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| Archbishop Odama (Center) Led Uganda Ecclesiatical Community in Rome in Eucharistic Celebration at Uganda Martyrs Parish in Rome |
On 12thOctober 2014, the Uganda Ecclesiastical Community in Rome (UECR) joyfully congregated at the Uganda Martyrs’ Parish in Rome to celebrate the colorful occasion of the golden jubilee of the canonization of the Uganda Martyrs.
The Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Most Rev. John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu was the Main celebrant in the solemn Mass of the Golden Jubilee celebrations which was attended by priests from various Catholic dioceses in Uganda, the religious, seminarians and the members of the Parish community – who make up the Uganda Ecclesiastical Community in Rome.
In his homily, Archbishop Odama stressed the need to be faithful and obedient to God as the Holy Martyrs of Uganda were to Christ. “In this faithfulness and obedience, we have the wonderful example of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary,” the Archbishop said adding that Jesus Christ did the will of God the Father and the Blessed Virgin Mary also gave her life in total obedience to God.
Archbishop Odama also stressed that the martyrs came from various parts of Ugand
a, therefore in them there is model of holiness. “We have no excuse for not being saints. The Martyrs are not only for Uganda but also for the entire world,” he said.
After the Holy Mass, the congregation had a luncheon together in which new members who are mainly students were welcomed in a special way to the community. Archbishop Odama thanked the leaders of the community and members for organizing the celebration. He also advised them to treasure the time they have in Rome and study for the entire well-being of the Catholic Church.
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| Group Photo of the Ugandan Students in Rome with Archbishop Odama at Uganda Martyrs Parish in Rome |
Pope Paul V1 canonized the Uganda Martyrs in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican when all the Bishops in the world were present at the Vatican for the Second Vatican Council. In the homily of the Canonization of the Uganda Martyrs on Sunday 18th October 1964, Pope Paul V1 noted, “We are familiar with the lives of the great saints, martyrs and confessors, of Africa, such as Cyprian, Felicity and Perpetua, and the great Augustine. Who would have imagined that one day we should be adding to that list those names that are so dear to us, the names of Charles Lwanga, Matthias Mulumba and their twenty companions?”
After the Canonization, Pope Paul V1visited Uganda in 1969 and upon his return to Rome; he decreed that a Parish be established in honor of the Holy Martyrs of Uganda. It is in this same Parish that the Ugandan Community gathered to celebrate the feast of the Holy Martyrs of Uganda.
Source: Rev. Fr. Hilary
