Catholic Bishops ask Ugandans to pray for peace

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Catholic Bishops have asked Christians in the country to pray for peace in the country.

The Bishops highlighted that as it was in the times of the Martyrs, there is much persecution of innocent people all over the country, which is becoming part of the social fiber of the country.

During his homily, the Masaka Diocesan Bishop Serverus Jjumba who animated this year’s low-key celebrations noted that there is a need for the faithful to pray to God to redeem the country.

Bishop Jjumba noted that Ugandans need to be witnesses to the martyrdom of the Uganda Martyrs by living a life of love and rightness by reconciliation and respecting one another so that peace prevails.

Bishop Anthony Zziwa, the Chairperson of the Episcopal Conference of Uganda, who is also the ordinary Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese notes that with the ongoing killings, all people need to pray and work for peace.

He noted that many people are saddened upon reflecting on scenes of killing of the Uganda Martyrs but it seems nobody is taking the trouble to reflect on the similar scenes of bloodshed that are common today.

Bishop Zziwa also said that as Uganda heals from the tensions that characterized the general elections, there are many people still under detention who should be either released or legally prosecuted.

Bishop Paul Ssemogere of Kasana-Luwero who is also the Apostolic Administrator of Kampala Archdiocese, challenged the faithful to pray for the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs so that the ongoing criminal activities come to an end.

Anita Among, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who represented the government assured the clerics and faithful that the government has developed strategies to address the concerns raised by the clerics.

Martyrs Day is an annual celebration on the Roman Catholic church calendar in remembrance of 45 young Christian converts who were brutally murdered between 1885-1887 by Kabaka Mwanga for their allegiance to Christianity. They were beatified in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV and later canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964 at the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome becoming the first-ever black saints from sub-Saharan Africa to be canonized.

Every year, Christians from across the world flock to the shrine in a journey of faith and passion to commemorate this day in honour of their religious heroes.

However, due to the covid-19 restrictions, this year’s feast was limited to only 200 invited people while others were advised to follow the celebration on Media platforms.

Masaka Diocese led this year’s liturgical celebration after 20 years since they last prayed a similar role.

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