Missionaries of Africa, Jinja

At Lavigerie House, Jinja, we live with young people whose project is to consecrate their lives to God through the service of the Kingdom toward the African world, which now is bigger than Africa. As formators, by living with students, we step by step learn to know them better. We interact with them and we share so many things together: prayers, meals, meetings, outings, etc. This “knowing them” them seemed to me incomplete as long as we didn’t know the “sitz-in-leben” in which they were born and grew-up. That’s why this year, for Christmas holiday I thought of visiting some of the families of our candidates.  What could seem funny to some is that I chose to visit the families in the absence of the seminarians themselves. But I think it’s good also to meet their families in that way. December 13 th , 2015: In Ibanda parish, Mbarara archdiocese, visit in the family of Collines Kananura where they had, the previous day, the “introduction” of his elder sister who go...

The fecundity of our Lenten period this year crested in a delectable solemnity that the whole church celebrated and in Lavigerie house, it was a vivacious celebration that marked a momentous shift from the long Lenten experience to a succulent period, a moment as bright as a button, a time as glorious as the sun and yet a moment as jubilant as the old sleigh bells. Prior to the eventual celebration was the arrival of various visitors from various religious communities and next was the assembling to start the celebration. It commenced with the blessing of the fire to be used during Easter and the procession with the Paschal candle following the assuetude of the church.  As the celebration continued, there was a great encomium acclaiming the Lord Jesus risen as the exultet was being chanted lively and in lentitude by a clued-up parcel of choir members from the students’ body. Blessing of the fire and singing of the Exulted Then all the readings cited for the vigil follow...

What it is to be a person of the ‘towel and basin’! On Easter Sunday 27th March 2016, Gabriel Ouma and I, who are the pastoral agents of St. Mary’s Kivubuka centre, Jinja Diocese, were privileged to go with Fr. Yago Abeledo, Br. Venancio Echevarria, and Sem. John Paul Ngabirano.  Some members of the Christian community with seminarians Simon and Gabriel with Br. Veanacio and Fr. Yago On arrival, the Christians happily welcomed us. Fr. Yago started administering the sacrament of reconciliation. Mass followed with 19 infants readily presented for baptism. During baptism, the main celebrant challenged parents to be role models to their children and all the other children as possible as they can.  He further challenged parents to always know that their prime role as Catholics is proper upbringing of children in the Catholic faith. He also appealed to the godparents to not only help the baptised children materially but also in spiritual growth. Brother Venancio ...

Easter Monday at Lavigerie House is usually a time for the first year students to have a trip to some of the historical faith sites, namely: Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, Kigungu landing Site, Mapeera-Nabulagala Parish and Munyonyo Shrine. This previous Easter Monday, ten first years accompanied by Fr. Yago Abeledo and three Servite Sisters visited the above sites. At Namugongo Shrine. The picture is taken where the Pope celebrated Mass last year's visit With the warm welcome of Fr. Lubega Vincent, M.Afr (Rector and Parish Priest of Namugongo Shrine) and Fr. Otto Katto (Vocations’ Animator) we toured the place. We admired the magnificent efforts and works transpiring. We also had the chase to visit and kiss the rock on which St. Charles Lwanga’s head is believed to have fallen on. This is where the altar of the basilica was constructed. Miscellaneous pictures of our pilgrimage Leaving Namugongo, we departed for Kigungu, the first place where Fr. Simeon Lourdel M...