Parish Lenten Liturgy Resource: Introduction to Uganda 2012

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2012 Parish Lenten Liturgy Resource Rebuilding Communities for Lasting Change

Pictured on the cover: Daniel Okweng, nine years old, Bar Kawach, northern Uganda.

Trócaire would like to thank all who have contributed to this Lent 2012 Parish Resource. It is with a generous offering of time and an innate sense of justice, that those listed below have helped Trócaire produce this helpful resource. We sincerely hope that you profit from the fruits of their labour in your use of this resource with your Parish during this Lenten season. r. Pat O’Donoghue – Litmus, Dublin Diocesan F Liturgical Resource Centre (Mass content) ®K ate McQuillan – Trócaire (Contributor) ®H annah Evans – Trócaire (Editor & Contributor) ®A lan Whelan – Trócaire (Photography) ®F r. Bill Kemmy (Photography) ®F r. John Coughlan – Diocese of Elphin (Homily notes) ®A shville Media Group (Design of Resource) ®G enprint (Printing of Resource) ®C ollette Furlong – Pastoral Resources IEC 2012 (Eucharistic Congress Prayer Service) ®

Foreword

by Bishop John Kirby

I

n the context of this year’s International Eucharistic Congress these words by our Holy Father carry for us a tremendous wisdom. ‘Being surprised’ by the God of love moves us to love others and to embrace that which is different, unknown, strange and indeed despised in others. This is the challenge of Eucharist. We are called into communion with Christ and communion with one another. Once we know God’s love, there is no escape or indeed desire to escape the call to love others.

The challenge of Lent for Christians is therefore twofold. In prayer, fasting and alms-giving, we are challenged to surrender ourselves to the mystery of God’s love for us. We are also challenged to re-commit ourselves to being this Good News for one another. Like Christ, at the start of his mission, we too are called to commit ourselves with a steadfastness of heart to “bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives and to the blind, new sight, to set the downtrodden free and to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.” (Luke 4:18) It is this that forms the heart of our vocation as baptised members of the Body of Christ.

Therefore our Trócaire Lenten prayer for you in your parishes, is that you will have a profound sense of being surprised by God’s word of love in your community and in your personal relationship with him. We hope that you will feel afresh this love made present to us in the Eucharist as we journey together towards our celebration of the ultimate expression of this love, Christ’s death and resurrection. In being thus surprised, we hope that you will be renewed in your own faith and that your community will be richly renewed in your Lenten pilgrimage towards Christ. In this renewal, we pray that you will reach out in mercy and compassion to those most in need of our love in our families, our communities and in our world.

This Lent, we invite you as a community to reflect upon the Eucharist and its centrality in our lives. Particularly upon the Eucharist as a path towards inclusivity for all. The words of our Holy Father challenge us “precisely because of the mystery we celebrate in the Eucharist, we must denounce situations contrary to human dignity, since Christ shed his blood for all, and at the same time affirm the inestimable value of each individual person.” The celebration and worship of the Eucharist enables us to draw near to God’s love and to persevere in that love, until we are united with the Lord, whom we love. “The offering of our lives, our fellowship with the whole community of believers and our solidarity with all men and women are essential aspects of that spiritual worship, holy and pleasing to God (cf.Rom 12:!), which transforms every aspect of our human existence, to the glory of God.” This Lent, the situation in Uganda which Trócaire is highlighting is that of a community emerging from the ruins of war and injustice. The community as a whole unit working to better the lives of individuals and the entire community. This is the embodiment of Christ on earth today, the true meaning of communion. This Lenten Liturgical Resource explores the theme of ‘Rebuilding Communities for lasting change’. I encourage you to make good use of it, bringing the theme of community deeper into your Parishioners’ understanding, and sharing with them how they can become models of solidarity and love as Christ has asked us to be.

Chairman of Trócaire, Bishop of Clonfert.

“There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by an encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know him and to speak to others of our friendship with him.”

Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 2007

Jennifer, granddaughter of Milton Okello in Bar Kawach, Barlonyo, northern Uganda.

Photo: Alan Whelan/Tr贸caire.

Introduction to Uganda

Contents

Ash Wednesday and First Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Passion Sunday

Easter Sunday

Lenten Penitential Service

Stations of the Cross

Eucharistic Congress 2012

Tr贸caire in your Parish

05 12 18 24 28 32 38 42 46 50 54 58

Daniel Okweng, nine years old with his father Joel Onyango, 50, mother Betty Alum, 48 and nephew, Coxon. Bar Kawach village, Barlonyo, Uganda.

Photo: Jeannie O’Brien/Trócaire.

Introduction to Uganda This year’s 2012 Trócaire Lenten Campaign is...

‘Rebuilding Communities for lasting change’ As Ireland begins preparing for the Eucharistic Congress 2012 the theme of ‘community’ is to the fore of many people’s minds. In the context of social justice, far too often, we are unaware of our mandate as followers of Christ to work towards a common good within our world. ‘Common’, meaning it will be shared amongst everybody equally and not just experienced by the individual and ‘good’, meaning that all will prosper from our actions. Anyone can do ‘good’ in our world; but as Christians, we are called to do ‘common good’. As a large community of believers we are set a directive to do common good by following Christ’s message of “Love thy neighbour”. ‘Common good’ implies that the good of each individual human being is in some way connected to the good of others, that is, that human beings can only truly prosper in the context of a community.

Trócaire invites you to journey through this Lenten season in solidarity with the community of Bar Kawach in northern Uganda. This particular community have been brought together by Trócaire’s work with them. Theirs is a unique story of returning home after conflict, and the struggles faced by them in order to rebuild their lives, families, livelihoods and community.

Let’s Live Lent 2012 Journey with us through the season of Lent and welcome the people of Bar Kawach into your homes and community. In the spirit of penitence and alms giving this Lenten season we encourage you to make great use of these Parish, Liturgy and Homily resources provided and to Live Lent to its fullest potential in your community. We hope you find the resource of much use to you in your various ministries and we look forward to supporting you on this Lenten journey.

By using this resource as well as Trócaire’s many other Lenten resources, you can enhance your Parish liturgies; stand in solidarity with the people of Bar Kawach; broaden the minds and heart of young adults in your community by sharing Daniel’s story; educate school-goers by using our online education resources and encourage your own local community to take action through our online e-action. Though we are many, we are one body, one body of change, one body of love and one Body in Christ.

Material available to download from Trocaire.org

Introduction to Uganda Facts about Uganda Full name: Republic of Uganda Population: 34.6 million Capital: Kampala Area: 241,038 sq km (93,072 sq miles) Major languages: English (official), Swahili (official), Luganda, various Bantu and Nilotic languages Major religions: Christianity, Islam Life expectancy: 53.2 years Standard of living: 35% of population live below the poverty line Monetary unit: 1 Ugandan shilling = 100 cents Main exports: Coffee, fish and fish products, tea, tobacco, cotton, corn, beans, sesame. Recent oil discoveries have boosted economic prospects.

Rep. South Sudan

Ethiopia

Bar Kawach Dem. Rep. Congo Uganda

Somalia Kenya

Tanzania

flag of Uganda

Uganda in Brief Uganda is a relatively small, predominantly agricultural landlocked country situated in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. It is famously known as the ‘Pearl of Africa’ due to its many natural wonders, such as Lake Victoria on the southern border. The country is divided into three main areas – swampy lowlands, a fertile plateau with wooded hills, and a desert region.

Uganda has shared the problems seen across much of Africa including poverty, HIV/AIDS and war. In the aftermath of a brutal conflict that affected northern Uganda for more than 20 years, many families have returned to their original homes to begin a new life. Conflict, child soldiers, sexual assault and political instability have plagued the people of northern Uganda. However, despite the horrific past and the challenges they meet daily, all that these families now want is to look ahead to building a better and brighter future for themselves.

