A glorious triumph to the journey of sainthood

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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

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