UGANDA: Bishop Kibira Urges Catholics to Fast, Pray and Give Alms During Lent

Peter Masereka

Bishop of the Diocese of Kasese in Uganda, Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale has asked Catholics to priorities fasting, prayer and arms giving the three pillars of Lent which he said would win the mercies and Love of Christ.

In his homily while presiding over Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Adolf Catholic Church-Kigoro in Kasese cathedral parish, Bishop Kibira who encouraged Christians to strive for the mercy, grace and love of God, asked believers in Christ to give the needy and remain prayerful during these forty days of Jesus in wilderness.

Bishop Kibira said Mother Church encourages believers to fast, pray and extend their sympathies to those in need as he also flagged off the way of the cross led by the youth in the Kasese Cathedral Parish before their four days` training, said the same lent period calls on the Christians to be humble and meditate the life of Christ.

The Kasese Diocesan Youth Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Joseph Tumusiime said the Way of the Cross and the Diocesan Youth Conference hosted by Kasese Cathedral Parish which would have been conducted in 2020 but affected by Covid-19 pandemic should be a gift for the youth now to fight with post covid-19 challenges through prayers and sharing.

He encouraged the youth to use profitably the 40 days of the Lent and the Conference which shall kickoff 06^th -10^th April on Palm Sunday in strengthen their faith and friendship with Christ

Meanwhile, Kasese Diocesan Youth leader, Francis Kapurasisi encouraged youth to be ambassadors of Holy Gospel during this lent period, as well as making practical the importance of the way of the cross.

The Bishop who concelebrated the Mass with Fr. Joseph Kirungi planted tree on a proposed compound for the presbytery in Kigoro

Also, at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral Parish Church in the Diocese of Kasese, the Curate, Rev. Fr. Godwin Mumbere asked Christians to practically respond to the three pillars of Lent that include, fasting, prayer and alms giving if they were to reap from the period.

Fr. Godwin emphasized repentance and acceptance of one another during the fasting period, warning Christians against publicizing what they give to those in need but rather let the blessings of the Lord reign on their sympathies.

Lent is a journey of religious observance in the Catholic liturgical calendar commemorating the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert, according to the Synoptic Gospels.