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| Archbishop Lwanga (right), Bishop Zziwa (center) and Hon. Mutagamba (left) flag-off the pilgrims for the Walk of Faith |
Nine days to go to the 2016 Uganda Martyrs day celebration at Namugongo Catholic Shrine, Catholic faithful across the country began a special novena to the Martyrs.
The novena, which commenced on May 25, 2016, will conclude on June 2, just a day before the actual celebration slated for June 3 to commemorate the heroic faith of the 42 Martyrs, both Catholic and Anglican, who were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, the then King of Buganda between 1885 to 1887. Twenty two Catholic Martyrs were beatified on June 6, 1920 by Pope Benedict XV and on October 18, 1964 Pope Paul VI canonized them as Saints. In addition to the Catholic Martyrs, there are two catechists from Paimol: Blessed Daudi Okello and Gildo Irwa who were killed in 1918. The two catechists were beatified by John Paul II on October 20, 2002.
According to Rev. Fr. Lazarus Kiggundu, the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee for the 2016 Martyrs Day celebration in Kiyinda Mityana, the host of this year’s commemoration, May 25 is a very special day because the Martyrdom of the Martyrs was decided on this date.
“The decision of the King to kill the Martyrs initiated on this date thus we chose to begin this novena on this day,” Fr. Lazarus said. “A novena is a public or a private prayer recited for nine consecutive days made in preparation of feast or for special graces. One can choose to recite it publically gathered together as a community and family or privately as an individual,” he added.
Catholic faithful are encouraged to observe this novena by reciting Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be to the Father prayers and invoke the Uganda Martyrs. However, faithful can also use the special prayer cards that were released by the Diocese of Kiyinda Mityana.
“I therefore call upon all the faithful to recite this novena to receive the blessings of the Uganda Martyrs,” he said.
The 2016 Uganda Martyrs day celebration will be celebrated under the theme, “The Truth Will Make You Free” (John 8:32).
Meanwhile, over 200 pilgrims from across the country including the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Dr. Maria Mutagamba and the State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Simon Lokodo on Sunday May 22, 2016 joined Rt. Rev Joseph Antony Zziwa, the Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana Diocese in the inaugural symbolic pilgrimage known as the “Walk of Faith”.
The Spiritual Walk, which was organized by Kiyinda Mityana Diocese alongside Uganda Episcopal Conference and Uganda Tourism Board, started from Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine to St. Matia Mulumba Parish in Old Kampala. It kicked-off at 8.00am with opening remarks about the aim of the walk from Fr. Lazarus and Rev. Fr. Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, in charge of the Martyrs devotion in Uganda, also gave a brief history about the Martyrs.
The symbolic pilgrimage was flagged off shortly after a word of prayer at exactly 8.50 by Most. Rev Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop of Kampala, Bishop Zziwa, Hon. Mutagamba and Hon. Lokodo.
During the walk, the enthusiastic pilgrims made three stopovers for a moment of prayers at the places of martyrdom of St. Denis Ssebuggwawo, St. Ponsiano Ngondwe and St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe as well as St. Athanasius Bazzeketa.
The spiritual journey concluded with the celebration of Holy Mass at St. Matia Mulumba Parish, presided over by Bishop Zziwa. The venue of the Mass is a place where St. Matia Mulumba who was also a Martyr, was executed from.
In his preaching, Bishop Zziwa urged the faithful to embrace this year’s Martyrs day celebration theme “The Truth Will Make You Free,” to fight social evils like corruption and giving out bribes.
The walk will be an annual event to officially launch the pilgrimage to Namugongo Catholic Shrine by Christians from all over the World.
By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference