A total of 34 couples have tied their knots in Rwanyena Parish as the parish in in high gears preparing for the celebration of Diamond Jubilee since its inception. 490 children have also been baptized while 86 adults have been welcomed into the Catholic faith.
The intention rhymes well with the Kabale Diocesan synod which was held in 2014 under the theme: Re-awakening our Catholic Identity and commitment, focusing on the renewal of faith.
Rwanyena parish has three greater centres of Karujanga, Kahungye and Rwanyena, each composing of 11-13 out stations (hiikas). On Saturday, November 23, 2024 at Karujanga Greater Centre, 10 coupes were wedded, 183 children were baptized and 26 adults were welcomes into the Catholic faith. On the same day (Saturday) at Kahungye Greater Centre, 12 couples were wedded, 159 children baptized and 39 adults were welcomed into the Catholic faith. Then on Sunday, November 24, 2024 (yesterday), 12 couples wedded, 148 children were baptized and 21 adults were welcomed into the Catholic faith.
Hon. Catherine Ndamira, the woman MP for Kabale District represented by her political assistant, Mr. Alex Akampurira gifted each Greater Centre with a wedding cake that was shared by all the couples and their guests. She urged the married couples to continue loving each other, love their church and work together towards the development of their families. She also reminded the people without National Identity Cards to register for them as they will be missing out on some government programs without IDs.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Deusdedit Musinguzi, the Parish Priest Rwanyena parish congratulated the newly wedded couples, the children that were baptized and those welcomed into the catholic faith. He said the day was organized to celebrate Diamond Jubilee on the Greater Centre level, having celebrated on the level of the Small Christian Community (obutaagi).
The day coincided with the Sunday celebrating Christ the king of the Universe which concludes the Liturgical Calendar. While preaching during Mass, Fr. Musinguzi Deusdedit said that Christ’s kingship is not like the one of this world. Jesus acknowledges to Pilate that he is indeed a king, but his kingship is of peace. Fr. Deusdedit urged the Christians to let their lives be ruled by Jesus.
Whenever we make peace with others, we are acknowledging that Jesus is the king of our lives. Where is love, there is God, because God is love (1 John 4:8). Want to thank those who have come to renew their commitment to the Lord in the Sacrament of Matrimony so that they share on his table of the Eucharist – Fr. Deusdedit Musinguzi.
Fr. Deusdedit urged the couples to remain in love and unity because a family that prays together, stays together and a family that eats together develops together. He called on the families to work together and improve their household income. He also called on the parishioners of Rwanyena to work as a team in order to develop their Families, small Christian communities, their Parish and their nation.
Rwanyena parish was opened in 1963 and put under the patronage of Our Lady of Assumption. It has 39 hiikas, 17 milukas, 6 centers and 3 Greater Centres. The Catholic population of Rwanyena Parish is spread out in 339 Small Christian Communities (obutaagi). Rwanyena Parish has 11 Catholic founded Primary Schools and 1 Secondary School (St Barnabas Secondary School Karujanga), a Health Centre II and one Vocational Secondary school (Our Lady of Assumption Vocational Secondary School). In terms of economic development, Rwanyena SACCO was established in 2023 as a parish project. The Parish will celebrate Diamond Jubilee (60 years of existence) on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the Parish Grounds.