UGANDA: Be kind and responsible to nature, Bishop Kibira to Students

By Masereka Peter

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kasese in Uganda Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale has asked Catholic-founded secondary schools to encourage each student to plant a tree every term as a response to the Pope’s call to care for creation.

Bishop Kibira said that Caritas-Kasese with support from Centenary Bank had responded to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si message by giving out free fruit tree seedlings to the public, and asked schools for mindset change among learners by embracing tree planting and protecting nature.

Kibira said Laudato Si’ is not just a personal message from the Pope to only the Catholics but a document he wrote to guide the whole world to the right way of restoring the glory of our mother earth after consulting several scientists and bishops all over the world.

In his homily while presiding over Holy Mass at Kasese Secondary School where he confirmed 34 students, blessed the candidates, and celebrated St. Andrew, the school patron Saint, Bishop Kibira reminded Christians of their dead faith if they did not act practically in preparation for their children’s future, as well as protecting the environment.

The prelate asked teachers to include practical methodologies to help in the learning processes in class, and as the Catholic Church begins the month of the Rosary, Christians should be merciful, and helpful to those in need, save creation and mother earth as guided by Pope Francis.

On Education

In his Address shortly after celebrating Holy Mass on the Feast of St. Andrew at the school, Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira has partly blamed the increasing cases of early marriages and teenage pregnancies in Kasese to the unfocused young girls who do not appreciate nature and end up taking the future for granted.

Kibira urged school going children mostly girls in the district to prioritize education by desisting love advances by men intending to destroy their future.

He argued young girls to be more focused by appreciating their being, future and fearing God against men intending to have them for selfish motives.

he later asked Christians to spend the Month of October, the month of the Rosary, to put their faith in action by extending mercy to the less privileged and the environment that the Creator directed man to protect.

The Bishop was also concerned about brain drain he said was frustrating education in Kasese district.

Mr. Augustine Muserero, the School Head Teacher’s speech partly confirmed to the Bishop that the survivors of Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Secondary rebel raid had been integrated with the rest of the learners and were slowly but steadily adopting to the school environment

Mr. Alfred, the candidate student’s representative asked his fellows not only to focus on the forthcoming national examinations but future as well.

During Mass, Bishop Kibira was assisted by his personal secretary, Rev. Fr. Loti Maathe, Rev. Job Syathamira, the Kasese Parish Curate and Fr. Thomas Tusingwire among others. END