Uganda prepares to celebrate Martyrs Day
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&view=post&articleid=134002&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
With less than a month to go before the 2016 Uganda Martyrs Day celebration at Namugongo Catholic Shrine, the theme for this year’s event has been chosen. The theme, which has been extracted from the Gospel of John 8:32 is, “The Truth Will Make You Free.”The 3 June celebrations will be animated by the Uganda’s Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese. The theme of the celebrations was unveiled recently, at a press conference held at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat (UCS), by Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa the Ordinary of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese and Vice Chair of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC“The Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana last presided over the Martyrs Day celebrations in 1994 that was shortly after the visit of Pope John Paul II to Uganda in 1993,” Bishop Zziwa said. “The same Diocese is privileged this year to take the celebrations to a higher level following the successful visit of Pope Francis to Uganda last year, and the improvements of Namugongo sh...
With less than a month to go before the 2016 Uganda Martyrs Day celebration at Namugongo Catholic Shrine, the theme for this year’s event has been chosen. The theme, which has been extracted from the Gospel of John 8:32 is, “The Truth Will Make You Free.”
The 3 June celebrations will be animated by the Uganda’s Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese. The theme of the celebrations was unveiled recently, at a press conference held at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat (UCS), by Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa the Ordinary of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese and Vice Chair of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC
“The Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana last presided over the Martyrs Day celebrations in 1994 that was shortly after the visit of Pope John Paul II to Uganda in 1993,” Bishop Zziwa said. “The same Diocese is privileged this year to take the celebrations to a higher level following the successful visit of Pope Francis to Uganda last year, and the improvements of Namugongo shrine and grounds,” he added.
The annual celebrations commemorate the heroic faith of the 45 Martyrs, both Catholic and Anglican, who were burnt to death on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, the then King of Buganda between 1885 and 1887. Twenty-two Catholic Martyrs were beatified on 6 June 1920, by Pope Benedict XV, and on 18 October 1964, Pope Paul VI canonised them as Saints. In addition to the Catholic Martyrs, there are two Catechists from Paimol; Blessed Daudi Okelo and Blessed Gildo Irwa who were killed in 1918. Pope Saint John Paul II beatified the two Catechists on 20 October 2002.
Meanwhile, Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese and the UCS, which constitute the central organising committee, are working hand in hand to make the required preparations. So far, 11 committees have been formed comprising members from Kiyinda-Mityana; members from the UCS and government representatives. The committees include Pastoral and Liturgy, Transport and Protocol, Publicity and Communication, Catering and Welfare, Construction and Decoration, Finance, Security, Pilgrims, Medical, Sanitation and Ushering.
Martyrs Day in Uganda is a national public holiday. The preparations and the actual celebrations have been estimated to cost at least Ushs450m (about US$135 000).
(By Jacinta Odongo, Uganda Episcopal Conference)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va
Full Article
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275275&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
null / Credit: Peter Hermes Furian via ShutterstockACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) on April 19 condemned the kidnapping and murder of a catechist in Burkina Faso, West Africa.In a news brief, ACN informed ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that catechist Edouard Yougbare was kidnapped on Thursday night by "terrorists, and his lifeless body was found near Zigni this morning."According to other local sources, along with Yougbare, who was a member of Saatenga parish in Fada Gourma, Burkina Faso, more people were kidnapped and murdered."We are heartbroken by the loss of Yougbare. He served his community faithfully and his death is a devastating blow for the people of Saatenga," lamented Spaniard María Lozano, press and public relations director of ACN International."Catechists in Burkina Faso are on the front lines, risking their lives for the good of their people. Just two months ago, ano...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275268&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Pope Francis addresses the faithful at his Wednesday general audience on March 27, 2024. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Apr 19, 2024 / 10:07 am (CNA).In the latest move in Pope Francis' reform of the Vatican judiciary, the pope issued a new motu proprio on Friday on the retirement age and benefits for cardinal judges and magistrates in the Vatican's court system.The April 19 motu proprio states that Vatican magistrates will retire at the end of the judicial year in which they turn 75 and cardinal judges at the age of 80, unless Pope Francis asks them to remain in office beyond the age limit.Magistrates and judges who wish to resign from office before the retirement age can only do so with the approval of the pope.The pope also has the prerogative to dismiss magistrates unable to fulfill their duties at any time. Upon the termination of their duties, magistrates will retain the rights to assistance and welfare provided to Vatican citizens and employees.The motu proprio, wh...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275264&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow announced on April 14, 2024, the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017. / Credit: The Helena Kmiec FoundationACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow, Poland, announced the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017.The prelate said that after the preliminary phase began in December 2022, he made the decision to officially open the process for Kmiec after having consulted the Polish Bishops' Conference and receiving the go-ahead from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints."With this edict I call on all those who have any document, letter, or information about the Servant of God, both positive and negative, to send them to the Metropolitan Curia of Krakow before June 30," the archbish...