Xaverians in Kampala Archdiocese joyfully celebrate 50years
Xaverians in Kampala Archdiocese utterly celebrate 50years today
“…the Xaverian Movement is known for brotherly Love and tremendously, helping Priests in organising the mass..” Bishop Ssekamaanya on 50th Xaverian Movement anniversary today.
Ggaba, Kampala: Today 9th July 2923, all roads led to St. Charles Lwanga catholic Parish Ggaba, Kampala as all members of the Xaverian Movement in Kampala Archdiocese gathered to celebrate 50years of this Movement from the day year it was Founded in Kampala Archdiocese.
The celebration hosted at the founding parish, Ggaba was led by His Lordship Matthias Ssekamaanya the Emeritus Bishop of Lugazi Diocese.
The celebration began at 10am with a sacrifice of Holy Mass animated by Xaverians from all over Kampala archdiocese taking various duties of the mass representing their sections respectively in the Choir, taking readings, serving at the altar and other duties. In the Homily, the celebrant Bishop Ssekamaanya basing on the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan stressed about being helpful and supportive to one another as Xaverians to maintain the slogan and behaviors of the movement from since it began not only in Kampala but on a national level in Uganda standing on its virtues of Charisms of Charity, unity and morality to live as good young Catholics.
He said that the celebration is not just as usual but considerably a day to value the duties Xaverians are playing in the church particularly in the organising of Mass, thus helping both priests and Christians to meditate in the mass without being disorganized.
” ..being a Xaverian in the Catholic church means alot because of the role a single Xaverian plays for a peaceful organised celebration of Holy Mass by a priest and meditation on the mass by the Christians” , Bishop Ssekamaanya explained.
He praised and thanked all Xaverians for maintaining the virtue of love and unity giving a testimony of how he was once a Xaverian and scount member as well, something he tasted and witnessed himself during his childhood days before he was called to the Priesthood. He therefore emphasised them to continue promoting and sharing it since it’s a command from Christ himself, to love one another.
He tasked Older Xaverian leaders to enormously take mentorship role upon the young Xaverians by guiding, helping them, and training them the virtues of the movement and showing them love so that they can strongly stay amongst the rest comfortably since from the young children, leaders are expected in future to take over leadership ad they grew older.
He also asked them to be creative taking the example of the founders of the Movement Fr. Stanislaus Matabaalo and his brother priest who were seminarians then, and developed a thought of beginning the movement, the cause of the Celebration today. He said that serving in the church is okay, but also they should be creative in other ways of developing themselves socially and financially such that they will be able to continue to serve without fail in the current challenging financial conditions in the country.
Xaverian George William Katende, the leader and Chief of the Kampala Xaverian Movement in his speech expressed his thankfulness and joy to all the visitors who were present. He welcomed and in a special way, thanked the family members and relatives of the Late Fr. Stanislaus Matabaalo for honoring and accepting their invitations and being present to celebrate with all Xaverians the fruits of their founders Fr. Stanislaus Matabaalo and Fr. Katende.
Chief Katende gave a brief background of the movement reminding them of it’s origin in D.R. Congo in Bukavu originally founded by Fr. Georges Defour in the DRC early in 1952, and how it came in Uganda then in Kampala also thanking the late Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga the late who supported the movement before his death in various ways that kept it going on.
He expressed his concern about the hinderaces on top of the many achievements of the Xaverian Movement in Kampala and said, they are facing the challenge of old Xaverians who leave and abandon it when they get older because of the mentality that the movement is suited for Young children which is not true, thus affecting it’s growth and expansion, but besides that, the movement would register wonderful progress beyond the one they’re counting.
” we have Created various sections due to the increment in the number of Xaverians especially in Schools, Parishes and sub parishes which is a success among others which we count in the 50years”, Chief Katende Added.
Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba who was the Chief guest in his speech thanked young children for getting engaged in the movement. He also asked parents whose children are not members yet, to valuably allow their children to join the Xaverian Movement because it is an extensive movement in the Catholic church basing on how children are trained to be leaders, critical thinkers, active members of the church hence promising to as well be extraordinary leaders in their Communities.
She thanked the choir that animated the Mass with soul nourishing meditative hymns, beautifully yet , made of young children but because of being Xaverians, the activeness enabled them to sing well and lead the prayers which is also a benefit of being a Xaverian.
Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba later on led the session of awarding medals to the recognized Xaverian Movement leaders in their roles respectively and then cutting of the 50years anniversary cake with the main celebrant and the Xaverians.
Many more guests were present at this function especially the National Chairperson of the Xaverian Movement Ms. Prossy Kasumba, Dr. Nicholas Muggaga from Wakiso Deanery, Mr. Tabani Muhamoud who honoured the invitation and came, the Family relatives of the Xaverian Movement founder in Kampala the Late Fr. Stanislaus Matabaalo and other guests from all over Kampala and Uganda.