Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kampala (Fides Service) – “The martyrs of Uganda have in common the following of Christ as disciples modelling their life on the words of Jesus, as apostles they offered the gift of conversion to others by becoming missionaries among their own people…Through them the Gospel which was previously unknown and unfamiliar, has become ‘African’.” This was said by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples has he continued his pastoral visit in Uganda and presided a special Mass on June 3, the feast of the Uganda’s martyrs, (kept also by the universal Church) at the martyrs shrine in Namugongo, on the outskirts of Kampala. “The destiny of Charles Lwanga and Matia Mulumba and companion martyrs, as is also the case of Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa (boy catechists martyred at Paimol and beatified on 20 October 2002), fulfilled a forecast pronounced by Tertullian in the times of the early persecuted Church: the blood of martyrs is the seed of new Christians. In fact after their persecution, Uganda has known a flourishing of Christianity, which is perhaps greater than that of any other African country ” .
Cardinal Sepe told thousands of people who had arrived at dawn at the Shrine that to remember the martyrs is to “learn from them to live as authentic Christians and true Africans”. This is why they are “shining examples” under various aspects. They are examples of faith and loyalty because “even though they were young, they had, within a short period of time, a profound understanding of the Christian vocation and they lived the values of faith with determination. For them Jesus Christ was not a reality they could choose today and abandoned tomorrow – said the Prefect of the Missionary Department, adding -. These sons of Africa are an example and a challenge for all those today who lack the strength and the courage to be faithful and they allow themselves be taken away from the Christian community by new doctrines, betraying the faith, they abandon the Church or live as enemies of the Christian name received in Baptism ”.
They are also examples of apostolic zeal because they realised that “it is not enough to receive the great gift the faith, it must be shared with others by means of a coherent life style and the conviction of one’s words”; examples of responsibility because “their witness reminds us that all Christians must assume their share of responsibility in their community”; lastly “with their heroic example of suffering violence rather than using it against others, they call the attention of the people of Uganda, suffering and torn asunder by ethnic and political divisions, to a steadfast unity and a lasting peace; exercising forgiveness, reconciliation and seeking justice and truth”.
At the end of his homily Cardinal Sepe told those present “we cannot renounce or abdicate our obligation to work for peace”; “Peace is such a great gift that we must confidently and assiduously never tire of asking for it in prayer…like Jesus, Charles Lwango and his companions together with Daudi Okelo and Jilda Irwa, ask us not to fear and to persevere. May their example and intercession in heaven obtain for the faithful of Uganda and of the whole of Africa the grace of perseverance, strength and generosity in the faith.” (Fides Service 3/6//2003 EM lines 36 Words: 508)
