picture 2: the provincial fr. Mark de Wulf bringing the gospel during mass.(click to enlarge)
Participants: Guest of Honour: Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe: Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
His Grace Christoph Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda
His Emminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, Archbishop of Kampala
Most bishops of Uganda, many priests and religious and an enormous crowd of people.
From the speech of the Archbishop of Mbarara Paul Bakyenga:
We thank the gallant missionary bishops who have shepherded this diocese; Bishops Francis Xavier Lacoursiere and Jean Mary Ogez, of happy memory.
We are grateful to the Missionaries of Africa, the White Fathers. They brought the faith in Mbarara and kept fanning the flame for over 70 years both as bishops, priests and religious. We have kept the flame now for slightly over 30 years.We are happy to have some White Fathers still in our diocese.
We are in a transition from a missionary Church to a local Church.
I conclude with the words of St. Augustine: Entrust the Past to God's mercy, the Future to God's providence, the Present to God's love!
From the speech of the Regional Superior: Fr. M. de Wulf:
The first missionaries to establish themselves on this hill in 1902, were Frs. Gorju and Varangot. 1934 we see the erection of the Vicariat Apostolic of Rwezori; 1953 the hierarchy was established: the diocese of Mbarara. 1957 Bishop Ogez took over from Bishop Lacoursiere, and in 1969 Bishop Kakubi, 1989 Bishop Bakyenga became Co-adjutor.
1961 Fort Portal Diocese was established, 1965 Hoima and Kabale, 1989 Kasese. All these dioceses form since 1999 an ecclesiastical Province together with the Archdiocese of Mbarara.
The biggest challenge ahead is to find ways of being Truly African and Truly Christian.
I am proud and happy to be a witness of this event. God bless Mbarara, Kabale, Fort Portal, Hoima, Kasese! God bless Uganda. I am Mark De Wulf, Provincial.
Recorded by Otto Bailer, MAfr
