Catholics From Uganda

"The vocation to serve as a priest is a commitment that must be embraced with love and perseverance in the midst of challenges. Love, perseverance and humility are among the basic conditions for success in the priestly ministry. Anyone who is called to serve as a priest should be accompanied in a solid and spiritual journey and sustained in his formation, with the aim of obtaining a positive result in the Church."

"The research into symbols is essential to interpret the supernatural world, not only the one outside us but also the one inside us through the sanctifying grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Keeping in mind the love of Africans for rituals, it is important that their meaning interiorises the values involved."

"In the Priesthood of Christ I see one thing: being closer to the people because we work hard to bridge the gaps, the separation, which may be a reality in the Church or the ministry."

"Local or indigenous religious Institutes should coordinate and cooperate more among themselves with Episcopal Conferences, and above all among the Institutes themselves. Sometimes you see them as if they are opposing elements."

"In caring for God's people entrusted to me in Masaka Diocese, I put great emphasis on the teaching of Vatican II. When I returned from Rome I tried my best to direct the diocese and run the diocese on fundamental realities I had learned from the Council."

"I still remain a Ugandan, but in the family of the Catholic people in South Africa. So, it is just sharing that we have come to share our faith with the people of Southern Africa."

"The way I look at vulnerable people, and my understanding of humanity has changed. For me, this is no longer just an assignment that I was given by the other Bishops in Southern Africa. This is now my vocation."

"May the Lord God help us to work together for the common good of all the people of God that we all serve. For God and my country."

"Prepare the population to receive a message of a universal pastor, a pastor of the church, he's not a politician but he's a man of God."

"Give priority to education, as it was the basis for the future development of their children and thus of the country. If you encourage your children to take part in the initiatives of the local Catholic Church, the future of the Church and Ugandan society is assured"

"God created human beings in his own image. Live together as a unit regardless of race, tribe and political affiliation. God always shows mercy and forgiveness to his people."

"We cannot hope to raise human persons with strong moral character if their education is not founded on faith in God. That is why the first missionaries in Uganda simultaneously built churches and schools. Where they failed to convert directly the elders, they eventually succeeded by converting the young generation through schools. In such cases, when the young people were evangelized and converted to Christianity, they in turn evangelized the elders."

"People who turn to withchdoctors lose their money and then complain about being poor instead of using such money to improve their living conditions."

"Effective partnership is highly commendable. As a confederation, we share common values and principals, respect the dignity of human beings, believe in solidarity and sharing, are dedicated to service and are convinced that subsidiarity is the key to harmonious cooperation between partners."

"I still get nervous at times for not knowing what kind or size of the audience to expect or even how they will receive you because it’s always a different reception"

"My husband is part of my jokes and I have put him on stage sometimes; so he is supportive of my journey"

"From his stories told with a tough face, everyone in the family is crazy in their own way, We are all comedians by nature because we find fun in almost everything."

"It’s funny how people think that we just jump on stage and start yapping yet we spend time preparing for the best show"

"My first and foremost concern is to offer the Church priests and religious who are motivated and well formed to serve the faithful."

"We must improve our living together by seeking a deeper dialogue on issues that separate us, but taking into account the orientation of the Catholic Church. We must remember the admonition of Paul VI to the effect that the ecumenical dialogue there should be no compromise on doctrinal issues."

"The command of Christ to evangelise all nations is still as urgent today in our times as it was at the beginning of the Church. Through the centuries many approaches to evangelisation have been tried, even in Africa. Some have worked, others have not. That is why in the last few years the Church in Africa and especially in the AMECEA countries has opted for the establishment of the SCCs as a valid option for evangelisation."

"Natural laws cannot be ignored, just as one cannot ignore the directives contained in the manufacturer's manual if one wishes his machine to function well. The physical world has laws which must be respected. Both prophets of doom and of hope have extensively written about the deteriorating condition of this earth as man's home, and most of them have made suggestions on how to reverse the situation. Environmental protection has become a global issue deserving the attention of everybody."

"It has been mentioned many times in our discussions that we, religious leaders, should face our governments and protest against their bad governance. We have done it many times but we do not seem to be getting much success. When we protest, they sometimes criticize that we are interfering in politics and that we should confine ourselves to religious matters only. They think that we are supporting one or other of the political parties on the opposition. We should make it clear to them that religious matters include defending the rights of the people."

