The youth in Uganda have been cautioned against being overtaken by the modern trends in the society but focus on goals that will turn them into responsible citizens.

In an interview with AMECEA Online Correspondent at conclusion of the first Parish youth conference in Uganda’s Kasese, Diocese, the Diocesan Youth chaplain Fr. Joseph Tumusiime said the conference for the youth has been convened in respect of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) call for every diocese to hold mini conferences for the youth in respect for the National youth gathering that was cancelled last year due to Ebola outbreak in the country.

Fr. Tumusiime’s concern was that the youth are embracing a culture that is misguiding their minds.

He noted that new irresponsible approaches to issues have occupied the minds of youths so much that they do not consider consulting about Church and cultural values aimed at guiding their education environment.

Fr. Tumusiime who is also the Mbarara Ecclesiastical Provincial Coordinating Chaplain asked the youths in Western Uganda to live faithful, fight against poverty and ignorance among the community, later said the biblical wise was led by a star to see Jesus but now the star leading Christians to Jesus is faith.

In his homily while presiding over Holy Mass at the closure of the Youth Conference at St. Joseph Marie Muzee Nyakahya Parish, on Sunday, January 8, the St. Michael Kabuyiri Shrine’s Rector Rev. Fr. Julius Bwambale Tsangamubiri asked parents to introduce their children to informal education that includes among others, discipline, domestic work, respect for others, descent dressing and Catechism among others that will help them grow responsibly.

During the conference, the Bukonzo County West Member of Parliament Hon Godfrey Atkins Katusabe urged the youth to fear the Lord and focus on their future career, stressing that the journey to success is nonstop, later arguing them to distance from witch craft but become prayerful to receive God’s blessings.

Hon. Florence Kabugho the Kasese District Woman MP asked the youth to set future goals which she said will be realized by listening to parents, teachers and church leaders’ guidance.

Earlier, the Parish Youth chaplain Rev. Fr. Godwin Kibaba Kasai had asked the youth to join church movements.

The Bishop Fort Portal Diocese Rt. Rev. Robert Muhirwa Akiiki has urged believers to respond to God’s call like the biblical Samuel, and to be open to be guided by others who can help them discern His voice amongst the attractive voices of the world.

In Holy Mass at Our Lady of Snow Virika Cathedral Fort-Portal Diocese on 6^th January 2023, six members of the congregation of the Daughter of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus made their professions perpetual profession while seventeen celebrated their jubilees.

The six nuns professed a life of chastity, obedience and poverty before their Mother General Rev. Sr. Seraphina Kaitesirwa and the Ordinary of Fort Portal Diocese Rt. Rev. Robert K. Muhirwa Akiiki.

In his homily while presiding over Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Bishop Muhirwa commended the Sisters for deciding to offer their life to God and serve His people, urging all believers to discern the voice of the Lord from the earthly noise.

Bishop Muhirwa said as the world is now saturated with attractive voices via social media and others platforms, the Church is asking them to strive to heed the voice of God.

The Prelate further asked the Religious to surrender themselves to the Lord who looks on them with great love as well as offering all their attachments including families, worth and life ahead of the vows.

Bishop Muhirwa who asked Christians to offer their plans of the new year to the Lord made a special appeal to fathers in families to resolve to fulfill their parental roles in collaboration with their wives so as to nature the children well. He asks parents to give up the trend of over-spending on alcoholic drinks and eating to the negligence of their families. 

The Mother General Rev. Sr. SeraphinaKaitesirwa who sympathized with the family of the Sister who fell sick a day to her final vows, welcomed the six and congratulated those jubilants, asking parents to allow their daughters to join Religious congregations so as to continue with the mission of Christ.

Rev. Sr. Maria Clara Ateenyi from St. Jude town Parish- Hoima Diocese who celebrated 70 years in Religious life under the theme “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” asked the newly professed to remain focused and prayerful and to nurture their vocation.

