THE CATHOLIC CHURCH in UGANDA LAUNCHES a NATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE by Fr
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NEW CONTACT November 2013 ISSUE 3 VOL 1 1 Uganda Catholic Secretariat An electronic news publication of the Uganda Episcopal Conference ISSUE 3 VOL 1 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN UGANDA LAUNCHES A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE By Fr. Philip Odii Inside: UEC NEWS Justice and Peace department of uganda episcopal conference holds a workhsop on reconciliation 2-3 DIOCESAN NEWS Masaka celebrates the centenary of the indigenous priesthood 5 Kampala Archdiocese celebrates its day 5 The Chairman of Uganda Episcopal Conference, Archbishop John Baptist Odama (fourth-left) launches the National The Biography of Fr. Bazilio Campaign to end Domestic Violence with Carol Laker of Irish Aid (first-left), Tom Crowley (fifth-left) and Farrah Kelly of Lumu and Msgr. Victor Trócaire (third-right) alongside the Catholic Bishops of Uganda and some of the Staff of Uganda Catholic Secretariat. Mukasa Womeraka 7 THE Catholic Church in Uganda in partnership at the end of time. This year, the Advent Season Nagongera Parish in Tororo with the Irish organisation Trócaire and Irish runs from Sunday, 1st of December to 24th of Archdiocese celebrates 100 Aid launched its national campaign to prevent December. years of existance 8 Domestic Violence and promote peace in During the campaign, prayers for peace Directors of the Pontifical families, homes and communities. The event are recited at the Catholic parishes and sub- Mission Societies hold their took place on 6th November 2013, at Saint parishes in Uganda, and Church leaders are National Council Meeting 9 Augustine Institute in Nsambya, Kampala. encouraged to preach against violence in all its INTERNATIONAL CHURCH NEWS The launch was presided over by His Grace forms. Families nationwide are urged on to pray Pope issues first Apostolic John Baptist Odama, the Chairman of Uganda for peace and an end to violence, and radio/ Exhortation: Evangelii Episcopal Conference and also the Archbishop of television talk-shows on domestic violence are Gaudium 10 Gulu. In his remarks the Archbishop appreciated held. The theme for this year’s campaign is, the Irish Government for the services it is ‘Lay aside the works of darkness and put on the FEATURE rendering to the Catholic Church in Uganda armour of light’ (Romans 13:12). Every day is a day of through Trocaire and Irish Aid, especially in According to a study conducted by Trócaire Thanksgiving 11 addressing the issue of domestic violence. in 2006, up to 70 per cent of Ugandan women The death of Dr. Abraham The ceremony which lasted about one hour over 15 years of age had experienced physical Gamba of Uganda Catholic was attended by bishops from each of the 19 or sexual violence. Half of these women Secretariat 11 Catholic dioceses in Uganda, Ms. Carol Laker of experienced violence at the hands of their Irish Aid, Mr. Tom Crowley and Ms Farrah Kelly husbands or partners. Key ideas and principal themes of Africae Munus of Trócaire and some staff of Uganda Catholic In response to the study findings, Trócaire (Africa’s Committment) 14 Secretariat. entered into partnership with the leadership of According to Farrah Kelly, the Trócaire Gender the Catholic Church in Uganda to address the Programme Officer, the Domestic Violence problem of domestic violence. The programme Prevention Programme in Uganda runs all year started in 2010 when Archbishop Dr. Cyprian round but the campaign is intensified during the Kizito Lwanga of Kampala Archdiocese, with the four weeks of the Season of Advent. “Advent” support of Trócaire, launched a Church project to in the Catholic Church is observed as a period tackle domestic violence, spreading awareness of penance and intensive prayer in preparation of the problem through parishes. The campaign for Christmas when Christ’s first coming is is now being carried out at each of the 25,000 commemorated. It is also a time to focus the Catholic churches in Uganda. mind and heart to await Christ’s Second Coming New Contact is an electronic news publication of Uganda Episcopal Conference Nsambya Hill, 672 Hanlon Road, P.O. Box 2886 Kampala, Uganda Tel: +256-414-510570/0414-10544/ 0414-510571/0414-510398, Mobile Tel: +256-782746812, Fax: +256 414 510 545, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.uecon.org 2 NEW CONTACT November 2013 ISSUE 3 VOL 1 THE EDITORIAL JUSTICE AND PEACE DEPARTMENT would like OF UGANDA EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE Ito begin this editorial HOLDS A WORKHSOP ON message by expressing RECONCILIATION our sincere (Source: Justice and Peace Department of UEC) gratitude to you the readers and well- wishers of New Contact. This is our third issue and we feel so much encouraged and energized by the many messages of appreciation that we have continued to receive from different parts of the world. This indeed is a clear testimony that as a Catholic Church we are one