Missionaries of Africa celebrate years “sesquicentennial Jubilee”

By; Jjunju Francis

08^th December 2019

Missionaries of Africa have converged at the Catholic Shrine Namugongo, Uganda for celebrations of 150 years “sesquicentennial Jubilee” since they were founded in 1968 in Africa to spread the Gospel.

The Archbishop of Kampala Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga who welcomed the white fathers and sisters for their “sesquicentennial Jubilee” celebration in Kampala hailed the late Charles Cardinal Martial Lavigerie the founder of the Missionaries of Africa for accepting God’s call following his appointment as the Archbishop of Algiers in 1867 and in 1868 started the Congregation of the Missionaries of Africa that spread headed the evangelization of Africa once called a dark continent.

Dr. Lwanga said the White Fathers did not only bring faith to African and Uganda in particular but contributed to the social development of the communities treating the sick, helping the handicapped and supporting religious formation.

Uganda is among the few areas where the fruits of faith by the white fathers gave it Uganda martyrs who were killed between 1885 and 1887, becoming internationally recognized and led to pastoral visits of now three Popes to Uganda.  The schools, hospitals, and youth centers among other social services started by the White Fathers have promoted human dignity.

He said congregations of different religious men and women founded in Uganda like the Banakaloli brothers in Masaka, Daughters of Mary Bwanda and Immaculate heart mariparatrix in Entebbe Bugonga have roots from the white fathers and have evangelized with example giving the Catholic Church in Uganda a great deal and commitment to the society and entire country Uganda.

Dr. Lwanga extended his appreciation to the government of Uganda through the minister of finance Matia Kasaija who represented President Yoweri Museveni for the support extended to the Church more so in the modernizing of the Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo to its current state that can accommodate over a million pilgrims every year on June 3^rd for the Uganda martyrs day celebrations.

Shortly after his speech the Pope Nuncio Archbishop Luigi Bianco led the Eucharistic celebration concelebrated by the white fathers, and Bishops, noting that missionary work is part of each priest however the first missionaries endured a lot of challenges to evangelise the world.

The White Fathers entrusted their duties in God through the intercession of Mary mother of Immaculate Conception whose feast day is marked every December 8^th that gave them and the entire Catholic Church the strength ,zeal and charisma through her ministers to meet the mission of evangelizing the world with humility and selflessness.

The Chairman Uganda Episcopal Conference Rt. Rev. Joseph Anthony Zziwa who was represented by the Bishop Emeritus of Masaka Diocese Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa, noted with gratitude the Missionaries of Africa for nurturing their faith and spread it to Africa that was bedevil with a lot of challenges both spiritual and human needs.

Their works changed Africa in the spirit, people learnt reading and writing, founded schools that to date have remained instrumental in nurturing the young people in formal education, built hospitals and seminaries that have promoted vocations for example Bukalasa minor seminary and Katigondo in Masaka, the foundation of priestly formation in Uganda.

The Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija in the speech he read on behalf of President Museveni congratulated the Missionaries of Africa for their celebrations, particularly in three areas; education, health and places of worship where people find message of consolation.

He pledged total support to the Catholic Church because their message of God given to the people every now and then helps in building uprightness, morals and understanding among peoples but Ugandans need to listen more to God’s voice in order to get rid of what he called the “evil spirits of corruption” that has undermined development.

The event was attended by Missionaries of Africa and sisters and members of their communities from all over the world, in particular the superior general of the white fathers Fr. Stanley Lubango and the superior general of the white sisters Sr. Carmen Sammut –Msola among others.

Before the end of the function the all the Missionaries of Africa renewed their oaths before the Pope Nuncio to continue God’s mission of evangelizing the world.