Message from the Chief Editor Dear esteemed readers, I am delighted to present to you another edition of our Mill Hill Formation House, Jinja Outreach magazine for this year. First of all I thank God for making this edition a success and to editorial team which has worked tirelessly. More so, I thank all the members of Jinja community for writing articles that covers all the four pillars of formation; Pastoral, Academic, spiritual and Human. Finally, my sincere gratitude to our formation staff which has been of great support and everyone who contributed to the success of this magazine. As we wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ we continue praying for the healing of our world from the COVID-19 and wish you all the best as you read. Merry Christmas and a happy prosperous New Year 2021.
Editorial Team
Ojiwa– Ass. Editor
Joseph– Editor
Petererick– Chief Editor
Ronald– Editor
Vicent– Editor 2
A WORD FROM THE RECTOR The year 2020 is gone, we are approaching Christmas and eventually getting into the year 2021. The year 2020 started with a lot of enthusiasm and vigour with a joyful hope of double blessings. Towards the end, as we look back and reflect on the year’s experiences, for most people and for the most part, we would say, “what a year it was!”, a year of a mixture of experiences we would never have anticipated. In East Africa, at the beginning of the year, there was a mysterious invasion of locusts that wiped out crops in the northern parts of Kenya and Uganda. Before that was contained, there came floods in some parts of Uganda that flushed out crops, settlements and even claimed lives. Scientists concluded that the floods were caused by climate change, while the religious alluded the catastrophes as God’s punishment due to humanity’s increasing sinfulness, and so the call to repentance! As we pondered about those calamities, a phenomenon of the COVID-19 pandemic, which up to date shocks the whole world, set in. We got into total lockdowns and restrictions. We had to cope, and we continue doing so, with all the effects of the pandemic. COVID-19 robbed most people of their loved ones and their livelihood. Life changed a lot from the way we knew it before; wearing masks and sanitisation are mandatory, social distancing is the norm, most meetings and classes are being held on virtual online. We are now in a “new normal” as it is widely described nowadays.
Staff and the whole students’ body for support and cooperation. I am also thankful on my part for the strengths and abilities that have come into a clearer focus, as well as the many areas of weakness that I need to be open to, for the grace and help of God, and other people. As I journey with our students I am filled with admiration and inspired with their enthusiasm to be missionaries. And this formation year, overall, has been good. I have been quite impressed to see a positive growth in most of our students in many areas. This magazine is one of the evidences of that positive growth. Many of them, with great effort, put their thoughts in this publication and would like to share them with others. No wonder, the publication is known as “OUTREACH.” In a very special way, I would like to thank the editorial team and all the students who contributed the articles in this magazine. I also say, thank you very much to our readers. If you were not in our minds, we could have found it pointless to make this publication. Perhaps you are one of those people who had to struggle through a very difficult and painful year 2020. As we let go of that year and look ahead to the new year, our prayer is for a happy year 2021. Let us continue to pray for the healing of our world from COVID-19 and all its effects. Let us also pray that the upcoming presidential elections in Uganda and the transition of power will be peaceful. May we have a renewed hope ushered in by the birth of a new baby, our Lord Jesus Christ, on Christmas Day. A blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you all.
For myself, in Jinja Formation House, de- Fr. Charles Okata, MHM, Ugandan spite the challenges and hardships of the year, time has actually gone past very quickly, perhaps, because of the supportive community members and atmosphere. It was a period of new challenges in my new responsibility as rector. It was something new that I had never done before, coupled with the “new normal” times. I am very grateful to my colleague Fr. John Akain, the Support 3
PASTORAL FORMATION Other than human, academic and spiritual growth, pastoral is another important pillar in the formation of Mill Hill Missionaries. The aim of pastoral is to introduce students to specific circumstances of social interaction through pastoral placements like hospitals, schools, and parishes. It helps them to get exposed to different groups of people that is; the children, the youth and the elderly.
