UGANDA: Prelate Appeals for More Prayers through Servant of God Bishop McCauley

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

Following the ongoing cause for canonization of the servant of God, Bishop Vincent Joseph McCauley the first Local Ordinary of Fort Portal Diocese in Uganda, the current Bishop of the same Diocese has called on Christians to pray more for his consideration to sainthood.

Sharing with AMECEA online in an interview about the Servant of God who served as Secretary General of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) after his retirement, Bishop Robert Muhiirwa said more prayers will help the Church realize some miracles to speed up the process.

“Now that his course is on, we appeal to the people of God to pray more through his intercession for various needs especially to pray for those suffering from Cancer,” Bishop Muhiirwa said revealing that the late Bishop a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross (CSC) suffered from cancer and had over 50 surgeries on his cheek which he patiently bore for years and continued offering his services to the people.

He added, “From 25^th of October a Novena prayer was began throughout the Diocese of Fort Portal including Religious communities and parishes. The novena requires that people pray the daily Rosary and also say the prayer for the servant of God requesting for various intentions.”

According to Bishop Muhiirwa, the late Prelate who participated in Vatican 11 council from 1962-1965, is known for his generosity towards the poor and at the same time he had concern for people to live better lives.

Due to this concern, the Servant of God supported the construction of educational institutions like nursing school and also worked together with other Bishops to put up a minor seminary (Ggaba National seminary) where he was very instrumental.

After the retirement of the Servant of God in 1972, Bishop Muhiirwa said, “he later volunteered himself to work as the Secretary General of AMECEA until his death in 1982 where he was also known for his kindness especially to refugees from Sudan and Rwanda.

Besides, the Bishop who served during the reign of President Idi Amin Dada of Uganda “showed generosity to Ugandans especially when they sought assistance from him. He also worked towards uniting AMECEA bishops together,” Bishop Muhiirwa said.

The cause for Bishop McCauley’s Canonization was officially introduced in the Congregation of Saints in August 2006 and the Diocese of Fort Portal was tasked with the responsibility to take lead in the process.

Since then, the diocese have put up various commissions including “Publicity committee to create awareness everywhere in the diocese, parishes, organizations, historical commission, theological commission and the judicial commissions to investigate the cause.”