…thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (Psalm 138:2)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.(Ephesians 2:8-9)
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags(Isaiah 64: 6)
It is also written that :
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.( John 3:16-19)
It is further written that :
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.( 1 John 5:11-12)
Must read:
When Catholics make a big fuss about Catholic martyrs and remain silent about the millions of protestant martyrs that were killed by the catholic church: Bishop Kakooza rallies Catholics for Martyrs’ day
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2014/05/when-catholics-make-big-fuss-about.html
The Witchcraft of Roman Catholicism: Holy steps in Rome claims to have blood stains of Jesus
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-witchcraft-of-roman-catholicism.html
88-year old retired catechist walks 340km to Namugongo
Publish Date: Jun 02, 2014
Bernard Tibyagye on arrival at Namugongo. Photo/Juliet Lukwago
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| Catholics pray in Namugongo in 2011 |
Eighty eight- year old retired Catholic catechist, Bernard Tibyagye of St Andrea Kaggwa, Kitabi Parish in Bushenyi, in Mbarara Archdiocese has made his third pilgrimage to Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrines on foot.
Tibyagye, who served as catechist in the Catholic Church for 45 years, led a group of 17 pilgrims who included youth and elderly men and women from his home parish. The group started their journey on May 11, 2014 at 5pm with their first stop over at Kashaka trading center, some 47kilometres from their base. They arrived at Namugongo on Saturday, May 24.
The distance from Kitabi to Namugongo is 340km, which is a 4-hour journey by bus .“Although some people take it to be a very tiresome journey, for me I have managed to accomplish what I set out to do. Together with my group, we moved during day and early in the evenings as we have been doing on the previous two occasions, of course with the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs,” Tibyagye, who appeared strong, told The New Vision at Catholic Shrine Namugongo on Saturday.
Tibyagye is welcomed by Kampala Archbisop Cyprian Lwanga. Photo/Juliet Lukwago
He said they made stopovers at Kashaka, Biharwe Catholic Parish in the Archdiocese of Mbarara and Ssanga Parish near Mbarara Municipality from where proceeded to Kijjukizo-Lyantonde Parish.He said from Kijjukizo, they went to Kyazanga Catholic Parish, Masaka-Kimannya Parish, Ggoli Catholic Parish, Mpigi Parish, Bakateyamba Home Nalukolongo and from there to Namugongo where they arrived on Saturday, May 24.
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| Catholics pray at Namugongo |
“Wherever we passed, priests and well-wishers gave us food and water. We came with small jerrycans of water,” he said adding, “To do pilgrimage is one of the sacrifices.” He explained that they moved as a team and are still together.
He said he feels very happy and well after the journey. He noted that wherever they passed people would ask them to pray for them.
“Imagine the Uganda Martyrs, they used to move from Mityana to Nalukolongo, what about us who move only once a year.”
“We walked while reciting prayers including Rosary, praying for others and souls in purgatory, and praising God for the gift of life he has given us to manage to walk, because we left many other people who wanted to join us behind due to sickness.” He cited his wife Terezia Matobane who was not able to come
“Since I came to Namugongo, I never feel any sickness at all; I sleep here on the verandah of the Basilica and it’s my wish because I have to thank God for whatever his doing for me and my family. The only word I can say as youth used to say that in Uganda Martyrs name “malako” and they have given strength. The martyrs have provides for us, I thank them.”
He said he came with special petitions for the country, family, souls in purgatory, religious and political leaders and other people in need of prayers.
He recalled that in 1969, during Pope Paul VI’s visit he got chance to come to Namugongo. “It was not my wish but as Catechist they paid for me to come and represent others from my home parish,” he said.
Tibagye has 16 children including a nun and a catechist. The group expects to travel back to Bushenyi by bus on June 5.
300km-trek to Namugongo
Publish Date: Jun 03, 2013
The pilgrims on the Northern Bypass.
By Jeff Andrew Lule
This is not about fun like many think, but one’s commitment for a certain purpose to brave the hard conditions like the martyrs went through for their faith,” the seemingly drowsy Cyraco Magara says.
Magara, 49, is one of the 30 people from Mbonwa parish, Ibanda district that I caught up with along Masaka road on their journey to Namugongo.
