Teachers have been reminded that they are educators of faith who help nourish both the body and soul of learners.
Through their profession, they have a moral obligation to share the message of the Gospel, directly or indirectly, in ways that contribute to the holistic growth of individuals.
This message was delivered by Rev. Fr. Joseph Owori, National Director of the Holy Cross Family Ministries in South America, who is currently serving in Chile. Fr. Owori noted that Chile, with a population of about 17 million people, has only 24 percent Catholics, of whom only 5 percent are children and youth, both in and out of school.
However due to secularism and modern lifestyles there, many people are detached from God and the Gospel. As a result, many prefer individualistic lifestyles that distance them from communal and spiritual life. What pains most the young ones are almost empty in God which is a cause to worry about the future generation.
Fr. Owori made these remarks during the annual Try Prayer Contest organized by Holy Cross Family Ministries East Africa. The competition attracted over 500 students’ entries who participated in Poetry, Prose, and Fine Art under the theme, “Prayer: Encountering Jesus, the True Hope.”
The award ceremony for the best-performing students was held on 13th June 2026 at the Holy Cross Family Ministries Offices in Nsambya Uganda. The winners in Poetry and Prose were Shama Ankunda, Najjemba Daniela Ssemwanga, and Jokudo Bear Lokujo, all from Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga. Nasasira Mathias of St. Peter’s Secondary School Nsambya emerged winner in the Fine Art category.
Each winner received a certificate, a school bag, a T-shirt, and UGX 150,000 each. Their compositions have been submitted for the global competition, where outstanding students from 17 countries worldwide will be selected and recognized.
According to Fr. Owori, the competition is part of the mission of the Holy Cross Congregation to reach children, youth, and adults through prayer, the Rosary, and the intercession of Venerable Patrick Peyton, founder of the Holy Cross Family Ministries to cause a change in body, soul and mind.
Unlike previous ceremonies that brought together participants from various secondary schools, this year’s event was attended only by school patrons, two student representatives, and a few priests from the Holy Cross Congregation and Kampala Archdiocese. The limited attendance was in observance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola.
The Deputy Education Secretry Kampala Archdiocese Fr. John Baptist Ssetumba hailed Holy Cross Family Ministries for supplementing their role of evangelizing the young ones while at school promising to rally all school chaplains and head teachers in all the 51 secondary schools to participate in the following competitions that its one of the ways to touch the soul of the young generation that is challenged by the rapidly changing world.
The National Director Holy Cross Family Ministries East Africa Fr. John Baptist Nsubuga acknowledged the contribution made by the Holy Cross Congregation through the Holy Cross Family Ministries to teach the families that mother Mary works. He thanked Fr. Fred Jenga President International Holy Cross Family Ministries and the team for the sacrifice made to support the activities aimed at evangelizing the peoples.
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