Saturday 4 April 2015

Good Friday at Lavigerie House


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.


Then followed the solemn intercessions, veneration of the cross and receiving the Holy Communion. The service ended ten minutes to five o’clock with a call for all to remain in a mood of mourning for Christ’s death and wishing all grace filled day and a joyful Easter.Later on at 8.30 pm we went for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.


Gabriel Ouma