Christians have been urged to always have time and read the word of God in order to nourish their spiritual lives. This call was made on Saturday, September 28, 2024 by Fr. Fidel Ndagijimana, Pastoral Coordinator of Kabale Diocese whole presiding over Mass at St. Jerome Secondary School Ndama in Ndama Parish, Rukungiri district to celebrate the school’s patron Saint’s day. Fr. Fidel explained that St. Jerome once said that “the Holy Bible is the letter that God has written to us, this is the only way to know him” and that one would still be ignorant if he/she still left this letter aside. St. Jerome also famously stated that “ignorance of scripture is the ignorance of Christ” implying that Christians should have time to read the Bible (scripture) which contains the word of God in order to overcome ignorance of God.
While drawing lesson from the book of Sirach 1:1-9, Fr. Fidel said that the reading calls upon all believers to remember that knowledge and wisdom come from God alone. Isaiah 11:2 also shows that wisdom is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and James 1:5 reminds us that if any one of us needs wisdom, he should pray to the Lord. On this, he called upon students, teachers, support staff and parents of St. Jerome secondary School Ndama to always seek this knowledge from God if they are to perform well in their respective fields of operation.
Fr. Fidel also quoted the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy 3:14-17 by pointing out the importance of scripture as in reproaching, instructing and calling up on us to follow the wisdom of the scripture which knows Christ in order to have it all in life. We pray through the intercession of St. Jerome that we may know Christ through our search for wisdom and knowledge especially through the reading of the Bible and may we also join Him in Heaven.
In his speech, Mr. Alphonse Byamukama, head teacher St. Jerome S.S Ndama expressed gratitude to God and intercession of St. Jerome for the success registered by the school since its inception in 1987. Over the years, the school has registered many achievements in terms of academics and co-curricular activities like sports and drama. In the field of academics, with O level results for 2023, the school had 65 students in division I and 114 in Division II while at A Level, 14 students had 15 points and above and 60 with 10-14 points. In the arena of sports, St. Jerome S.S Ndama emerged champions in Rukungiri district in Netball, volleyball (both boys and girls) and handball (boys). On the Regional level (Kigezi Region), St. Jerome S.S Ndama has emerged champions in volleyball (boys), Netball and handball (boys), while in Music Dance and Drama, the school secured a 7th position on the national level and the second position in speech making on the National level.
Mr. Byamukama Alphonse also used the opportunity to thank the teaching and non teaching staff for the collaboration exhibited in working towards the success of St. Jerome S.S Ndama. He also appreciated the efforts of parents in providing scholastic materials and school fees for their children and also thanked them for choosing St. Jerome S.S for the education of their children. He recognized the role played by PTA and BOG in planning and steering the progress of the mighty school. He further thanked Old Student of St. Jerome under their umbrella St. Jerome Old Students Association (JOSA) for recognizing the role played by the school in shaping them into what they are and requested to strengthen the association and continue lending a hand in the progress and development of their alma mater.
Mr. Mulindwa Isaac, Chairperson of St. Jerome Old Students Association (JOSA) encouraged students to keep focused and work hard towards success since they have old students to look up to. He said the association welcomes all these who have gone through St. Jerome S.S Ndama and provide social support to members, work together to support their mother school, with much emphasis on candidates. The Old Students handed over scholastic materials to be used by candidates including 24 dozens of mathematical sets, 20 boxes of pens, 29 dozens of rulers, 24 dozens of pencils, and pledged more support as time goes by. The Old Students also launched the St. Jerome sports league by providing different sports equipments like sets of uniforms for football and Netball and balls. They handed in success cards to the candidates (S.4 and S.6 students) thereby wishing them success in the forthcoming exams.
In his remarks, the Chairperson Board of Governors for St. Jerome S.S Ndama, Fr. Ignatius Arinaitwe thanked God for the progress St. Jerome S.S has made, “from grass to grace” since it’s inception in 1987. He thanked the head teacher and staff for dedicatedly serving the school which has made it excel in both academics and co-curricular activities. He also appreciated the parents, Old Students and well wishers and promised that the school will continue being an inspiration to both the Church and nation. He concluded by thanking students for their active participation in school activities and urged them to remain focused so that the name of St. Jerome S.S Ndama continues to fly high.
St. Jerome whose feast day is celebrated on September 30 every year, was a priest and Doctor of the Church who translated the Bible into Vulgate that is; from Hebrew and Greek languages to Latin language. He was asked by Pope Damasus whose secretary he was. It is still the official translation of the Catholic Church. He was born in Strido, Dalmatia the current day Croatia in 347. He founded a Monastery, a hospice, and a school, and settled to the most important work of his life as a biblical scholar. St. Jerome died in Bethlehem on the 30th September 420 aged 80. He was buried in the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome, Italy.