Hill parishes; Loyoro and Panyangara which are full of pastoral opportunities as witnessed by students who have had their pastoral there. Due to the great need in that area, sometimes we go to Kabongo parish which is in Kotido diocese. One would ask how this six weeks pastoral is conducted and I cannot conclude this part without approaching that important question. During this pastoral we are involved in all activities in the parish such as the youth programs, home visitations, catechetical instructions, choir practice, and many others. When it comes to home visitations, we leave the parish and go to the sub parishes where we meet different groups of the youth, small Christian communities and others. We get opportunities to stay and spend a night(s) in different families. After this pastoral, we write reports about our experiences in the placements. It is worth noting that whenever we go for pastoral, we don’t stand on our own. We move under the guidance of a person who knows the place better. It could be a church leader of a particular place or any other person entrusted by the Christian community. The communities support us materially, spiritually and morally. Our pastoral does not end with our presence to the people. We also report the cases that need urgent attention to the parish priest and the means of attending to them is organized by the parish priests and their team. Such cases may include sickness both physical and spiritual, needs of the youth, and other cases that need attention from the parish. In addition, we have pastoral sharing groups which meet on the last Tuesday of every month. Each group is guided by a formator who joins us in the sharing. During the pastoral group sharing, two people share about the experience that touched them most during their pastoral work. That sharing is written in form of a guided reflection paper. After the sharing, the group joins together for the Eucharistic celebration the following day, Wednesday, to thank God and to pray for all the pastoral activities and the different experiences encountered. The weekly pastoral takes place on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, students leave the formation house at around 3:00 p.m. to our
Pastoral is divided into different forms; weekly pastoral that involves schools and higher institutions of learning, hospitals, parishes and sub parishes. Pastoral in schools involves activities like catechetical instructions, group bible sharing, church choir practices and preparations, Eucharistic services and many other activities of interaction. Pastoral in hospitals involves visiting the sick, listening and sharing experiences and giving a word of prayer and encouragement. Pastoral in parishes covers the sub parishes. The pastoral activities in the parish include home visitations which gives us the opportunity to meet different people with different experiences. This is one of the most important part of pastoral that teaches us how to listen to different people. We meet different people with different experiences, both joyful and sorrowful. The first principle here is being “empathetic” for the sorrowful experiences where one takes the experience as if it is their own. For people with joyful experiences, we join them to celebrate and thank God for such good experiences. During family visitations, we give a word of encouragement and pray with the members of the respective families. Other forms of activities include Sunday school, catechetical instructions and other parish activities. Another form of pastoral is six weeks pastoral which takes place in the months of May and June during the longer holiday. In the course of six weeks pastoral we are sent in groups of twos to different identified parishes which are either under the management of Mill Hill or the management of different Dioceses. Prior to that period, we are always eager to know the people who are going to Karamoja region where we have two Mill 4
respective pastoral places up to about 5:00 MY COVID-19 EXPERIENCE IN LUANDA p.m to 6:00 p.m. This day is always for KENYA home visitations, preparations for Sunday First of all, I would like Mass or service with the Christian commuto thank God for the nities and group meetings, while on Sunday gift of life and protecwe go for catechism and Sunday school tion He granted to us classes, and Mass with the communities. while in Luanda. The After Mass we interact with different people outbreak of COVID-19 and we are free to come back to the forbrought a lot of fear in mation house or pay a visit to a family on us for we had to postinvitation. pone classes, Masses and social gatherings, trying to follow the Finally, for the means of transport for the measures that had been pastoral program, we have bicycles. At the put in place by the Kenbeginning of the academic year, every stuyan government condent is given a bicycle with an identification cerning the preventive number. Each student ensures that the bicymeasures as regards the cle is in good condition all the time. The formation house provides money for repair pandemic. Most of my expectations were and maintenance of the bicycles. We love not fulfilled like learning how to play musiour bicycles and we are proud of them to an cal instruments especially the piano since extent of giving them names of motor vehi- the music teacher ceased to come. The Mill cles. When one talks of a Hilux, a land Hill society reacted to the outbreak of this cruiser and others they are referring to their pandemic positively whereby all students bicycles. It is always interesting, a day be- were to remain in their respective formation fore pastoral when everybody is washing houses so as to continue with their fortheir bicycles, tightening some loose nuts in mation activities. preparation for pastoral of the following day. This gave me more time to discover most of Having shared with you briefly about the my strengths and weaknesses as a person. I pastoral formation of Mill Hill Missionaries, also got a chance of having more time for I can conclude that pastoral is considered my personal prayers and reflecting on the very important even after one has become a daily readings. I thought by the time we missionary, pastoral is conducted in the close the formative year on 9th May, 2020, same way. This kind of pastoral is a practi- the corona pandemic restrictions would have cal preparation for future mission. We come been relaxed which was never the case since to know the life that is outside the formation cases of COVID-19 kept on increasing. This and the parish. We pray for the Lord’s con- shadowed our hopes of going back home so tinuous guidance in our pastoral work. that we could relax and prepare to join Jinja Formation House in August to start philoTusiime Joseph, Yr. 3, Ugandan sophical studies. However, not all hope was lost since we started online studies while in Luanda. Thanks be to God. Kayongo Paul Year One, Ugandan
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LEADERSHIP
dence and wisdom should be the cornerstones in their leadership approach to the people. ‘It is only the owner of a tree that knows the sweetness of its fruits’. Let the people enjoy every single day of their leadership and do not leave them with ‘their faces punctuated with anger and regrets’. Bruce Alphonce Ojiwa, Year One, Kenyan
Derived from the verb “to lead” literary means the ability to be in charge of a particular group in order to achieve certain objectives and goals. The leader elect assumes his new position with so much bravado, enthusiasms and plight to serve others. However, not all leaders are accepted by those who fall under their jurisdiction. This is caused by unnecessary opposition from some selfish individuals. Consequently, this is a great hindrance to the accomplishment of the goals of a particular group.
