Religious men and women in Kabale Diocese who have consecrated themselves to God in various congregations have been urged to renew their commitment to God who called them to serve him among his people. This call was made by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, Bishop of Kabale Diocese on Sunday, February 2, 2025 while presiding over Mass in Rushoroza Cathedral to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Bishop Callist said that the Feast of the Presentation is celebrated exactly 40 days after Christmas; remembering that day when Mary and Joseph presented the child Jesus in the temple. This day was designated by God when he spoke to Moses: “Consecrate all the first-born to me, the first birth from every womb, among the Israelites. Whether man or beast, it is mine” (Exodus 13:2), this serving as a reminds of the covenant between God and his people, the Israelites which was culminated in the promise.
In the New Testament, Jesus, having been born among the Jews, had to fulfill the Jewish law of the presentation. His parent took him to the temple to present him to the Lord as the law of Moses commanded: “And when the day came for them to be purified in keeping with the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, observing what is written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord” (Luke 2:22-23).
The rite of blessing the candles reminds us that Jesus who was presented is the light of the world. It reminds us that Christ is our light, and so with him, we should continent walking in darkness. At baptism, we were presented with candle light, as the minister said; receive Christ our light. Therefore, Jesus is the true light, the light that chases the darkness of sin (John 1:9).
Bishop Callist called on all the faithful to draw closer to Jesus and present themselves to God, no longer as first born, but as children of God by the sacrament of Baptism.
On the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the Universal Church celebrates World Day of Prayer for the Consecrated Persons, those men and women (priests, brothers and sisters) who have offered themselves to the service of God through profession of three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and poverty. This day was instituted by Pope John Paul II on February 2, 1997 to pray for the Consecrated Persons in a special way, and a day when they renew their commitment to the service of the Lord among his people.
While giving the homily, Bishop Callist Rubaramira reminded the religious men and women to remain a light of Christ among the people, thereby emphasizing the call of Pope Francis to intensify prayer, practice patience, live by the evangelical courses and creating a room for God’s actions in their lives. “May this day be a day to consecrate yourselves to God and recall the warmth and joy of your commitment. At the same time, challenge yourselves of the measure of your commitment and faithfulness to Christ. May you allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you so that you too can inspire others in your different congregations”, said Bishop Callist.
Prayer for Consecrated persons
“God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s kingdom as sisters, brothers, religious priests, consecrated virgins, and hermits, as well as members of Secular Institutes. Renew their knowledge and love of you, and send your Holy Spirit to help them respond generously and courageously to your will. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
The Chairperson the Association of the Religious in Uganda (ARU), Kabale Branch, Sr. Annociata Atwine thanked God for calling them to serve him among his people as religious men and women. She also thanked Bishop Callist Rubaramira for presiding over Mass and for his continued support towards all the congregations serving in Kabale Diocese. There are 17 Religious Congregations of priests, brothers and sisters serving across all Deaneries of Kabale Diocese and these are:
1. Congregation of the Apostles of Jesus who serve as priests in Maziba and Bukinda parishes.
2. Congregation of the (Spiritan Fathers) who serve as priests in Kambuga, Butogota and Nyamirama parishes.
3. Brothers of Christian Instruction serve in education sector (Bishop Comboni College Kambuga).
4. Brothers of St. Joseph the Worker serve in Rushoroza Administration House and Nyamwegabira Parish.
5. Daughetrs of Our Lady Fatima, founded in Kabale Diocese in 1952 with mother house at Rushoroza, serves in different departments of Kabale Diocese (health, education, business, secretarial, pastoral work in various parishes).
6. Daughters of Mary and Joseph (DMJ) serving in St. Maria Goretti Primary School Rushoroza and our Lady of Good Health Rushoroza Hospital.
7. Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (founded by Bishop Caesar Asili in Lira Diocese and serve in education department (St. Aloysius Girls’ S.S Kitanga, Bishop Asili Memorial N/P School, St. Maria Goretti Primary School Rushoroza among others)
8. Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel, serve in education department (Immaculate Heart Girls’ Nyakibale, St. Theresa Girls’ Voc. S.S Rushoroza, St. Gertrude’s Voc. S S Mutolere, Mak Hill Girls’ S S. Kanungu among others).
9. Evangelizing Sisters of Mary serve in Kamwezi Parish (in the health centre and St. Mark Kamwezi Secondary School) and in Nyakishenyi Parish.
10. Consolers of Sacred Heart of Jesus (Abahumuza) founded in Kabale Diocese with mother house in Rubanda Parish serve in various parishes of Kabale Diocese as pastoral agents.
