History of Holy Cross Congregation in Uganda

 

Having received an invitation through Propaganda Fide, the Congregation of Holy Cross sent missionaries from the United States to Uganda in 1958. The first group, which consisted of four priests, arrived on November 4. They were led by Servant of God, Fr. Vincent J. McCauley, C.S.C., who later became the first Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Portal. Within a year, they were joined by three brothers.

The Congregation was entrusted with the northern part of Mbarara Diocese, which later evolved into the present-day dioceses of Fort Portal, Hoima, and Kasese. During the 1960s, Holy Cross brothers and priests dedicated themselves to establishing and building up the local Church in Uganda through pastoral work and education.

Special attention was given both to basic evangelization and to educational and social development. This included the construction of basic infrastructure, including churches, schools, and clinics.

The military coup on January 25, 1971, and the rise to power of Idi Amin Dada ushered in eight years of persecution, violence, and suffering for Uganda. Despite political pressure and threats of violence against its missionaries, the Congregation remained in Uganda, ministering to the needs of the people.

The 1980s marked a new beginning for the life and work of Holy Cross in East Africa. For the first time, the Congregation began accepting vocations from Africa. Prior to that, all vocations had been directed to the dioceses so as to establish the local clergy and the local church. Since then, there has been a steady stream of vocations, building up the Congregation in the region.

Read vocation stories of Holy Cross brothers and priests

I am challenged by the zeal shown by those first Holy Cross missionaries to be zealous in the tasks assigned to me, that just like them, the men I help form will be hope for the people of Uganda of today and tomorrow. – Rev. Ronnie Nguvu, C.S.C.   Read more ...

Today in Uganda, the Congregation administers two parishes: Holy Cross Parish in Bugembe, which includes three primary schools, and St. Jude Tadeo Parish, which has a vocational school.

Holy Cross also administers two secondary schools that cater to students who could not otherwise afford an education: St. Joseph’s Hill Secondary School in Kyarusozi and Holy Cross Lake View Secondary School in Jinja, which has been recognized nationally for its academic excellence.

Jinja, Uganda, is home to St. Andre Formation House for young men aspiring to become priest or brother candidates in Holy Cross, and is located near the picturesque headwaters of the Nile River. The Holy Cross Novitiate for East Africa is located at the edge of Lake Saaka, near the city of Fort Portal.

Up until 2022, the community of Holy Cross in Ugana, as well as Kenya and Tanzania, had been a district under the canonical responsibility of the U.S. Province, yet due to the growth in vocations and corresponding expansion in apostolates in the region, the 2022 General Chapter decreed the establishment of the Province of East Africa. Formally established on January 1, 2023, the new province celebrated its establishment on January 8 in a packed Virika Cathedral in Fort Portal.

For a listing of the Congregation's schools, parishes, and other apostolic works in Uganda, check out the ministries page.

 

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The Life of Servant of God Vincent McCauley

 

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• Life of Servant of God Vincent McCauley

Like The Uganda Martyrs full of faith, hope, and love, we shall overcome

 

INTERCEDING FOR GOD’S INTERVENTION AGAINST THE PANDEMIC OF COVID 19

Dear beloved People of God,

This year, when the entire world is hit by the COVID 19 Pandemic, and so, prompted to adopt new norms like social distancing, the Uganda Episcopal Conference made the historic and momentous decision to suspend public celebrations of the Solemnity of the Uganda Martyrs’ Day at Namugongo. Nevertheless, as stated by the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference in his 30th April 2020 Press Release, Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations can be organized at Diocesan level.

In the Archdiocese of Kampala, celebrations involving a few chosen people will be held at the Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine, Namugongo on Wednesday 3rd June 2020. Mass will begin at 10.00 a.m. The celebrations will be broadcast on various social and electronic media platforms in order to reach the faithful and enable them to follow and pray from their homes.

However, the Eucharistic celebration of Uganda Martyrs’ Day is going to be preceded by a Novena to the Holy Martyrs’ of Uganda. The solemn commencement of this Novena will take place on Ascension Sunday (24 th May 2020). This e-book hasbeen arranged to assist all Christians in prayer during the Novena to the Uganda Martyrs. Let us pray this Novena to the Uganda Martyrs’ in our homes and continue to ask for their intercession for the sick and dying, for those caring for them, for those working to minimize the impact of COVID-19, for those who have been displaced due to the floods in various parts of the country, for those who have lost their crops and food due to the locusts in the north eastern part of Uganda and for God’s protection against all these hazards. Since God has always promised to be with us, let us turn to him in prayer, remain calm and help our brothers and sisters in need.

We remember with Joy that the coming of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) was in response to the deep prayer and desire of their founder, Cardinal Lavigerie. He so much desired that Africans receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Fr. Lourdel (Mapeera) and Bro. Amans were the pioneers of this dream on 17th February 1879.

We thank God that through the grace of the Holy Spirit, their pastoral work bore fruits in the martyrdom and canonization of their first Christian converts. Our faith and life is rooted in the Blood of the Martyrs. They are our intercessors before God and our models. We therefore look to them and pray in order to remain firm in faith, hope and love of God who heals, provides and saves.

May we all in a prayerful spirit prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Uganda Martyrs Day. May the Holy Martyrs of Uganda intercede for us all.

l remain,

Yours Sincerely in Christ,

+CYPRIAN KIZITO LWANGA

ORDINARY KAMPALA ARCHDIOCESE

15th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B

 

15th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year B

 

TODAY'S READINGS

1^st Reading: Amos 7: 12-15

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 85: 9-10, 11-12, 13-14

2^nd Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-14

Alleluia: Ephesians 1: 17-18

Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13

 

Put simply, the primary motivation for giving is gratitude.

 

In the First Reading, Amos the prophet, who was a shepherd and a “dresser of sycamores,” found that God wanted him for a new job. Not watching the flock, not pruning trees. Now he was to be a visionary: someone who would prophesy to the people.

 

Shocking.

 

Why did Amos respond so boldly?

 

Perhaps the fierce, quiet landscape of this country had opened him and had let God give to him. His action was an act of gratitude.

 

Same thing for the apostles in the Gospel. They were men of action, so they did not notice that they were being grateful to Jesus. But they did have a growing realization of what he was giving to them, and secretly they loved him more and more. Their gratitude was their reason for going where he sent them.

 

So when he told them to go out and preach, and banish demons, they knew that the mission fit them. He had found a way for them to begin seeing with both eyes.

 

Let’s us keep our eyes open too. We are very much loved.

 

And ready to be sent.