Trócaire’s work is about helping people in northern Uganda return to hope from the times of war and conflict, supporting them to achieve the potential of future generations and to

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fully recover after 20 years of violent conflict which caused much unnecessary death, massive internal displacement, destruction and trauma. Uganda is, and continues to be, a country scarred by war.

It remains one of the poorest countries in the world, ranked 144 out of 177 countries in terms of human development.

31% of the population live in absolute poverty and 26% are chronically poor, the majority of which live in the north of the country.

Community of Bar Kawach The war and violence inflicted upon the families of Bar Kawach is unimaginable, having survived one of the most vicious massacres of the war as recently as 2004. The bravery and determination it took for families to return to their homes and try to rebuild their lives is inspiring. They are fathers, mothers, children, farmers... survivors. Luckily, the ceasefire of 2006 continues to hold, and most of the displaced people have now returned to their original homes but as some have been away for fifteen years, they are now, with the help of Trócaire, having to rebuild their lives from scratch.

Introduction to Uganda Meet Daniel Daniel Okweng is 9 years old and lives with his mother Betty, his father Joel and his brothers and sisters in the small rural village of Bar Kawach, northern Uganda. Daniel was born into a civil war which spanned over twenty years. In 2004, soldiers attacked his village and community, forcing the family to flee from their home. 300 people died during this attack. Daniel’s family knew they were lucky to survive but were left with nothing. The family moved into a camp set up by the government to protect civilians. These camps were bleak places where extreme poverty, poor sanitation and depression were rife and led to a very poor quality of life, especially for children like Daniel.

In 2006, when it was deemed safe enough, Daniel and his family moved back to their family home. It was at this point that their biggest struggle began – to begin life again. With your support, Trócaire and our Ugandan partners were there, helping this family readjust to life back home. Working together with the community, we have provided training and support groups to help people cope with the trauma they have experienced. Agricultural training and the provision of seeds, tools and livestock have helped families to start farming again and support to build a borehole has provided clean, safe, drinking water.

Message from Uganda Séan Farrell is the Country Representative for Trócaire in Uganda.

“Since I first came to Uganda some 4 years ago the north of the country has been transformed. When I first went there people were living in squalid, disease-ridden camps. These have now gone, and instead are replaced by people who have returned home, gone back to making their communities vibrant and full of life. Trócaire’s work is vitally important as people make this massive transition all across northern Uganda. In many ways our work says that hope is here. Our work in agriculture for example, helps people to rebuild their lives; providing them with the tools, seeds and technology to help improve their livelihoods and increase food production to tackle widespread malnutrition whilst our work in human rights funds local organisations to organise and rally local communities so that they can demand services from their government which had for the most part abandoned them to a war inflicted existence for 20 years.

By helping people to rebuild their families and communities Trócaire is giving them the support to provide for themselves in the future, and take a stand against the injustice and corruption that threatens to keep the next generation poor.

First and foremost people needed to begin farming their land again so that they could grow enough food for the family and try to earn enough money to get their children back to school.

Daniel Okweng, nine years old, Bar Kawach, northern Uganda.

As a community, Bar Kawach has been supported to rebuild their farms, but more importantly to rebuild their lives.

Through group training and support Trócaire’s partner has used the farms as a way of rebuilding families and communities.

The community has been given regular training on everything from agriculture, healthcare and sanitation to domestic violence, human rights and family communications.

Family farms are improving, but more than that, community life is also improving; people feel safer in their homes, families help and support each other to strengthen their farms even further. With the support of a community families can do more than just survive, they can look beyond today and make plans for the future.”

Séan Farrell, Country Representative, Uganda.