family walking in the same journey of faith. We thank all the people who have contributed news stories and articles for our September, October and November issues. It is these contributions that make New Contact meaningful and useful. New Participants demonstrating how to handle conflict by dialogue and consensus. Contact is indeed a good forum for us as Catholics to share news ON the 8th and 9th of November 2013, the understand the document. and faith stories. We invite you Justice and Peace Department of Uganda Later on in his homily during the opening to share with us inspiring stories, Episcopal Conference held a workshop on Mass, the Nuncio stated that it was now reflections and commentaries on reconciliation in light of Africae Munus. time for the current evangelisation in issues that promote evangelization Africae Munus translated in English as Uganda to take the form of reconciliation. and human development. You can “Africa’s Commitment” is the Post-Synodal “It is not enough for people to be good, but write on matters of faith, morals, Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Emeritus we must all constantly work for perfection culture, health, education, business, Benedict XVI on the Church in Africa in till death”, he said. “We must be bold governance, justice, peace, etc. service to reconciliation, justice and peace. stewards both in word and deed”, he New Contact is a monthly The workshop was conducted under the added. electronic publication circulated via theme, “Towards a National Reconciliation His Grace John Baptist Odama in his email, but can also be accessed on Agenda for Uganda”, took place at Pope remarks observed that a reconciled society the website of Uganda Episcopal Paul VI Memorial Hotel in Ndeeba, Kampala. in Uganda has not yet been realised. Conference (www.uecon.org) and on The participants included His Excellency, “There is still negative peace and so we are Facebook. Please share copies of Most Rev. Michael August Blume, SVD, the all sinners. We need humility and honesty New Contact with other people who Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, Most Rev. John both individually and as a community, may be interested in reading it. Baptist Odama, the Chairman of Uganda before God and among our neighbours”, Let us keep in contact through Episcopal Conference and Archbishop of he said. New Contact. I wish you A GLORIOUS Gulu, Bishops from the 19 Catholic dioceses The Archbishop officially presented CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS and A in Uganda. There were also staff from Africae Munus to the Bishops and the BLESSED NEW YEAR! Uganda Catholic Secretariat, Diocesan other pastoral agents present. He informed Pastoral Coordinators, Heads of Diocesan the congregation that he had read the Fr. Philip Odii, Justice and Peace Departments, Heads of document over and over again and has Editor/Executive Secretary of Social Diocesan Women Desks, and other key presented the whole of it personally on Communications Commission pastoral agents. Radio Maria in Gulu. Uganda Episcopal Conference In his address to the participants, the The Bishop Chairman for Justice and Peace Apostolic Nuncio noted that Uganda was in the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Rt. the first country in Africa to formally invite Rev. Giuseppe Filippi, who is also the New Contact is an electronic news him to participate in a workshop geared Bishop of Kotido Diocese reminded the bulletin of Uganda Episcopal Conference towards the implementation of Africae participants that all Ugandans are wounded Nsambya Hill, 672 Hanlon Road, P.O. Box Munus. He was grateful to the Catholic in one way or another. He emphasised the 2886 Kampala, Uganda Bishops of Uganda for this initiative. need to turn these wounds into glorious Tel: +256-414-510570/0414-10544/ The Nuncio revealed that the French scars, a sign of victory. 0414-510571/0414-510398 version of his copy of Africae Munus was Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, the Secretary Mobile Tel: +256-782746812 ‘wounded’ due to reading it over and General of Uganda Episcopal Conference Fax: +256 414 510 545 over again. He called on each and every gave a brief background on the workshop, E-mail: [email protected] participant at the workshop to read and noting that it stems from the visit of Website: www.uecon.org CONT’D ON PAGE 3 NEW CONTACT November 2013 ISSUE 3 VOL 1 3 JUSTICE AND PEACE DEPARTMENT OF UGANDA EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE HOLDS A WORKHSOP ON RECONCILIATION FROM PAGE 2 Professor Daniel Philpott of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA to Uganda Catholic Secretariat in March 2013. He appreciated Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Krock Institute for the funding. CRS was represented at the workshop by its Country Manager, Ms Elizabeth Pfifer, who expressed her joy in joining the Ugandan community. She is from USA and has been in the country since July 2013. The main presenters at the workshop included Professor Daniel Philpott and Mr.