ST. PAUL’S SEMINARY RUSHOROZA CELEBRATES SEMINARY DAY

St. Paul’s Seminary Rushoroza community on Saturday, June 29, 2024, celebrated Seminary day (St. Paul’s Day) to mark Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The celebration of Seminary day was preceded by solemn Mass led by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, the Bishop Kabale Diocese. Bishop Callist urged students to know and understand the values that will guide their future life, namely prayer life, discipline and hard work. In the same Mass, Bishop Callist administered the sacrament of Confirmation to 19 seminarians.

Preaching during Mass, Rev. Fr. Deus Musinguzi, Parish Priest for Rwanyena Parish outlined the importance of faith in the life of believers and their mission. Fr Deus urged christians to always do things that can attract people to God and not taking them away from him. He also pointed out the need for praying for each other, praying for Church leaders, not forgetting the political leaders. He called upon people to seek the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul in spreading the Gospel of Christ so that they can be true witnesses of Christ.

The celebration of St Paul’s day was integrated with a fundraising drive geared towards the construction of a four storeyed building that will accommodate the administration offices, examination halls for S.4 and S.6 UNEB exams and science laboratory. A total cash of 97.849.200/= was collected during the fundraising drive for this noble cause.

The Rector of St. Paul’s Seminary, Rev Fr. Augustine Tumushime, in his speech thanked Bishop Callist for give the seminary the best formators. He also appreciated the efforts of staff members (both teaching and non teaching staff) in the formation of seminarians thereby pointing out the three areas of formation in the seminary. Fr. Augustine said that seminarians receive human formation which helps them to live in harmony with each other and in the community as responsible citizens with good moral standards. They also receive spiritual formation, which builds their relationship with God and others in terms of spiritual matters. The seminarians also received academic formation and this has put at. Paul’s Seminary on the map in field of academics because of their excellence. In S.4 (UCE) 2023, out of 67 candidates, 63 passed in division one and at S.6 (UACE), all candidates got two principal passes and the first one had 18 points.

Msgr Sunday Vianney, the Vicar General Kabale Diocese who also doubles as the chairman of the Seminary Advisory Board, thanked the Bishop, old boys (who included priests and lay men), students, invited guests and parents for attending St. Paul’s day celebrations. He noted that the seminary prepares young boys into the future priests, and those who do not become priests end up becoming responsible and important citizens. He urged students to remain focused and disciplined but also appealed to parents not to distract their children but help them maintain the disciple the get while at school thereby noting that indiscplined students cannot be tolerated in the seminary.

Speaking as the Chief Guest, Hon. Henry Musasizi Ariganyira, Mininster of Finance and Economic Planning in charge of General Duties, and also MP for Rubanda East constituency appreciated Bishop Callist Rubaramira for the three seminaries in Kabale Diocese (St. Paul’s Seminary Rushoroza in Kabale district, St. Adrian’s Seminary in Rubanda district and St. Charles Lwanga Seminary Nyakibale in Rukungiri district). He said these seminaries have given birth to God’s ministers (priests) and civil ministers (politicians). He added “when you join a seminary, you automatically know that your future is secure”, thereby calling upon the students to remain committed to the threefold seminary formation (human, spiritual and academic in nature).

Hon. Musasizi also appreciated the human formation which he received from the seminary in the one year he spent there as a student. He contributed 30 million shillings towards the construction of a four storeyed building to be paid in three instalments, thereby giving 10m cash for this year.

The celebration attracted many dignitaries including Hon. Catheline Ndamira Atwakiire, Woman MP for Kabale District, Hon. Wilfred Niwagaba, MP for Ndorwa East, Hon. Nicholas Thaddeus Kamara, MP for Kabale Municipality, Hon. Prossy Akampurira Begumisa Mbabazi, Woman MP for Rubanda district, and many SPOBA members including Col. Emmy Katabazi, Deputy Director general of Internal Security Organization (ISO), Dr. Hillary Bakamwesiga Mbona, a professor at Makerere University, CP. Herman Mugisha, Mr. Orishaba Peter Muhiiga (former SPOBA president) among others.