a frequent theme of the gospels. (All Photos by Juliet Anna Lukwago)

According to Ssemogerere, Lent should focus more on prayer, fasting and almsgiving, which involves donating to the poor and performing other acts of charity.

Ssemogerere was assisted by parish priest Fr Vincent Lubega, in charge of the National the Pontifical Mission Societies in Uganda Fr Pontian Kaweesa, Rector of St Mary’s National Seminary Ggaba Fr Lazarus Luyinda, Uganda Martyrs SS Namugongo headteacher Fr Henry Kasasa, Namugongo Girls Primary School chaplain Fr Joseph Kimbugwe and Namugongo SS chaplain Fr Stephen Nkwangu, among others. 

The day was graced by Jutta Becker of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Austria, Prof. Vincent Bangire of Kyambogo University and Kampala Archdiocese Men’s Guild chairperson Dr George William Ssekanjako, among others.

Pupils of Namugongo Girls Primary School in a Mass led by Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere at Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo during his Pastoral Visit on Sunday March 26, 2023.

No priest was kidnapped

After the Mass Ssemogerere dismissed the rumours that Fr Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, one of the priests serving in Namugongo was kidnapped, 

“Fr Muwonge is on sabbatical leave, no one kidnapped him. All of us were encouraged to get holidays to refresh ourselves spiritually,” he said.

On the same occasion the Parish rewarded certificates to four Christians in recognition to their contribution to the Church. Among them was Hope Karuhanga (built a church of a sub-parish with his late husband), Patricia Ayiguhungu (destroyed her 20 rental houses and donated the land in Mbalwa for the construction of a sub-parish church), Florence Ssozi (cleans the shrine's compound), Eng. Robert Ogaba (installed all electricity cables for free in the shrine premises).