About 242 Christians have received the Sacrament of Confirmation in St. Charles Lwanga Town Parish, Fort Portal Catholic Diocese. Among them, 62 were confirmed on Saturday at Katojo Government Prison, and about 180 were confirmed on Saturday, September 15, at St. Charles Lwanga Town Parish in Fort Portal City
In his homily as the main Celebrant, Bishop Robert K. Muhiirwa Akiiki urged the newly confirmed to stay guided by the Holy Spirit they have received through personal and communal prayer. He cautioned them against peer groups that might negatively influence their lives but encouraged them to engage with church movements such as Holy Childhood, Xaverians, and Junior Legionaries to deepen their faith.
Praying for Vocations
Bishop Muhiirwa also stressed the importance of praying for vocations and arriving early for Mass, rather than just attending for the sake of a notable leader. He highlighted this year as a time of prayer, in line with Pope Francis’s call in preparation for the upcoming Jubilee year.
Mr. Joseph Ruwheza, Chairperson of the Council of Laity at St. Charles Lwanga Town Parish, committed to collaborating with the relevant committee to foster more vocations in the parish.
Representing the newly confirmed, Immaculate Mbabazi and Elizabeth Kansiime expressed their gratitude to their catechism teachers, parents, and priests for their spiritual guidance. They also thanked Bishop Muhiirwa for administering the Sacrament of Confirmation to them and promised to practice the teachings they have received.
Fr. Emmanuel Baguma, Parish Priest of St. Charles Lwanga, praised Bishop Muhiirwa and highlighted the parish’s efforts to keep children engaged with the church, including a children’s seminar in December. He encouraged parents to allow their children to participate in these activities and mentioned various ways the parish extends spiritual services, such as different Mass times and live streams for those abroad.
Virika Cathedral Renovation
Hon. Alex Ruhunda, MP for Fort Portal City, noted the lack of male parental presence and urged men to be actively involved in their families to nurture responsible citizens.
Ruhunda, who chairs the finance committee for Virika Cathedral renovation, also called for continued financial support for the renovation of Virika Cathedral, which currently requires about 1.6bn Shillings before November 2024.
In his closing remarks, Bishop Muhiirwa emphasized the need for the Vocations Committee, led by Mr. Sylvanus Banura, to intensify their efforts in fostering vocations through prayer and teamwork at the parish level. He encouraged the newly confirmed to envision their future, pray, and work diligently to achieve their goals.
