At Least 2500 Christians are estimated to witness priestly and deaconate ordinations at Our lady of the holy rosary Yerya Catholic parish, ahead of the ordination day in Fort Portal diocese. This will mark the 1st set of ordinations in the diocese this year, the second slated on August 13, 2022.
Candidates
Of the four candidates to be ordained priests, Include deacons Peter Kyomuhendo, Innocent Muhumuza, Adolf Mwesige and Peter Mwesige, whereas six Seminarians namely Joseph Amanyire, Joseph Birungi, Faustine Kaizire, Matia Mulumba, Peter Mwesige and Clovice Ruhuma, will be ordained deacons, tomorrow August 6, 2022, at Yerya Parish, Bunyangabu district, Fort Portal diocese.
According to Fr. Francis Bamanyisa, Parish priest Yerya, the preparations have reached climax, with different departments at the venue ready, to ensure regularity tomorrow.
The parish, he says, has prepared for about 2500 Christians, anticipated to witness the function. Of the anticipated people, includes parents, relatives and friends of those to be ordained, plus lay Christians, the clergy, religious and invited guests at large.
Concerning security, Fr. Bamanyisa has revealed that two security men are expected in the area as early as today, and that catering has started their role already.
Christians highly delighted of the day
Elizabeth Kabahenda, a Christian from Yerya, is delighted of their parish hosting the big function of ordinations, and hopes tomorrow’s activities enlighten the young Christians on the uniqueness of priesthood as a vocation.
The day’s programme
According to Fr. Bamanyisa, The function will commence with Holy Mass at 10am, with Bishop Muhiirwa as the main celebrant.
Later after mass, only Four speeches from the Parish, The newly ordained, the Parents of the ordained and the government representative will be expected, before the function can close.
Why Yerya for ordinations
According to Fr. Richard Bomera, the Vocations director Fort Portal diocese, This year Ordinations are set to take place in two different days, Yerya and Bukwali parish respectively.
Fr. Bomera, notes that Yerya has the biggest number of ordination candidates this year, and also Bukwali has been granted chance hold ordinations, since it has not hosted the exercise for a number of years.
The vocations director, explained that for reasons of doing away with bigger expenses that come along with a general celebration, two days were set apart for the ordinations.
Unlike previously, the number of priests has gradually increased in the diocese. For instance this year’s candidates are many, meaning if you have to organize for them, you will need a big function that attracts thousands of people, bearing in mind that each candidate comes with their friends, parents and also Christians. Revealed Fr. Bomera.
Previous ordinations
In the past times, priestly ordinations would take place at a candidate’s respective parish, and the preparations would entirely be on that Parish, because the number of those joining the vocation was still relatively low.
with the number of entrants in the vocation increasing, the ordinations were pushed to deaneries and finally cathedral.
Currently, ordinations commonly take place in the cathedral, but the diocese has had a busy year 2022, with big events like leading the Namugongo celebrations, and fundraising for the Virika cathedral leaking roof, which have taken big sums of money.
To avoid, another related expense, the diocese has bisected the general function into two, Yerya and Bukwali Parishes respectively.
