Priests must get closure to the flock, Archbishop Ssemogerere

By Gideon Peter Ssebulime

21^st July 2022

The Archbishop of Kampala His Grace Paul Ssemogerere, has officially closed the session of the Archdiocesan phase of the Synod on Synodality.

At the closing ceremony that started with a mass at Lubaga Cathedral last evening Archbishop Ssemogerere appreciated the contributions from the 70 parishes assuring the Christians that their concerns have been catered for in the summarized report that is to be sent to the Uganda Episcopal Conference.

He says most contributions and concerns indicated that Christians experience a gap with their pastoral agents hence advising priests to concentrate on evangelizing and celebration of sacraments from the parishes and localities for those who are physically weak to address the feeling of absence of the Church amongst the people.

The Chairman for the Synod of Synodality Fr. Dr. Ambrose Bwangatto (Dean of Studies) at St. Mbagga Major Seminary Ggaba before handing over the report said they received over 400 reports from various institutions, societies, communities, chaplaincies, schools and individuals Christians which has been summarized into a handbook as required.

He observed minimal participation of men in the consultation process put at only 20% compared to 80% of women and among other requests; journeying together should be put in practice, increase in the youth participation in the church activities, celebration of mass in people’s homes and allowing active participation in liturgical processes.

The Synod on Synodality is a journey of sharing, reflecting, and listening at all levels across the entire Church, of the needs of the Christians within the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Francis opened the synod in Rome on the weekend of October 9-10, 2021 and every diocese across the world launched it and it runs upto October 2023 under the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission”.

This journey, which follows in the wake of the Church’s “renewal” proposed by the Second Vatican Council concluded in 1962, is both a gift and a task: by journeying together and reflecting together on the journey that has been made, the Church will be able to learn through Her experience which processes can help Her to live communion, to achieve participation, to open Herself to mission.

The views have been collected right from the Parish level to make the diocesan level then it comes to national level at the Episcopal Conference then the Continental level before it will be concluded in October 2023.