(Crisis Magazine. Janet E. Smith).
“You are welcome!” This “pat” phrase is delightfully warm when uttered with a somewhat lilting cadence, a beautiful broad smile, and direct, sparkling eye contact—as it regularly is in Uganda, the home of a most hospitable and open people. I heard it often on my visit to Uganda. In previous columns, I wrote about the serious elements of my trip; today is about the nonserious moments and random observations.
(Silas Isenjia. ACI Africa).
Archdiocese of Gulu in Uganda has urged Christian men still practicing polygamy to emulate St. Matthias Mulumba, one of the Uganda Martyrs who denounced his polygamous life and embraced monogamy after he converted to Christianity.
(Crisis Magazine. Janet E. Smith).
As I stated in previous columns, Ugandans don’t have much experience of homosexuality. What there is of it in their culture is largely unseen. One of my challenges was to help them understand the phenomenon of homosexuality and why a compassionate response is warranted. My lifetime work on contraception has led me to look closely at other sexual sins, such as homosexuality. I have read countless books on the subject and have also learned a great deal from close friendships with men who experience same-sex attractions. These men want to live chaste lives but find the challenge nearly impossible—until they turn their lives over to Christ. In order to illustrate the causes of homosexuality and the trials faced by those attempting to live chaste lives, I told the real-life stories of several homosexual men: Paul Darrow, Hudson Byblow, Dan Mattson, Andy Comiskey, and Ken Williams.
(Alex Navajas. El Debate).
Juan Pablo II solía repetir que Hispanoamérica era el «continente de la esperanza» para la Iglesia católica. Sin desmerecer esa apreciación, África también pugna por ese título. Si en 1900 el número de católicos en el continente negro era de tan solo 2 millones de personas, un siglo más tarde la cifra rondaba los 236 millones de fieles. Parte de este espectacular incremento se debe al testimonio de los mártires, como el de san Carlos Lwanga y 24 jóvenes conversos al cristianismo, que fueron martirizados en 1886 en Namugongo por orden del rey Mwanga.
Sobre la tierra que fue regada con su sangre se construyó posteriormente el santuario de los Mártires de Uganda, donde cada 3 de junio se celebra una multitudinaria misa desde hace 60 años por el Día de los Mártires. Este año, millones de personas –el National Catholic Register habla de una asistencia cercana a los cuatro millones– han vuelto a darse cita en la explanada para honrar su memoria. El propio presidente ugandés, Yoweri Museveni, quiso estar presente en la eucaristía que celebró el arzobispo de Gulu, monseñor Raphael p’Mony Wokorach.
(National Catholic Register. Jonathan Liedl).
In an extraordinary display of the vitality of the Catholic faith in Africa, a crowd of possibly more than 4 million people gathered for Mass today on the very same grounds where some of Africa’s earliest Catholics were put to death for their faith less than 140 years ago. The annual celebration of the feast day of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, 24 young converts who were martyred by King Mwanga in 1886, drew Catholics from across the continent and beyond to a vibrant, three-hour-long liturgical celebration at Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs in Namugongo, just outside of the nation’s capital of Kampala. The celebration marked 60 years since the Ugandan martyrs were canonized by Pope St. Paul VI in the midst of the Second Vatican Council, making them the Church’s first canonized martyrs from sub-Saharan Africa.
(Jude Atemanke. ACI Africa).
Archbishop-elect Raphael p’Mony Wokorach of Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu in Uganda has described the story of the Ugandan Martyrs as that of “those who abandoned the way of idolatry.”
In his homily during this year’s Martyrs’ Day Pilgrimage, Bishop Wokorach said, “Celebrating on this Holy Ground of Namugongo where 13 of them were martyred is significant for us. It refreshes our way of being Christians.”
“The story of the Uganda martyrs, St. Charles Lwanga and his companions is a story of those who trust in the Lord. It is a story of those who choose the way of the Lord. It is a story of those who abandoned the way of idolatry,” the Ugandan Catholic Archbishop-elect said.
(Global Sisters Report. Doreen Ajiambo).
Hundreds of religious sisters in Uganda and across other African countries are among hundreds of thousands of Christian pilgrims on their journey of faith to the Uganda Martyrs Shrine of Namugongo in Kampala, the country’s capital, ahead of Uganda’s Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3. Millions of pilgrims from around the world flock to the shrine every year on June 3 to honor the 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican martyrs killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, then King of Buganda Kingdom, between 1885 and 1887. Mwanga II, who wanted to wipe Christianity out of Buganda, murdered these Christians because they refused to renounce their faith. The Catholic sisters and other pilgrims are making stopovers along their journey at various parishes for devotions, rest and exercise sessions. The sisters are using the event to pray for themselves, their families, friends and even for their countries.
(National Catholic Reporter. Tonny Onyulo).
Residents of this eastern town of Uganda are still in disbelief months after police arrested a 48-year-old pastor accused of hacking his 44-year-old wife to death.
“The pastor killed his pregnant wife because he suspected her of having an extramarital affair with another man in this area,” said Irene Mukasa, a resident of Bupoto, about the Jan. 4 slaying. “We are still in shock because no one is safe. Even men serving God at different levels have also become perpetrators of domestic violence.”