Speaking on the occasion of their profession, Sr Juliet Kabugho and Sr Sylvia Muhindo said it was God who has made it happen and congratulated their parents for supporting them through the journey of their life. They also ask all the faithful to continue praying for them.

Among the Jubilants, Rev. Sr. Maria Clara Ateenyi who hails from Hoima Diocese celebrated her Platinum Jubilee; Sr. Maria Annunciata, Sr. Maria Vincensio, Sr. Resumpta Asabaheebwa, Sr. Restetuta Kabanyaka, Sr. Margaret M Mabiiho from Fort Portal Diocese and Sr. Praxeda Kindiki from Hoima celebrated Diamond Jubilee while Sr Appollonia Kyakubananura from Mbarara Archdiocese, Sr Catherine Mbabazi , Sr. Redempta Maria and Sr. Pelagia Isoke from Fort Portal, Sr. Florance Nyangoma, Sr. Flora Nyakato, Sr. Sr. Spociaza Tibananuka from Hoima diocese celebrated Golden jubilee.

Bishop Muhirwa who presided the Mass was assisted by Bishop Vincent Kirabo of Hoima Catholic Diocese and priests from Mbarara Ecclesiastical province, Rwanda and Burundu among others.

Almost every marriage starts out as a huge celebration.

Together with their family, each couple is full of hopes and dreams for their future life together. But the road to a happy marriage is far from easy. And as today as divorce statistics demonstrate all too well, many couples opt not to complete the journey.

It would be easy to blame our high rate of marital failure on things like not spending enough quality time together, allowing bitterness and resentment to build in our hearts and failure to keep communication lines open.

There is no end to books, articles and seminars that tell you how to improve these and many other aspects of your relationships.

But while quality time, forgiveness and communication/ dialogue are vitally important to creating a happy marriage, if some things aren’t happening, it is usually a sign of a much deeper problem. And until this problem is addressed, no amount of external behavior modification will work.

To get a hint of what this deeper issue might be, let’s take a look at the following scriptures passage:

“One of them an expert in law tested him (Jesus) with the question: “Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the law?”

Jesus replied; you must Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second resembles it. “You must love your neighbor as yourself. (Mt. 22:35 – 40)”

I believe that virtually every marital problem can be traced to one or both partners failing to abide by these two commandments. The same is true to any relationship. The minute we begin to focus on our own wants, desires and needs over those of God or our partner, we are destined for trouble.

·       Experiencing communication problems in your marriage? How often do you really focus on listening to what your partner (or God) has to say instead of insisting on more airtime?

·       Feeling bitterness and resentment growing towards your partner? When was the last time you brought him or her before the Lord in prayer and truly thanked God for your relationship?

·       Struggling to find quality time together? How about praying with your partner and asking God how he would like you to use your time?

v As you begin to do these things, you will notice that your focus automatically starts to shift away from you and your desires and over to God and your partner! As a result, communication problems begin to improve, anger and resentment fade away and you naturally want to spend more time together. Of course, you can’t expect such changes to happen overnight. Your relationship is also bound to face financial pressure, child rearing issues and other problems that are beyond your control. But if you commit your relationship to God and make a conscious decision each day to put God and your partner first, your marriage will be able to withstand any storm. Not only that, you will also have plenty of fun together along the way.  By Kevin Miller.

Always remember the golden rule: “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you”. (Mt. 7:12)

Have you struggled to find happiness in your marriage? Perhaps it is time you and your spouse invited God to direct your relationship. If you would like to do so, we encourage you to pray the following:

“Dear God, thank you so much for bringing us together as a couple. We know that you have a plan and a purpose for our marriage, and we invite you, Lord Jesus, to forgive the past self-centeredness, and come into our lives and relationship. Direct our steps from now on. Please give us the grace to put you and each other first every day. Make our relationship a blessing to others. But most of all; make it a blessing to you. Amen”

The writer is the Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Kasese