is ble huperMill ForProop-
GROWTH GROUP Growth is a continuous process that inevitain a man son. Hill mation gram gives
FR. JOHN’S GROUP
portunities for growth that are undeniable through the different activities carried out each day. A growth group which is a small group in the large group of our community gives us chances to share our feelings regarding the weekly experiences in our formation journey; struggles and joys. “The main purpose of this group is to allow members to share together in a smaller number, offering an equal opportunity to all in the sharing, maintaining the atmosphere of mutual trust and respect” It is one of the programs that really refresh the mind as one pours out what is really disturbing and the members of the group are able to brainstorm together giving a member ideas to help him feel the warmth of a family. Furthermore, it is a compassionate, empathetic, loving and caring group that helps us to have a home away from home.
Good leaders depict the epitome of humility; sobriety and all the moral virtues shown in their character. They should have wisdom and ability to communicate as a way of reaching out to those whom they lead. Essentially, the feedback from the people should reign supreme in their plans and they should respond to them decisively. A good leader should never be likened to a surrogate mother who after birth holds no relationship with the child; instead, a good leader should have a strong bond with the people at all times, hence, they should be inseparable. Leadership envisages the ability to make sound plans before action; this will foresee a smooth realization of the goals set. It requires the presence of good counseling team to channel pieces of advice on what ought to be done. Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail when there is no counsel, but they succeed when advisers are many.” Moreover, leaders should keep at their bosom people of great intellect who can preempt the future and opine on the best courses of action. At no time should they dine with belligerent attention seekers who will divert them off the track and drive people astray. Notably, pru6
HOW IMPORTANT FLEXIBILITY IS IN OUR DAILY LIFE!!!
On the other side, it is a group which positively challenges each member to holistic growth; physical, spiritual, mental, psychological and social among many other aspects of life. Unity in diversity brings joy to the life of students from different cultures, nationalities and backgrounds especially when trust is built among the members. We meet on every Tuesday evening at 5:00 p.m to crown the FR. CHARLES’ GROUP day in a circle of unity which is facilitated by one student who is always required to be creative in the way he animates and guides the members to share their experiences. Additionally, each group is headed by a form ator who is like a parent to support members of the group and he is also taken as the elder brother to all members. These groups are governed by ground rules which are greatly esteemed to give a free space for sharing with highest regards to confidentiality, thus, whatever is shared in the group remains among the group members. More so, the group is a place of creating a deep relationship among members accepting that we are all unique with different abilities giving a chance to know each other better as friends and brothers.
I would like to share with you the significances of being able to change with new situations. Flexibility is a situation where one is free to cope with changes in life. As far as life is concerned, we are called to be ready to embrace the challenges that we may come across. Being flexible enables us to appreciate and learn more from the people we meet from different nationalities, races, tribes and gender. This is achieved through accepting and respecting one’s way of life, living and working as a community. I was impressed to see many people coming up with much creativity during COVID-19 pandemic such as learning how to make sanitizers from the local products and sewing masks. This taught me that in this world whatever comes in our lives we need to be patient and embracing the changes because they may be beneficial to us. We may have negative perceptions towards some changes but we need to be patient, tolerant and open for growth. Flexibility helps us to discover more about ourselves and to grow more in the areas of weakness since the individuals are free and open to expose themselves to new environments and cultures. This is very important when people visit places which are different from theirs. It also promotes unity among the individuals which is a fundamental and essential cornerstone of acquiring peace in our communities. Julius Sinya Year One, Ugandan
In addition, after the sharing in the evening, the facilitating student gets an opportunity to give a reflection on the following day during the small group liturgies. This is another aspect which is highly appreciated for it gives chances to students to learn the art of preparing reflections and gain courage to speak in public. We grow together in our journey of faith and discernment while promoting the spirit of brotherhood and community life among members of the larger group as well as following the motto of our founder; to love and serve. Petererick Mwenda, Year Three, Kenyan 7
