Christians have been urged to have hope in God and fight despair in order to sail through the challenges of the world. This message was delivered by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira while preaching during Mass to pray for the soul of Mr. Felix Turyamureeba, father to Rev. Fr. Nicodemus Mubangizi. The function took place on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Rubanda Parish.
Bishop Callist said “we gather here to offer our condolences and comfort the bereaved family. Death takes our beloved and this brings human pain of the loss. But this pain should be accompanied by hope in the risen Christ.” Quoting the scriptures, Bishop Callist said that St. Paul reminds the Corinthians that “we believe and hope that God who raised Jesus will raise our mortal bodies” and this “hope does not disappoint us” (Romans 5:5).
As Christ was raised and defeated death, we too have hope in the risen Christ that we shall rise. Jesus assured us to believe in God and in him, for in God’s house there are many rooms which we shall inherit after our physical death. Jesus is the way, truth and the life. Christ calls us to be near him always. Felix was always near him by receiving the sacraments and professed the faith in God, therefore, we pray that God rewards himself eternal life.
Bishop Callist Rubaramira thanked Fr. Nicodemus Mubangizi for being near his family and taking care of his father untile he died. He also thanked the priests and other people of good will who supported him when his father was sick.
The late Felix Turyamureeba was born in Buremba village, Nyamabare Parish, Ikumba Sub County, Rubanda district on 23/8/2/1968. He was the first born in a family of 9 children (4 boys and 5 girls) and now only 4 girls are living, and died February 4, 2025 at the age of 58. He married on 17.10.1992 with Turihohabwe L. and had together 7 children (4 girls and 3 boys), 4 grand children. The family members talked about him a hard working, who took care of the young brothers and children, helping them in education.
Fr. Nicodemus Mubangizi, on behalf of the children of the late Felix thanked God for the gift of their parents. The children also thanked their parents of bringing them up and educating them. Fr. Nicodemus thanked their father for looking after them when their mother died in 2017. He also thanked Bishop, priests, religious brothers and sisters of Kabale Diocese for being a source of comfort especially when his mother died in 2017 and also supporting him in taking care of the father since he became sick in 2021 until the time he rested. He thanked the administration of St. Adrian’s Seminary Rubanda for employing their father as staff member, from where he got school fees to educate them. He urged the siblings to remain united and cooperative.
Staff of St. Adrian’s Seminary Rubanda led by Rector (Fr. Gervase Tumwebaze) appreciated the services of the late Felix Turyamureeba as a teacher of agriculture and impacted many students who are now priests and other responsible citizens.
Fr. Dominic Tumusiime, chairperson of Association of Priests and Religious from Rubanda Parish thanked Bishop Callist Rubaramira for the efforts he put in to see that priests and religious in each parish come together and support each other in times of joy and sorrow. He thanked Fr. Nicodemus Mubangizi for being an active member and a mobilizer and the association condoned with him with support of 1m.
Mr. Ampaire Stephen Kasyaba, chairperson L.C V for Rubanda district thanked the late Felix for living as a responsible citizen who educated his children and urged those parents to take up the children to school. He also urged catechists to sensitize the Christians to join associations so that they can benefit from government programs like PDM in order to boost their household income.
Rev. Fr. Zeno Mbishinzimana on behalf of the Kabale Diocesan Priests Association (KADPA) thanked Fr. Nicodemus for supporting the family in taking care of their father, because there are some children who abandon their parents especially when they fall sick. He consoled him with the words of Divine Mercy ‘Jesus, I Trust in You.’ and urged the family members to allow Jesus take the place of their parents so that they always look up to him.
May the soul of Felix Turyamureeba rest in eternal peace.