The bishop of Lugazi diocese, Christopher Kakooza has commended parents who entrust the church with their children to study and become God’s servants in the form of priests and nuns.
“I acknowledge each and everyone’s contribution right from the parents, catechists, my predecessor Bp. Mathias Ssekamanya and the formation directors for the great work done in nurturing the newly ordained priests and deacons. Your work is going to help them in evangelism, administration of sacraments and defending the Roman Catholic Church,” Bp. Kakooza said.
He urged the new priests to be true witnesses of Christ in priestly vows and in all duties of priesthood so that people can see Christ in them.
The bishop was on Saturday presiding over an ordination mass where two deacons were ordained into priesthood and six seminarians ordained into deacons. Before the mass, the visibly joyous deacons and seminarians were seen in lines being ushered into the church in company of their parents, mother and father who later handed them over to Bp. Kakooza.
The ordained priests are; Fr. Ronald Ishanga, the son to the late Ponsiano Ishanga and late Christine Namata who originates from St. Andrew Kachwa Parish in Nama sub-county, Mukono district. Another one is Fr. Moses Okoth, a son to Charles Oboth and Geyunia Akech from St. Wilbroad Catholic Church in Nagongera parish.
The ordained deacons include; Gilbert Lubwama, Andrew Ssebuufu, Alex Ssekanjakko, Micheal Ssekiziyivu, Philip Kimbowa Ssewajje and Everest Ssewajje.
The Church was filled with ululations from the parents, relatives, friends and the faithful whenever a name of a deacon or seminarian was called for ordination.
Bp. Kakooza led the mass in company of the diocesan Vicar General, Richard Kayondo, Rtd. Bp. Mathias Ssekamanya of Lugazi diocese and a large number of Reverend Fathers.
The priests made different vows which included giving respect to Bishop Kakooza, his successors and the Catholic Church as a whole.
The candidates went through a number of traditions and at the climax of them all, they were declared deacons and priests by the presiding bishop. Bp. Kakooza, Bp. Ssekamanya, Msgr. Kayondo and the rest of the Reverend Fathers that participated in the ordination mass laid their hands on two newly ordained priests.
They were later dressed into the new vestments that signified their level of elevation. The bishop handed them instruments they are meant to use as they conduct their day to day church programs. At the end of the mass, the new priests also blessed the bishops, Kakooza and Ssekamanya. They also laid their hands on them as the bishops knelt down facing the altar.
The head of laity in Lugazi diocese, Charles Kabanda congratulated the newly ordained priests and deacons saying though each parent would wish to have a priest in his or her family, a big number of them are unable.
The Vicar General, Msgr. Kayondo asked the Christians to always support the Church to maintain the Seminarians who are so expensive to keep in the seminaries by the diocese.
On behalf of the new priests and deacons, Fr. Ishanga said they had been overwhelmed by the whole process that transformed their titles from the seminarians to deacons and from the deacons to Reverend Fathers.
“We pledge to keep obedient, humble and respectful in our new service,” he said.