Fauster Nyangoma, 58, Jacob Kobwemi and Moses Arinda, 26, are also walking to the Namugongo Shrine, where the martyrs were executed for their faith 125 years ago. They all look drained.
They persist on their journey via the Northern By-pass. After about five kilometers, they find shelter under a tree by the road, have a snack while some wash their clothes in a nearby stream. They later sleep for about one hour before proceeding with the journey at about 2:15pm.
“We are very tired because we started moving from Katende Parish where we slept on Monday night. We began moving at about 7:00am and we have not rested since. But we have no regrets because it is worth it. What we are going through brings us new hope,” Magara says.
Magara is an LC3 councillor of Mpasha Parish, Rukiri sub-county and leader of the group. He says they left some slow group members far behind. “But we intend to regroup at Namugongo on our way back home on June 3,” he adds.
This group started their walk on May 20, 2013 at midnight after nine days of prayer at their local church.
By bus it would cost them sh35,000 each, but according to Magara, it has cost more to walk the 300km journey.
“We have to spend about sh100,000 on food, drinks and transport per person, because we made the decision to walk,” he explains.
It is Magara’s first time to walk to Namugongo. He wants to pray for his family and believes praying through the martyrs will help him get what he prays for.
No easy walk
Magara and his friends have used more than two pairs of sandals. “Plastic sandals are cheap. They get worn out quickly because of heat and tarmac, but they are affordable,” he says with a smile.
Over the nine-day trek, they have so far slept over in Mitooma and Nyakasharara (Kiruhura district)Catholic centre, Kazo, Kinoni, St. Jude Kyazanga, Butende, Mitala Maria and Katende parishes.
But the sleep was short, for theywould wake up very early at about 3:00am to pray before resuming the journey.
He left a wife and two children 12 and nine at home.
Why they walked
Nyangoma says since 2011 she has been going to Namugongo to get blessings and her problems are always solved. “I believe the prayers do wonders. I want to pray for so many things, especially my children I left at home,” she notes.
Kobwemi says it is his first time to Namugongo. “I joined after a friend told me that I would get blessings. I am a farmer and I want God to help me in all my work.”
Arinda says he walked to get a job. “I dropped out of school in S2 and learnt to drive, but have no job yet.”
1,500 pilgrims arrive at Namugongo
Publish Date: May 31, 2014
A Christian prays at the site where the Catholic Martyr Charles Lwanga was killed at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, May.29, 2014. Matyrs day is celebrated on June.3.
By Jeff Andrew Lule and John Agaba About 1,500 pilgrims from different parts of the country and other neighbouring countries have registered at the Namugongo Catholic Martyrs’ Shrine.
The in-charge of the shrine, the Rev Fr. Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, told New Vision online that they had received about 600 pilgrims from Kabale, Bushenyi, Kanungu, Mpigi, Teso, Kotido, Rakai and Lyantonde.
He said they had so far received 10 pilgrims from the US, 300 from Tanzania, 110 from South Sudan, three from DR Congo and 16 from Rwanda.
The first group of 20 pilgrims arrived on May 24 from Bushenyi.
“Many of those who come from abroad rent hotels and apartments in Kyaliwajala and Namugongo. Residents rent out their houses to the pilgrims and our role is to make sure they are safe,” he added.
Muwonge said they were facing problems with accommodation for local pilgrims. At the shrine, hundreds of pilgrims were lying on the verandah of the Basilica with their luggage.
Others slept on mattresses and polythene bags in the compound. Muwonge said they planned to construct accommodation facilities, but were constrained by funds.
He said they were working closely with the Police to ensure pilgrims were safe. At Nakiyanja Anglican Martyrs’ Shrine, preparations were in high gear, with the main emphasis on the sitting facilities, which cost organisers about sh120m.
The principal of Uganda Martyrs’ Seminary, Namugongo and the in- charge of the shrine, the Rev. Can. Henry Segawa, said they were set for D-day.
At both shrines, security has been tightened and all pilgrims go through a thorough check, conducted by uniformed and non- uniformed Police officers.
They have also deployed the Anti- bomb squad at both premises, with sniffer dogs. Namirembe Diocese is organis- ing this year’s celebrations at the Anglican Shrine, while Kotido Archdiocese is leading prayers at the Catholic Shrine.
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