Clare
In preparation for today’s ordinations at Iborooga Catholic Parish, three seminarians were yesterday instituted into the ministries of Lector and Acolyte at Mass in the rite held at St. Adolf Ongoing Formation Center Mukabura in Fort Portal City.
The newly appointed Lectors, will proclaim the Word of God during Mass, while the Acolytes will serve at the Altar, assisting priests and deacons and distributing Holy Communion.
During the same Mass, three deacons took an oath of fidelity and profession of faith ahead of today ‘s ordinations.
Presiding over the Installation Mass, Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese, urged the acolytes and lectors in his homily to avoid envy, pride, and laziness in their upcoming ministries and duties.
Deacons briefed on sincerity
As the seminarians and deacons transition to new stages, the Bishop urged them to embrace sincerity, acknowledge their weaknesses, and pray earnestly for God’s guidance in their responsibilities, drawing a parallel to David in the Bible who relied on God despite his flaws.
Bishop Muhiirwa also reminded the candidates that their journey would not always be as easy as they would imagine, and advised them to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and intercession from Mother Mary during challenging times.
Earlier before the Mass, at the Annual General Meeting between the seminarians, deacons, and the Bishop, Mr. Francis Tuhaise, Executive Director of Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice (RFPJ), encouraged the candidates to priesthood to be adaptable to the changing expectations of modern priests from their congregations.
As the keynote speaker at the AGM, Tuhaise emphasized the importance of priests being available to their communities, leading by example, avoiding scandalous behavior, empathizing with their parishioners, administering sacraments without complaint, standing for truth, and being soul healers and unifiers in the increasingly challenging world.
Rev. Fr. Richard Bomera, the Vocations’ Director, commended the seminarians and aspiring seminarians for their participation in the retreat and urged them to remain focused on their vocations.
