God Created a human being as man and woman with the same dignity, a woman is not less than the man Leadership means confraternity, authority is not domination, it is not power but service, Joao Braz Cardinal de Aviz, I urge the religious to respect themselves. In Uganda today, there is a development of new Religious communities coming; they need no reference. Please guide the Christians to move in the right direction.” Tororo Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo. Remain committed to your spiritual lives and encourage more Christians to join the formation. Kampala Archbishop, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga
The Association of Religious in Uganda celebrated 50 years of existence; the one year of celebration that was launched on November 11, 2017, came to a climax on November 10th at Rubaga Cathedral in Kampala. Mass was led by Joao Braz Cardinal de Aviz, the Cardinal Prefect for Religious Institutes of Consecrated and Societies of Apostolic Life in the Vatican. The Golden Jubilee was celebrated under the theme “In God’s Mercy we are no longer strangers but friends”.
During the celebration, Tororo Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo called upon Consecrated Religious men and women to guide the Christians against new Religious groups that do not offer clear guidance to their followers. “I urge the Religious to respect themselves, in Uganda today, there is a development of new Religious communalities coming; they need no reference. Please guide the Christians to move in the right direction,” he said. Archbishop Obbo, who is also the chairperson of the consecrated in Uganda, said as the consecrated, they have a duty to help the flock irrespective of profession. The Religious in Uganda are like asylum workers; the transformers of lives of people. The Religious are almost in every sector, health, social work, education refugee services. At times if we stop working for two days, certain sections will begin to disintegrate. Therefore, we appreciate the work of these people here,” he added.
Formed in 1968, the association has a membership of about 6,000 consecrated men and women, consisting of priests, reverend sisters and brothers.
He said the consecrated Religious people make a lot of sacrifices in life to make things better for the country. Archbishop Obbo further said the celebrations to mark 50 years in existence is not a mean achievement, challenging the members to recruit more people into the group. “The celebration of this day is not a joke. We have sent people out, they have opened missions. I think in the next 10 years, we shall double the numbers to 10,000 members, we do not need to wait for another 50 years to increase the numbers,” he said.
Cardinal Prefect Joao Braz de Aviz, the Prefect of the Congregation for Institutions of Consecrated and Societies of Apostolic Life at the Vatican, said consecrated Religious men and women have a duty to guide the Christians in the right direction. He conveyed the pope’s blessing to the people of Uganda, urging them to “pray for our Holy Father for continued health as he leads his flocks.”
The Cardinal raised a concern that currently women are segregated, men still at themselves like a cock that can only crow. God Created a human being as man and woman with the same dignity, a woman is not less than the man. The Cardinal further cautioned the country leaders who see them see themselves as small gods instead of being humble like Jesus Christ, being humble helps the leaders to understand the people they lead. There shouldn’t be superiors and inferiors. For Jesus the first thing is confraternity, authority is not domination is, it is not power but service.
Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga urged the consecrated men and women to remain committed to their spiritual lives and encourage more Christians to join the formation. He urged the members to reach out to the communities to nature them spiritually.