Africa-Press – Uganda. RELIGION
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Kyebando (in Kawempe Division) has elevated its spectacle following the commissioning of the Grotto of Mother Mary on its premises.
The cave-like solid structure was officially blessed and commissioned by the Spiritan clerics of Mulago Catholic Church, The Rev Fr Vincent Kafuuma and Fr Nicholas Kerebba Mumbi on November 29.The Grotto was funded by one Christian couple, Juliana and Jimmy Douglas Mugerwa, to immortalise their late Mother Juliana Kato, who was a supportive member of the church and also, a passionate devotee of the Catholic ecclesial movement of the Legion of Mary.Mugerwa said his mother in-law Juliana Kato, who died on June 24, 2019 (aged 91), was an exemplary Christian and parent with very outstanding virtues and commitment to the Catholic faith, which was why they considered it right and just to build a Grotto of Mary in her memory.
He nonetheless acknowledged that it was the entrepreneur Emmanuel Katongole, the reigning Chairman of Cipla Quality Chemicals Industries, who gave him the advice. “Lady Juliana Nakabugo Kato was a wonderful woman. She was peaceful, friendly, generous and patient. She was deeply committed to St Thomas Aquinas Catholic sub-parish Church. As far as I can remember, it was our brother Emmanuel Katongole who gave us the advice of immortalising my mother-in-law, when we were sending her off.”As we brainstormed on what we could do in her memory, Emma advised me to build a grotto. So, we kept the Mabugo (condolence money) that we had got from our relatives and friends and used it to do the construction work. We had to add on some more money though.”Mugerwa said finishing the project of the grotto, during this very difficult time of the Covid-19 pandemic was something he could not take for granted.”It has taken us a number of years to finish this grotto, but it is done. By the way, it also took King Solomon seven years to complete the temple. So, despite the many challenges that have come with Covid-19, I mean loss of lives, loss of jobs, the crippling of people’s businesses, among others, I am happy that the work of building this grotto has been completed. Yes, we have challenges, but we also need to appreciate God for the things He gives us, even in the face of challenges.”Mugerwa said he could not tell the exact amount of money that the family spent on the grotto. He only said, “It was much.”Fr Vincent Kafuuma, who presided over the thanksgiving mass and Fr Nicholas Kerebba Mumbi, the parish-priest of Mulago Catholic parish, both commended the family of Mugerwa for building the Marian Grotto at the sub-parish church.
Fr Kerebba asked the Christians to take advantage of the grotto to deepen their devotion to Mother Mary and also, to seek her intercession as they pray for themselves, for the Church and for the country.The function was graced by prominent people including the former deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Louis Kasekende (and his wife Edith), The Speaker of the Buganda Lukiiko, The Rt Hon Patrick Luwaga Mugumbule (and his wife Margaret Nantongo), the accountant Francis Kamulegeya, Deo Kayiwa, Brigadier General Flavia Byekwaso, Counsel Francis Buule, Engineer Robert Seriiso and the entrepreneur Joseph Yiga, to name a few.Fundraising campaign for Mulago PresbyteryIn a dramatic turn of events, what was previously the official commissioning of the grotto ended up as a fundraising drive for the construction of the presbytery of Mulago Catholic Church, which takes jurisdiction over Kyebando.It all started when the head of the laity of Mulago parish, Proscovia Ssebunnya, who was one of the guests, was invited to greet the congregation.Mugerwa somehow spoke about their plan of building a new presbytery at Mulago, which she said, had been somehow disrupted by the advent of Covid-19.She said the parish council would start building a new presbytery as soon as things normalise because the current one was just a tiny house, unfit for priests.The entrepreneur Katongole was not amused when he heard that the priests of the Highest God were staying in a tiny house.So, when he was given the microphone to address the people, he proposed that fundraising for the new project gets started.”Many of my friends here grew up in the village but there were good presbyteries. I also grew up in the village, although I was needy unlike some of my friends. Anyway, this is the first time for me to hear that priests are sleeping in a tiny building! So please, let us take action.”Katongole subsequently donated 200 bags off cement towards the project.Other guests, who included the accountant Francis Kamulegeya and Rt Hon Patrick Luwaga Mugumbule also promised to make a contribution.Ssebunnya said the new presbytery would consume an estimated sh600m.
