Missionaries of Africa
Uganda Martyrs’ Day 2010-heaven came down
By Josephat Diyuo Stagiaire in Uganda
When I was a child, I knew Uganda was in heaven and not on earth, because for me, any name that was mentioned in the Bible or during the Consecration at Mass existed in heaven. Therefore, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Palestine and so on were places in heaven and not on earth. So, as the priest told us to pray to the Martyrs of Uganda, I included Uganda in the list of nations in heaven. Today, I am writing from Uganda as a mortal being, so I consider myself in heaven. In simple terms, I have experienced Uganda Martyrs Day at the shrine itself where everything took place.
During a 'Come and See' session in Ghana, I remember the empathy I felt while watching a film on how they were tied up and burned to death. I then imagined how the reality would be. However, yesterday, sitting in the midst of the multitudes that travelled the length and breadth of the globe to the shrine at Namugongo, I again imagined with joy the happiness, the celebration of these triumphant Martyrs in heaven, seeing the harvest of their labour.
This was what Agnes Atai and Amuge, both pilgrims from our parish, had to say, 'We don't even feel hungry after missing yesterday's supper and today's breakfast and even now, we are still not hungry. Our suffering on the road due to the breakdown of the bus has turned into great joy.'
"I am with you always, yes, to the end of time", Mt. 28: 20. This was the theme of this year's Martyrs Day celebration, which was excellently led by the Diocese of Moroto, through the leadership of its Bishop, the Right Rev. Henry Ssentongo. Moreover, fortunately for me, I belong to this diocese - the mother diocese of the Karimojong.
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Thus, on Monday the 1st of June 2010, at about 2.30 pm local time, we set off from Tapac with songs of praise, driving through the thorny scattered shrubs for Moroto, to join our fellow pilgrims for the journey the next day. To show their communal spirit, nearly all the villagers came out to bid us farewell. Clearly, one could see that many would have wished to be part of the group, but our financial standing couldn't take us all there. All the same, we arrived in Naoi Parish, Moroto, where other pilgrims had gathered.
We prayed the Holy Rosary in honour of the Uganda Martyrs and for the journey of all the pilgrims the world over travelling to Namugongo. Some pilgrims had already set out on foot to Namugongo ten days before us, a journey of about 560 km, while others came all the way from Kenya, also on foot. 'They go out they go out full of tears carrying seed for the sowing they come back they come back full of song….' The journey was disappointing, but the fruits were all joy, happiness and satisfaction.
Over 3,000 pilgrims came from Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, USA, and Europe. The vast uncountable majority of those attending were Ugandan, or staying in Uganda, except for those pilgrims who did not officially register.
Many activities went on several days before D-day, notable among them Julius Nyerere Day on the 1st. On the 2nd, there was a celebration of the Year of the Priest and in the evening there was a succession of Masses and singing in the Basilica till the next morning, Uganda Martyrs' Day.
As early as 7pm that evening, it was virtually impossible, if not by sheer persistence, to find space for even a foot, half a kilometre away from the entrance to the Shrine! One could only see the heads of the crowd. I was in this crowd with John Ssekweyama, who had just finished his apostolic experience in the DR Congo and a confrere who came from Rwanda. It took us over an hour to get into the shrine. Inside, it was a beehive of activity: praying, selling and what have you.
The Mass started at about 7.00 GMT, i.e., 10am local time, led by the Right Rev. Henry Ssentongo, Bishop of Moroto, as tradition demands, with the Nuncio of Uganda, hundreds of priests and innumerable Sisters in their colourful and vocation-motivating habits.
The Karimojong choir thrilled the congregation in their colourful traditional dress. It was like seeing 'Jesus come from Nazareth', as many were astonished to what they witnessed, the faith manifest in the music, dance and the aesthetics of a people many regard as primitive. There was a perfect and real inculturation in all aspects of the liturgy to the admiration and satisfaction of all. Even more inspiring and moving was the 'akigat', the traditional intercessory prayer, where the leader shouts the prayer and the congregation responds.
In his homily, the Bishop reiterated that Christians need to reinforce the value of Christian families and that it is through the family that Christian faith grows and matures. He urged the gathered Faithful to emulate the example of the Uganda Martyrs not through immolation by holocaust, but with the fire of God's love, through the spirit of self-giving to their brothers and sisters. As Uganda draws towards elections next year, he equally urged politicians to put the nation before their selfish desires.
I would say the security personnel did an excellent job and would offer a modest tribute to the organizing committees in Moroto and Kampala, as well as all the priests and Sisters of the Diocese. For the relentless efforts of the choir and its ultimate performance, I congratulate them. Finally, on behalf of our community, I wish to thank the confreres of the Province of Uganda who subsidized the transportation cost of our parishioners. May the seeds sown by Charles Lwanga and his companions grow and multiply from age to age.
By Josephat Diyuo Stagiaire in UgandaSee also (in 2008)
- Album photos : Canonisation des 22 Martyrs de l'Ouganda 18 Octobre 1964 au Vatican