Material available to download from Trocaire.org

Introduction to Uganda “You too have come, people of Uganda, sons and daughters of Africa. You too have seen the light of Christ’s Resurrection. The light which produces “complete goodness and right living and truth”. This is the place where Christ’s light shone on your land with a particular splendour. This was the place of darkness, Namugongo, where Christ’s light shone bright in the great fire which consumed Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions. May the light of that holocaust never cease to shine in Africa! The heroic sacrifice of the Martyrs helped to draw Uganda and all of Africa to Christ, the true light which enlightens all men. Men and women of every race, language, people and nation (Cf. Rev. 5: 9) have answered Christ’s call, have followed him and have become members of his Church, like the crowds which come on pilgrimage, year after year, to Namugongo.”

From the Homily of his Holiness Pope John Paul II at the Shrine of the Holy Uganda Martyrs of Namugongo (Sunday, 7th February, 1993).

Catholic Church in Barlonyo Parish It can often be hard to imagine what life is like for those less fortunate than us. Even harder again, is trying to image what their prayer lives or worship practices might be like in the face of danger, war, threat and survival. This Lent, Trócaire invites you into the Parish of Barlonyo, to witness their worship practices, hear their stories and to share their hopes and dreams for theirs and their children’s futures.

About the Parish The Parish church was built by the community themselves just over a year ago. The priest from Alito Parish visits just once a month to say mass. On the other three Sundays of the month, the Parish Catechist leads the community in prayer. The priest celebrates marriages but cannot normally attend funerals so again the Parish Catechist leads these services. Large numbers of people attend mass on Sundays here which generally lasts two hours and consists of lots of joyful singing. Community members who gather often partake in other activities and ministries within the Parish also. These can include everything from presenting the offertory gifts during the offertory procession, to joining the mothers group or the Parish choir. The church building itself has a variety of roles. During the week it provides shelter to a number of goats and at the weekend it returns to it’s natural worship space. Hail-stone showers during the summer destroyed the thatched roof on the church but the local people hope to repair the damage when they can afford to do so.

Parishioners Helen was raised in a Catholic home and her husband is also a Catholic. She has six children and is raising them in the same faith. Helen tells us how appreciative she is of her

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faith and believes that the Catholic Church provides good teachings and direction. When at mass, she enjoys listening to the sermons; she is able to understand them and makes an effort to put the teachings into practice at home. Helen regularly says the rosary at home, particularly during Lent, and derives a lot of comfort from saying it, especially when her children are sick as it is a source of comfort to her.

Lenten and Eastertide Practices Lent is a season which is observed very carefully by the faithful of Barlonyo Parish. During this time of fasting and penance the community engage in a number of local and universal church traditions. Throughout the forty days and nights of Lent meat is generally abstained from. It is considered a time for reflection and solitude. On Holy Saturday night, people pray through the night from the vigil mass to the Easter Sunday celebration. When Easter arrives, there is much joy and celebration in the Parish. Everybody eats and dances as the Parish choir journey from house to house singing and proclaiming the news of the Risen Lord.

For some who can afford it, their big Easter treat is the purchasing of a can of soda.

Ugandan Martyrs Another cause for celebration during the church year in Uganda is Martyrs’ Day on the 3rd June. On the 3rd June in 1886 at least 26 Catholic and Anglican converts alike were brutally murdered because they would not reject their faith in Jesus Christ. Today, pilgrims travel from across the continent of Africa to celebrate Martyrs’ Day in Kampala, Uganda. It can often take many up to a week to reach the Martyrs Shrine in Kampala. In 2011, pilgrims journeyed from at least 16 different countries to participate in the ceremonies. It is an important feast day to the Ugandan Catholic Church.

Helen and her baby Sean in the Catholic Church of Bar Kawach, Barlonyo, Uganda.

Photo: Alan Whelan/Tr贸caire.

Daniel Okweng, nine years old, cycling home with the water he collects at the borehole for his family, which is one of his daily chores he does after school. Bar Kawach village, Uganda.

Photo: Jeannie O’Brien/Trócaire.