We started this second day of the Easter Triduum by participating in the Way of the Cross at Jinja Cathedral at 9pm together with His Lordship Bishop Charles Martin Wamika, the religious and the Christians. Starting at the Banakalori brothers and going to all the communities around. The seventh station took place at Lavigerie Formation House and led by us after receiving the cross from the Clarentian students. We also took part in carrying the cross while chanting to the Blessed Sacrament Community. The way of the cross ended at noon with the fourteenth station at the Cathedral Parish.
The service for the passion of Christ
began at 3pm in our chapel animated by Mapeera Team members led by Fr. Hans. We
were also joined by Fr Paul from the Apostles of Jesus, the Evangelizing
sisters of Mary, Benedictine sisters, Holy Cross sisters and the lay
Christians. All the visitors actively participated by taking part in different
events during the service. The service had three parts: The Readings (together
with reflection and the ten solemn intercessions), then The Veneration of the
Holy Cross and lastly The Holy Eucharist.
During reflection, Fr. Hans practically
shared to the congregation by use of lively examples. He talked about the great
love Jesus had for the world by dying on the cross, he stressed on this by
showing the picture of a pelican bird giving its own blood to the young ones
during the time of hunger. He said that this is the love of Christ for
humanity. Climbing a ladder and opening his hands wide he told us that by that
sign Jesus embraced the whole world, using the world map the priest said that
with its beauty, ugliness, pain and suffering Christ embraced all this. The
priest using different articles that he collected from the News papers showing
stories such as: those who perished in Iganga road accident, land grabbers,
Sudan’s war, the killing of Kagezi by the police, and the terrorist attack that
claimed about147 students of Moi University College in Garissa Kenya by Al shabaab.
He pinned all these articles on the cross which had been covered by a purple
cloak; He said that all these stories show the suffering of Christ even now,
and as on the cross His hands are wide open Jesus still wants us to commit all
to him. Fr concluded the reflection by inviting all in a mood of prayer in
silence to reflect on this suffering of Christ and our own and give to our Lord
Jesus.
Gabriel Ouma