On the Occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Nswanjere Junior Seminary
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Grace, Peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. It is with profound joy that I convey my heartfelt congratulations to the Rector, Staff, Parents, Students, Old Boys, Friends, benefactors, and the entire family of Nswanjere Junior seminary on this auspicious occasion of our fiftieth birthday the Golden Jubilee. It is a memorable event, a landmark and therefore a cause to celebrate.
We thank the Lord for this beautiful seminary, not many dioceses have preparatory seminaries. Therefore, I congratulate you for all the achievements you have registered in the past fifty years. Nswanjere, famously known as Akalimiro k’Omukama has nurtured a number of notable Ugandans including His Lordship Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa, the Vicar General and Chancellors of Kampala Archdiocese and Kiyinda Mityana Diocese respectively, Priests, prominent people in Government and the private sector. Though I never had a chance to study from here, I have happy memories of Nswanjere. It was here; on the occasion of celebrating her Silver Jubilee in February 1989, that my Predecessor Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga announced that, he had appointed me as the Vicar General of Kampala Archdiocese.
I would like to acknowledge the innumerable people that have had a great stake in the life of Nswanjere since her inception. Particularly I thank the late Archbishop Dr Joseph Nakabaale Kiwanuka the founder of this seminary for his vision. Coincidentally today, 22nd February 2014, marks exactly 48 years since he passed on! I also thank the Late Gabriel Byandaala who gave us the land on which the seminary is built for his generosity, Fr. Loranger and Bro. Barnaba the pioneer white Missionaries who bravely laboured to develop the site in the heart of a thick forest habited by poisonous reptiles and wild animals. May their souls rest in eternal peace. I am very grateful to the Formators for the great work they have done right from the late Fr. John Mary Sserunjogi the first Rector. On the same note, special thanks go to Their Lordships John Baptist Kaggwa and Paul Ssemogerere, Bishops of Masaka and Kasana Luweero respectively and the respective formation teams to date.
I commend you to St. Joseph and Gabriel your patrons and to the glorious martyrs of Uganda. As you are aware, this year, on October 18th 2014, we will celebrate 50 years since the first 22 Uganda Martyrs were canonized in Rome by Pope Paul VI of happy memory. In addition to what you have been doing, I invite you to emulate the Uganda Martyrs, work towards forming young men who are zealous to teach the faith to others and happy to live the life of the gospel. I appeal to you all as a family of Nswanjere to participate in the various activities being organized, for example; Retreats, Crusades (Enjigiriza ey’ebikungo), Sports, Music Dance and Drama, and Fundraising Drives to improve the shrines, and places connected to the Uganda Martyrs.
May Mother Mary and the Uganda Martyrs be your Models and intercessors as you strive to form young men to be priests at the same time to be truly African, and authentically Catholic.
Wishing you happy celebrations, I impart my Episcopal Blessing upon you all.
Yours Sincerly in Christ
+Cyprian Kizito Lwanga
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