"We welcome them as our brothers and sisters, and we want them to stay with us as one people. So the people are open to receive them, but they're also concerned that other must help us care for these refugees."

"Even if they don't love the Bishop, I am not eternal and time will come for me to move on. Destroying church property is unjustifiable. People who are in their good mind seek dialogue, but if you go and destroy to express yourself, it shows that you have no capacity for dialogue."

"We will continue to work in the spirit of the Comboni missionaries, opening new parishes especially in towns like Arua, Koboko, Moyo and Adjumani, and expand the network of centers of Catechism throughout the entire diocesan territory. In this sense we are a missionary diocese, because we have many priestly and religious vocations."

"We must thank God for all the benefits which have come from the Ugandan martyrs. May these African ancestors of ours obtain for us the love that has spread the Christian faith."

"Leadership without sound principles is, in my view, the main one. How shall we address this problem? I see no other way other than education. We should influence family and formal education to include basic democratic principles which we find in the Social Doctrine of the Church."

"I don't know these so-called priests, and the Church should not be scared. Many such people have emerged in Uganda and gone. I advise Ugandans neither to follow nor listen to them because they intend to divide the church."

"We need to take care of our environment both for our own generation and for the generation to come. In connection with future generation it is important to note that rapid population growth can contribute to environmental deterioration. The Catholic Church, while holding every human life dear and sacred, has nevertheless for decades believed in and taught responsible parenthood. This teaching and the acceptable methods need to be propagated both for the promotion of individual persons and families and for the protection of environment."

"To exist, you don’t have to put in any effort, apart from may be eating. But to live, you have to do certain things, to add value to your life. Christianity is also a life. You can profess it, but add nothing to it. On the other hand, you can also go an extra mile and participate actively in the various activities of the Church."

"We need to the right thing. Take this seriously, not to verbalize about it, and not to talk."

"Eat that money without compromising with them. If they come to bribe you, accept the money but don’t vote for them because you will be alone while voting. Do not fear because you will have committed no sin and God cannot be angry with you."

"The Martyrs themselves are role models for our Christian families in Africa, Uganda and especially in Tororo."

"Young girls are not free to live in this society, we are trying to do what we can, from the grassroots to my office, to see that domestic violence is reduced to zero."

"Many get problems because they no longer have faith in their lives, and some get something small and end up killing themselves. We do not know where this world is heading to after people losing faith and start behaving badly in public. If people continue to lose faith in their lives many bad things will continue to happen in this world, which leads many people to do ill to others."

"I did not want to become bishop. But when I considered the fact that my people have been praying for a bishop for a very long time, and also remembering that I would not be looked at well at home if I rejected the appointment, I then surrendered to God and said let God’s will be done."

"Man is the most important element of the environment whose involvement in the environmental conservation both in mind and body is important."

"It's a journey we're walking together and with the different structures in the Church that involve all lay faithful, no bag of answers will remain untouched with God in control. Just like Jesus asked for the what the disciples had to feed the large crowd, we all have a role to play. What the faithful suggest, we shall work together."

"Our forefathers were backsliding for instance Simon Peter felt overburdened by Jesus issues and decided to go back and fish, such temptations still exist. There is danger in our African Church. Paul was teaching that what we are teaching cannot be seen but it has value. If we stop praising and reading the Bible to explain it, even if you give out posho and beans, it is not what God asked us to do."

"The legacy of the emeritus Archbishop Paul Bakyenga is very difficult to emulate but I will do my best to feet in his shoes He was a very strong man in leadership. I cherish his vision and particularly nurturing and mentoring me as young bishop."

"Certainly, it is my conviction and belief that, peace project is God's project. He only employs us as workers in the field; therefore we have to be attentive to listen through the word of God and Scripture and the Social teaching of the Church. It is the re-echoing the voice of God."

"To me, issues of pleasure should not be mixed with issues of life and death. All said and done, I stand with the position of the Catholic Church."

"I am a man of faith therefore a bearer of hope. All is not lost. With the help of the international community peace can still be saved."