UGANDA: Archbishop of Tororo urges Catholic MPs to seek reconciliation and forgiveness
The Archbishop of Tororo Archdiocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Obbo has urged Catholic Members of Parliament (MPs) to use the Lenten Season as an opportunity for reconciliation.
Speaking at Members’ lounge at the Parliament on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, during the Ash Wednesday Eucharistic celebration which is the first day of Lenten Season; a period of 40 days before Easter Sunday focusing on prayer, penance, and a renewal of faith through the three pillars of Lent, Archbishop Obbo said that only through reconciliation can Christians build their relationship with God.
Looking on (R) is the Chaplain of the Uganda Parliamentary Chaplaincy,
Rev. Fr. Philip Balikudembe
“Lent is a time that brings us together to dialogue and reconcile, overcome crises in our lives and open up lasting peace. We have to repair all the flaws which have happened with our God and the people in our lives if we need God’s blessings because there is nothing we can do without Him,” Archbishop Obbo said in his homily.
He further urged the MPs to seek dialogue and mutual forgiveness with one another instead of keeping anger and bitterness. “We need to dialogue with one another because when you dialogue you heal and when you heal you find lasting peace, thus you forgive,” he added.
The prelate also called on the MPs to observe the Lenten Season by focusing more intently on the three pillars of lent which are “almsgiving, prayer and fasting”. He said that it is everyone’s responsibility to help those in need.
“Jesus is clear that when you fast you don’t have to be like a hypocrite with a sad face. Our fasting should not be for show-off but it should be done for serious commitments with God and should show inside our hearts. It can be done in many ways and must have a purpose for example, to give charity to the poor and render a helping hand to those in need,” he explained.
The Holy Mass was con-celebrated by Chaplain of the Uganda Parliamentary Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Philip Balikudembe, the Executive Secretary of the Social Communications Department of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Rev. Fr. Philip Odii and four other priests and two deacons from Tororo Archdiocese.
At the same celebration, the MPs made a special contribution of shs34.3m in cash and shs19m in form of pledges in a bid to raise US$198,029 (an equivalent of 720m Ugandan shillings), which is required for the preparations and actualization of 2018 Uganda Martyrs Day (UMD) celebration.
Archbishop Obbo thanked all the MPs for their generous contribution and applauded the chairperson of the Catholic Parliamentary Chaplaincy Executive Committee, Hon. Lucy Okello, for steering the fund-raising drive.
Earlier on the same day, the Archdiocese also received a cheque worth shs20m (US$5600) from Centenary bank and shs2m (US$560) cash from a special collection from individuals during the Ash Wednesday Eucharistic Celebration Centenary bank.
Tororo Archdiocese will animate the 2018 celebrations on behalf of Tororo Ecclesiastical Province which comprises of the Dioceses of Jinja, Kotido, Moroto, Soroti and Tororo. The 2018 UMD celebration will be held concurrently with the 100 year’s celebration of the martyrdom of the two Catechists from Paimol: Blessed Daudi Okello and Blessed Jildo Irwa who were killed in 1918. The two Blessed Martyrs are usually commemorated on 18th, October but they will be remembered in a special way on 3rd, June, 2018.
The annual celebration is usually held in honour of the 22 Catholic Martyrs who were killed on the orders of Mwanga II the Kabaka (King) of Buganda between 1885 and 1887. Twenty-two Catholic Martyrs were beatified on 6th, June, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV, and on 18th, October, 1964, Pope Paul VI canonized them as Saints. In addition to the 22 Catholic Martyrs, there are two Catechists from Paimol: Blessed Daudi Okello and Blessed Jildo Irwa.
The celebration usually brings together millions of pilgrims from across the globe. Tororo last presided over the Martyrs Day celebrations in 1998.
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