The Archbishop of Mbarara, Lambert Bainomugisha, has implored the newly ordained priests to emulate the Deeds of Jesus Christ while serving people and transforming them without segregation.
Archbishop Bainomugisha was leading Mass for the ordination of 16 seminarians to the diaconate and 8 deacons to the priesthood at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral grounds in Nyamitanga on Saturday.
‘While doing the work of the Lord, do it in a way that unites Christians through Christ and the Holy Spirit; always be inspired by the deeds of the good lord and his son Jesus Christ who came to serve the world,’ he said.
He urged the priests and deacons to remain focused on the gospel of truth. ‘As shepherds of God’s flock with all your heart and love filled with joy, don’t serve two masters. Be disciplined and wise servers, be rooted in faith, never lose hope, and spread the word of God based on your deeds’.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, Mr Thomas Tayebwa, in his remarks as the chief guest at the ordination, reaffirmed the archbishop’s remarks, urging the new priests and deacons to embrace unity and transform communities regardless of religion.
‘Continue from where your predecessors had stopped while working with all people regardless of their religion. Let us embrace unity and work with people from other religions,’ he noted.
Mr Tayebwa asked church leaders to ensure that church projects benefit all people despite of religious affiliation.
‘Let those church projects you are working on benefit all people in our communities without selecting beneficiaries based on religion. As government, we shall support all the church developmental projects for the good of our communities,’ he said.
He added, ‘There is an issue of poverty in families, and I urge all church leaders to support the government in the fight against poverty. When you are the leader of a certain church, you should know the standards of your people and know how you can support them to develop’.
Mr Tayebwa tasked church leaders to as well support the government efforts in the fight against corruption.
‘I implore you, church leaders, to help the government in the fight against corruption, which has become a virus to the development of our nation; report PDM corrupt officials and service commission offices where people are asked bribes to be recruited,’ he said.
The Rwampara East legislator, Mr Charles Ngabirano, wants the newly ordained priests to ensure that local communities escape poverty by guiding them on the best ways to transform themselves.
‘I congratulate the priests and deacons who have been ordained today and welcome them to service. I am happy when I get other leaders who join me to enhance the development of our people. I believe that working together with them, we shall ensure that our communities get out of poverty,’ he said.
He added, ‘I like the coffee project that was started by the church. Community people will be developed in two dimensions: in the spirit and in physical development.’
Ms Ritah Bwahika Atukwasa, former woman MP Mbarara City, appealed to the locals to welcome and support the new priests in their communities once they come to them in the fight against poverty.
‘We have been privileged to get priests and deacons ordained; I congratulate whoever has been there on their journey. Most of them have been on this journey for over nine years. I also want to appeal to people in the areas where these priests have been deployed to welcome and support them; you know priests have no salaries, support them on their human daily needs to be able to serve you well,’ she said.
She added, ‘I also implore the ordained priests to support government programs through fighting poverty, encouraging people to plant coffee, doing a four-acre model, and doing backyard gardens so that they can improve their livelihoods.’