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Parishioners celebrate the holy mass in front of the church at St. Michael BAT Chapel. (All Photos by Erema) By Erema George Arua City Uganda Martyrs parish Pokea marked this year’s Martyr’s day celebrations with a call to the Christians for Sacrifice in suppo
Parishioners celebrate the holy mass in front of the church at St. Michael BAT Chapel. (All Photos by Erema)
By Erema George
Arua City
Uganda Martyrs parish Pokea marked this year’s Martyr’s day celebrations with a call to the Christians for Sacrifice in support of development in families, chapels, parishes and the diocese as whole in emulation of the Uganda Martyrs.
During this year’s celebrations for Uganda Martyrs Pokea Parish hosted by St. Michael chapel, BAT, Rev. Fr. Richard Eneku, the rector of Pokea Minor seminary who presided over the colorful celebrations charged the Christians to emulate the faithful Martyrs through sacrificing to serve the church.
“For me today the real teaching is the spirit of sacrifice. The parish cannot grow without our efforts, your families cannot grow without making sacrifice and the same applies to the church. In your mind, you have a very huge picture of the diocese, we wanted our diocese to do this and that, what have you contributed to the diocese? We wanted our parishes to be this and that and that, what have you contributed? What have you sacrificed? Uganda martyrs have taught us the spirit of sacrifice,” The rector questioned the Christians with further emphasis on faith in serving God.
Rev Fr. Richard Eneku, (third) with the clergy during the celebrations.
In a similar message, Ayivu West City Councilor Adia James Yoti, emphasized the need for leaders to offer services to their people and God, while encouraging Christians to observe the day cautiously due to the Ebola situation.
“When you look at the martyrs, they really sacrificed themselves in the service of God much as they met so many challenges but we need to apply it here with our people. The sacrifice we need to do is to offer services to our people and at the same time to God.” Hon Adia noted.
This year due to Ebola outbreak concerns, mass gatherings at the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine were limited, and Christians were encouraged to observe the day virtually or at local parish levels under strict adherence to the government guideline aimed at preventing Ebola spread.
Paulino Amagu, the central Organizing committee of the celebrations for Pokea Parish confirmed that their Christians complied with the Standard Operating Procedures which made the day successful in line with the governments guidelines.
“Because of the uniqueness of this year’s celebration where Ebola is in our midst, we took precautions as advised by the government because it is very important and we have to be responsible citizens for that matter, and what we did, before you access the mass is being hosted, you had to obey hand washing and we availed sanitizer at the alter to cater for the safety of or priests and the spiritual leaders. The Christians complied with these and some of them even came with their face masks.” Amagu stated
The Uganda Martyrs are a group of 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts executed between 1885 and 1887 under the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda, and every year, Christians commemorate the day on June 3, in remembrance of their steadfast faith.