Charismatic Renewal to mark golden jubilee in Uganda

By Gideon Peter Ssebulime

7^th June 2024

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR), a movement of the faithful within the Catholic Church is set to celebrate the Golden jubilee of the existence and pastoral work in Uganda.

The long week celebration will start on June 30^th to July 6^th, 2024 at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo.

The movement was introduced in 1973 by Fr Roger LaBonte, Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in Mbarara.

In the same year, Fr Joseph Kamya, Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers), started prayer groups in Masaka. As the CCR expanded, a National Service Team (NST) was formed in 1981 to co-ordinate the national activities.

Fr. Norbert Deprez, Missionaries of Africa became its first coordinator and Fr Ernest Sievers Missinaris of Africa later succeeded him and this year, CCR marks her 51^st of its existence in the country.

Speaking to the media at their offices in Kampala, Fr. David Byaruhanga of Kabale Diocese and National Spiritual Director of the Charismatic Renewal said in those years of pastoral work, they registered a number of successes of turning people back to God and learning the beauty of the sacraments, especially the Holy Spirit in their life.

The Chairperson Organizing Committee of the celebrations, Andrew Kaggwa Ssekate says among the pre-activities for this celebration will include visiting of the prisoners to share with them the love of God, those in hospitals, Rehabilitation Centers and hold youth conferences.

The celebration is under the theme “Put Out Into the Deep” (Luke 5:4).

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