The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
being a felicitous day to the church, the family of the Missionaries of Africa
(White Fathers) was filled with Elysian happiness as they congregated for the
celebration.
In the nick of time, all roads were
heading to Lourdel House and delightfully enough to note were the colossal
number of the White Fathers, Friends of the Missionaries of Africa coupled with
the presence of the students from Lavigerie Formation House Jinja who provided
a choir that meticulously and triumphantly animated the liturgy.
The occasion began with a vivacious
procession of the smart White Fathers all clad in their habits and a very
bodacious choir echoing the songs of rejoicing like the blessed seraphim and
cherubim all adhering onto each other in a joyful mood.
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| Monsignor John Baptist Kauta during the homily |
The celebration was beautified with the
presence of Monsignor John Baptist Kauta, the executive secretary of the Uganda
Episcopal Conference, who was as well the main celebrant of the day.
Delivering his homily in a very humorous
and whimsical way, the main celebrant reflected on the life of Mary and primal
in his reflection was her humility that he remarked was the one that enthused
God to make her the ‘Theotokos’ –mother of God and very pertinent point was her
generosity that he further accentuated as that which makes her a model of
charity, action and gratitude.
Prior to the fact that the Society of the
Missionaries of Africa is dedicated to the patronage of Mary by the founder,
the monsignor applauded Cardinal Lavigerie for his work ranking him a very high
caliber person.
He linked the phrase of Mary “My soul
proclaims the Lord my God ….” To the white fathers saying it has been the
phrase guiding them for all the efforts they exerted in evangelization of
Africa.
In the midst of the solemnity was the
golden jubilee celebration of Fr. Ferdinand Tillman from Germany since he took
his oath as A Missionary of Africa (White Father).
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| Fr. Ferdinand being congratulated by Br. Francis |
Overwhelming emblems of gratitude were
extended to the Jubilarian for his assiduous love for the people of Africa and
above all to the people of Uganda especially his commendable and tremendous
work in the formation of the local clergy in the various major seminaries.
The ‘teenager’ of the day as he was
branded gave a vote of honor to the Missionaries of Africa for all the
opportunities rendered to him to enable him discover his vocation and to his
family members and the people of Uganda for being very hospitable and
cooperative to him.
It was observed by the main celebrant that
the relationship the White Fathers have with Mary has been very good,
attributing it to have been the factor that has helped the White Fathers to be
successful in their mission.
The main celebrant delivered his heartfelt
gratitude to the White Fathers especially Fr. Mapeera and Br. Amans for
exhibiting humility in their mission and for enduring all the hardships in
Africa to ensure that it is evangelized and developed.
The
function could not be abridged just in a page as it entailed a great deal of
merry makings but in a nut shell it was a jovial celebration that came to a
climax with reverberation of the angelic voices as they chanted the great
anthem of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) –Sancta Maria and
subsequently introduction of the members, toothsome lunch and departure
followed suit.
Tonny Ocheng