11. Benebikira Sisters (Daughters of Mary) serve in Karoli Lwanga Hospital Nyakibale
12. Holy Family Sisters serve in Buhara Parish and Rushoroza Cathedral Parish as pastoral agents who Minister to the less privileged and prisoners.
13. Medical Mission Sisters serve in the health sector, in Rubanda Parish, particularly in Rubanda Primary Health Care (Rubanda PHC).
14. Sisters of the School of Francis of Christ the King serve in Rwanyena Parish in the health centre and primary school.
15. Daughters of the Sacred Heart serve in Muko parish (particularly in Uganda Martyrs Primary School Muko).
16. Little Daughters of St. Joseph serve in the education sector particularly in Fr. Baldo Nursery & Primary School and Ndama Health Centre both in Ndama Parish
17. Bannabikira Sisters serving in Nyakibale Ladies Vocational School and Nyakibale Parish.
Kabale Diocese is blessed to have 2 religious congregations with foundation and mother house in the diocese. These are: Consolers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Abahumuza) with Mother House in Rubanda Parish and Rev. Sr. Angelica Tukamushaba as their Superior General and the Daughetrs of Our Lady of Fatima (DOLF) with their Mother House at Rushoroza and Rev. Sr. Scholastic Kyobutungi as their Superior General.
Sr. Annociata expressed gratitude to the Guest of Honor, Hon. Catherine Ndamira, Woman MP Kabale district for gracing the function and for her continued support to the activities of the Religious in Kabale Diocese. She ended by congratulating all the members of consecrated life. In a special way, the association used the opportunity to bid farewell to Rev. Sr. Edwin Kamazima, who was transferred to Hoima Diocese, having served for 10 years in Kabale Diocese in St. Maria Goretti Primary School Rushoroza.
Sr. Kyobutungi Scholar, the Superior General of the Daughters of Our Lady of Fatima expressed gratitude to God for the chance to have annual celebration of the day of consecrated persons. She also thanked Bishop Callist Rubaramira for allowing the different congregations to serve in his Diocese and for his support rendered to them in their apostolate.
Drawing a lesson from Pope Francis, Sr. Kyobutungi reminded the religious to ‘set their hearts on fire’ and their ‘feet on the move’ thereby motivating them to have a deeper desire for the apostolate and the zeal to do it. She said, “our feet must carry us to areas where the people who seen God most are”, hence emphasizing the importance of the community life. “Be men and women of integrity, faith, substance, courage, committed to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ our hope.” We live in a wounded would, with wounded people and ourselves wounded. She reminded them that the Jubilee Year 2025 with its theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ offers them an opportunity to receive plenary indulgence, hence urging them to renew their commitment to the Lord bearing in mind the evangelical counsels of chastity, obedience and poverty.
In her remarks as the Guest of Honor, Hon. Catherine Ndamira, Woman MP Kabale District represented by her husband Eng. Didas Ndamira congratulated the religious men and women upon celebrating their feast day and appreciated the work they have done in the transformation of society. She applauded them for fulfilling the mission of Christ to serve humanity in different sectors e.g health, education, economic transformation, morality, faith and catechism.
Hon. Ndamira urged Christians to continue praying for an increase in the number of vocations to the religious life, and also remember all those who have died to rest in peace. She said that the Religious are the light of the world and she appealed to them to pray for the country Uganda as it heads into the period of general elections, so that peaceful elections may be witnessed. She contributed 2m to the Association of the Religious in Uganda (ARU) Kabale Branch and promised to keep supporting their different projects.
Fr. Tamale Aloysius Ssentongo, the Episcopal Vicar for the Religious in Kabale Diocese, and Parish Priest of St. Joseph Nyamirama Parish also congratulated the religious men and women upon celebrating their 29th Feast Day. Since we are in Jubilee Year, Fr. Tamale urged the religious to make their communities of hope, have talking communities and praying for a renewed spirit. He also thanked the Bishop Callist Rubaramira for giving them opportunity to have period of renewal and for supporting their pastoral activities in the Diocese.
In his final remarks, Bishop Callist Rubaramira called on the Religious to participate in the programs of the parishes and not operate in isolation of the parish since there are stipulated structures and policies that govern Kabale Diocese. He said there are various activities in parishes that the religious must engage in e.g education, health, home visitation among others, since all collaborators in building the faith of the people they have been sent to minister. He also called on them to reach to children and teach catechism, to families and help then live the faith, and aggressively engage in various aspects of life of the people in pastoral life, economic life, family life for the wellbeing of the people so that their standards of living are uplifted.