The year 2019 will remain a year to remember in the life and history of the SSS Uganda foundation. It is a year given to remember the marvels of the Lord in this Little Eymardian family. Indeed, for everything there is a season… a time to plant and a time to pluck what was planted (Eccl. 3:1-2). This year is a season of harvest for this little Eymardian family.
Together with the entire Congregation, the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption – Philippines-Uganda-Hawaii (USA) – , we celebrate with joy the perpetual birth of three sons of Eymard in the Congregation by their perpetual consecration to religious life, ordination to deaconate and priesthood.
Three brothers: Zikusooka Simon Peter SSS, Ssenkasi Denis SSS, and Nsambu Herbert SSS, after their scholasticate formation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a successful period of preparation for perpetual profession in the Republic of Congo, they returned to Uganda and made their perpetual profession on the 23rd of February 2019.
Celebrating the Eucharist and receiving the Vows of his brothers on behalf of the Provincial Superior, Rev. Fr. Ferdinand S. Tomo SSS, called on the Perpetualists to remain faithful to their chosen vocation and ministry. He asked the Perpetualists to pass on the charism of the Congregation in whatever they say and do, as they have now become the extension of father Eymard, bringing Christ closer to the people of God, so that Christ’s Eucharistic kingdom may reign in this troubled and challenging world.
Following the perpetual profession, the following day, Sunday 24th February, we celebrated the ordination to the deaconate of the three brothers: Rev. Zikusooka Simon Peter SSS, Rev. Ssenkasi Denis SSS and Rev. Nsambu Herbert SSS, and the ordination to priesthood of Rev. Fr. John Muyingo SSS. This was done by the imposition of hands by Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa, Bishop of Masaka, together with his priests at our very parish, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Kimaanya Masaka. The four newly ordained were joined by Rev. Fr. Tony Akena SSS, who was ordained a week earlier in his home parish of Aduku, Lira Diocese, by Rt. Rev. Joseph Franzeli, Bishop emeritus of Lira Diocese.
Witnessed by people from all walks of life both in Lira and Masaka, this event has gone down into our history: three deacon and two priests at the same time in our little Eymardian family. It was also a moment of great joy and celebration with our families, collaborators, friends of the newly ordained and all those who have sacrificed whatever they could to see them through their journey.
After the Mass, the bishop was hosted in our community as the festivities continued in the Parish compound, with the newly ordained, their families’ friends and the parishioners of Kimaanya and other parishes, celebrating indeed as you would at the time of harvesting. And at this time a very rich harvest of deacons and priest.
Our newly ordained brothers have come at a moment of wanting. We thank the Lord of the harvest for these wonderful gifts to the Church and the Eymardian family. We continue to pray that they continue to be men of passion, love, dedication and commitment in order to bring people to the Altar of God by making the Eucharist the center of their life, to love and live the Eucharist.
By Rev. Fr. George SSALI SSS
