Narozali Parish in Masaka District has marked 126 years since its establishment, with Catholic leaders urging Christians to demonstrate genuine love through acts of kindness, forgiveness, peacebuilding and support for vulnerable members of society.
The anniversary celebrations began with a Holy Mass led by the Chancellor of Masaka Diocese, the Rev. Fr. Dr Charles Jude Jjuko, who called on Christians to strengthen their relationships with others and make love the foundation of their daily lives.
This year’s celebrations were led by women, who used the occasion to reflect on the parish’s history and highlight their contribution to the growth of the Church and the wider community.
In his homily, Fr. Jjuko challenged Christians to move beyond professing love and demonstrate it through practical actions that improve the lives of those around them.
He said genuine love should be reflected in how people treat one another, particularly through promoting peace, forgiving those who wrong them and showing compassion to people facing difficulties.
“Love must be demonstrated through our actions. We should prioritise peace, forgive one another and extend a helping hand to those in need,” Fr. Jjuko said.
He cautioned Christians against practising love selectively or for personal gain, emphasising that authentic Christian love should be sincere and free from selfish interests.
According to him, believers should embrace generosity and compassion without expecting anything in return.
Christians urged to respect the Holy Mass
Fr. Jjuko also called on Christians to respect the Holy Mass and observe appropriate conduct during the celebration of the Eucharist.
He cautioned worshippers against reciting other prayers while Mass was in progress, urging them to give the liturgy the attention and reverence it deserves.
The diocesan chancellor further encouraged Christians to become a source of light in their communities by leading exemplary lives that inspire others to embrace goodness.
He said believers had a responsibility to influence society positively through their conduct, relationships and commitment to the teachings of the Church.
The Masaka District Woman Member of Parliament, Joan Namutawe, who was the chief guest, urged Christians to live according to the values and teachings of their faith.
Namutawe challenged believers to ensure that their behaviour reflected the Christian principles they profess, both within the Church and in their daily interactions with others.
She called for discipline, integrity and compassion, saying Christians should set a positive example for the wider community.
“Christians should conduct themselves in a manner that reflects their faith,” Namutawe said.
Narozali Parish head Christian Emmanuel Mawanda said the 125th-anniversary celebrations held last year had left a lasting legacy, with achievements contributing to the parish’s continued development.
Mawanda said the previous anniversary had provided an opportunity to reflect on the parish’s journey and strengthen efforts to advance its growth.
He noted that the impact of those celebrations could be seen in the developments and progress recorded within the parish.
The parish priest, the Rev. Fr. John Mary Vianney Tamale, thanked individuals and organisations that had contributed to the development of Narozali Parish over the years.
He specifically recognised those who donated land for the establishment of the parish, saying their generosity had provided an important foundation for the growth of the Church.
Fr. Tamale also revealed that the parish had cultivated five acres of coffee out of the 20 acres it hopes to develop as part of efforts to strengthen its agricultural activities and support its development programmes.
He expressed gratitude to parishioners, benefactors and other well-wishers who have continued to support the parish’s initiatives.
The women who led this year’s anniversary celebrations appealed to well-wishers to support their table-wine-making project, which they said could contribute to their economic empowerment.
They called for additional assistance to strengthen the initiative’s operations and enable it to contribute more effectively to their livelihoods.
The women also encouraged individuals and organisations interested in community development to partner with them in advancing the project.
The celebrations also featured the recognition of Peter Claver Kalema, who was honoured for 45 years of service as a religious education teacher.
His recognition highlighted the contribution of long-serving educators to the spiritual formation of Christians and the preservation of religious values across generations.
Kalema’s decades of service were celebrated as an example of dedication to faith formation and community service.
The anniversary brought together Church leaders, political representatives, parishioners and other well-wishers to commemorate Narozali Parish’s long history and reflect on its contribution to the spiritual and social development of the community.
As the parish marks the milestone, Church leaders have called on Christians to uphold its legacy by promoting love, unity, forgiveness and service to humanity.