The Sunday 6th November 2016 was a significant and historical day to the
church of Uganda and the society of the missionaries of Africa. This was a day
for the opening session of the cause of Beatification of the two pioneers of
faith in Uganda Fr. Simeon Lourdel commonly known as Mapeera here in Uganda and
Bro. Amans Delmas as well as mother Kevin the founder of little sisters of St.
Francis of Assisi and Franciscan Missionaries Sisters for Africa. These three
now to be called servants of God according to the church’s hierarchy
of sainthood worked in Uganda several years ago. Coincidentally, this event
took place at Lubaga Cathedral which is the same place where Fr. Simeon Lourdel
and Bro. Amans met with the then Buganda king to seek for permission to
evangelize in Buganda. In addition, it is behind this cathedral where the
remains of Fr. Simeon were reburied. An event of this kind took place 93 years
ago with Uganda Martyrs whom they evangelized.
These two pioneers took eleven months from
Algeria before arriving in Buganda. Simeon was the first priest to be in Uganda
while Bro. Amans was the first religious brother in Uganda since he took his
final oath in Uganda. They evangelized during a very difficult moment more so
with Uganda Martyrs. It is with the same reason which made them at certain
moment to go back to Tanganyika. They dedicated themselves fully to God’s
service as it can be evident from one of Fr. Simeon’s letter, he said;
“I am going away to preach the Gospel to
the Blacks of Africa. Of course I would like to reach the goal, but if God
wants me to die before, it is okay, it is up to Him. I also do not expect to
live there for more than ten years! .....I am a fool, but it is the foolishness
of the cross.”
This event remains relevant to the society
of Missionaries of Africa, first, because both Fr. Simeon Lourdel and Brother
Amans Delmas were confreres of this society and secondly, they are the first
Missionaries of Africa to be considered for sainthood. It is due to this honour
that among the officials who took oath as tribunal officials during this
celebration was our confrere Fr. Richard Nnyombi.
This event was officiated by two
representatives from the Holy See and mass presided by the arch-bishop of
Kampala His grace Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. This process to continue requires
our participation only by asking for favours through the intercession of one of
these servants of God and reporting the favours to the relevant authority.
By: URBANUS MUTUKU