Missionaries of Africa, Jinja

For a long t ime religions have been perceived to be consultants on matters pertaining peace in our States. However, with this era the cup seems to have turned upside down pouring honey which was source of sweetness. This aspect is losing its meaning from day to day with religions remaining to be more of political arena chasing after their opponents. It goes beyond my expectations to think of conflict among those who are expected to be elements and preacher of peace. The big question for reflection remains, what will happen when the predator becomes the prey of the prey? This is a call for both religious leaders and the followers to read the signs of time and make a step towards transformation. This leads me to question our motivations of following Christ as Christians in the first place. St. Paul in his first letter to Corinthians is categorical about the slogans that “I am for Paul, I am for Apollos, I am for Cephas, or I am for Christ” (1Corinthia...

Interreligious Dialgue is one of the precious and enjoyable apostolates we engage in here at Lavigerie Formation House. It is experienced through many dimensions: experts, social action, spiritual experience and life. We usually encounter people of other faiths in our apostolates like Makenke Slum, Jinja Hospital, and Home of Hope etc.  Dialogue for Experts is usually through encountering the spiritual leaders of other faiths like Islam, Hinduism. The content discussed here concerns the deepening of knowledge of the basic beliefs of the other. The Dialogue for Social Action is geared at promoting peace and justice in our society. In addition, the Dialogue of Spiritual Experience aims at enriching the other’s spiritual life by borrowing some practices from the other religion. This is in view of helping one pray or meditate better. It is not for one to abandon one’s own beliefs, which is closely leading to proselytism, which is never the aim of this encounter. Finally, the Dial...

It was the 122nd death anniversary of our Founder Cardinal Charles  Lavigerie. Various groups of people were invited including all t he  religious congregations attending the Philosophical Center of Jinja  (PCJ). The family relatives of our confreres and students living  around Jinja were also invited. The Eucharistic celebration was  presided by Fr. Gerard Chabanon, our Ugandan Sector Superior. The  celebration commenced with procession. Fr. Gerard explained more about  our Founder and the charism of the Missionaries of Africa.  The  congregation gathered in the hall after mass. We listened the speech  of our rector and the chairman of the students. Lavigerie’s invitation  “few people, too few people have the ultimate vocation: humanity” was  highlighted. The different teams of Lavigerie formation house (Mapera,  Kiwanuka, Tobi Kizza, and Amans) prepared different kinds of drama for  the guest on our fou...

Whenever people hear about ecumenism or inter- faith dialogue certain feelings and quizzical moods begin to be felt. Certainly, a good section of people who experience anxieties with these concepts are not aware of what they mean and their purpose. There are a lot of fears that are felt by those who are assigned or rather find themselves in this mission. Great figures in the Catholic faith like Blessed John Paul II, in his Encyclical letter, ‘ Redemptoris Missio’   addressed the issues concerning interreligious dialogue, The Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, made tireless trips across the continents in the effort of preaching oneness and benevolence   in distinguished religions. Finally, a singular figure comes in to enhance and propel this mission, His Holiness Pope Francis I, following his sentiments on this, ‘ecumenism is not an option’ but an obligation, religion is “All for one and one for all”.   He slashes out enmity within religions by saying that, “When there is no e...