LITURGY IN THE COMMUNITY The third Eucharistic prayer in the Roman missal, acknowledges that God never ceases to gather a people to Himself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting, a pure sacrifice may be offered to His name. The Mill Hill Formation House, Jinja community is not left out in the number of those ready to be gathered by God each day, to offer sacrifice to God through the liturgy. Our ‘liturgical week’ officially begins with the Saturday vigil Mass that ushers in the day of the Lord, Sunday. Attending this vigil Mass prepares us for the pastoral outreach that we engage in on Sunday where we meet the people of God in some of the parishes, schools and hospitals around Jinja city. After the wonderful experience with the Christians on Sunday, we begin to prepare for the academic week ahead of us that begins on Monday early morning. Monday begins with the recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours (LOH) at 6:30 a.m. in which we lift our hearts to God in praise and petition to sanctify our day. After the LOH, we have Holy Mass at 6:45 a.m., which is presided over by one of the formators which they do in shifts on weekly basis. This Mass normally takes only 30 minutes. What a privilege to begin the day engulfed in the blood of Jesus Christ! We meet again as a community for the LOH in the evening at 6:30 p.m. to give thanks to God for all the blessings of the day. It is also a moment to pray for the universal church. Furthermore, preparation for the liturgy of the next day is taken very seriously. At 8:15p.m., the person assigned to animate the liturgy of the following day meets with the presiding priest in the chapel to make some practice for the readings of the day and also to prepare some creativities to capture the theme of the liturgy of the word that will be held the following day. Another unique moment happens on Thursday where the two
students who are to animate the liturgy choose a theme for meditation. Consequently, the day is crowned with Holy Mass at 6:00 p.m. by a visiting priest from the communities around us invited by the students on liturgy. Friday afternoons; 4:30 p.m-5:30 p.m. are dedicated to intensive choir practices in preparation for the Saturday vigil Mass and finally on Sunday we have the Eucharistic celebration in our respective pastoral placements. This is how our liturgy runs throughout the week. The most important thing for us, is to always exhibit joy and happiness as we give God His true honour and glory. Just like St. Augustine says, our hearts are restless until they rest in God. Emmanuel Ebulu Year Two, Ugandan
THE JOY OF SERVING ‘Service’ has been a common word in the manifestos of all the people aspiring to lead. However, when they assume power the word changes from; ‘servant leader’ to a ‘served leader’ contrary to what others expect from them. Self-centeredness becomes the order of the day and people who entrusted them with power are not served as they expected. This affects the political, social, religious, cultural and other aspects of life. The first impression of many people is that the new leader makes them feel like they have received a ‘Messiah’ to save them from what they had been going through for long. This cycle continues in that the first good impression turns to the worst as time goes by. This has made people to feel like there is no difference between the ‘black horse’ they had and the new ‘white horse’ for it is just painted and will also soon become black. It is evident that the people’s perceptions do not deceive them but they instead come to a reality after a while, since a painted horse can never maintain the color when it rains, it goes back to its original color. 8
However, many people do not realize how beautiful it is to serve faithfully. It is always a pleasure when people are happy for the good service rendered to them. Contributing towards other people’s happiness through service, leads to the realization of one’s own happiness. Let us strive to serve others faithfully. Javan Brouz Year Two, Kenyan
ginning of each formation year. Also, during end of month social evenings we join hands to thank God and celebrate life for those whose birthdays fall in that month. Students engage in assisting the chef on duty to prepare “muchomo”. This is an amazing time where we get to learn some basics as regards cooking. COVID-19 lockdown came as an added advantage where we had ample time to prepare meals every Sunday and indeed it was paying off on our side where we got acquainted with the basic skills on how to prepare different kinds of meals, like chapatti, rice, fruit salads, pork, chicken, to mention but a few. It was indeed an enjoyable moment. Taking part in these ventures aids us to get acquainted with the skills and not to look down on those gentlemen and ladies who take part in this field of employment, for they are so great and of importance. Our bodies largely depend on food for growth. Brothers and sisters, wherever you may be, let us always appreciate the tremendous work our dear esteemed chefs do for our well-being, for they hold our lives in their hands each and everyday. Let us always support and value their worth. Edgar Tumwine , Year Two, Ugandan
THE REFECTORY DEPARTMENT Allow me to share with you what takes place here in our kitchen where all energy thrives since it is the power house for our bodies. Following the famous saying of the former president of USA Hussein Barrack Obama, “Yes We Can”, here in Mill Hill community we do everything in common. Looking at the practicalities we take part in as regards the refectory department, permit me to bring to your attention how we join hands to make our community worthy living in. We have preparation for each and every activity. Thus, regarding our involvement, we support the kitchen staff in various ways. We take part in wash up after every meal and setting tables except in the mornings when we have lectures. The wash up entails washing the utensils, cutlery, cups and plates used for breakfast, lunch and supper. For break tea and evening tea, each individual washes on his own whatever he has used. After wash up, the utensils are wiped and kept for the next use. This is done by each group on a daily basis whereby each group takes up the whole day and the next day another group takes over and another, in a rotation. We are divided into several groups with the assistance of the refectory man; he makes sure that the groups are well balanced since we are from different nations. These groups are responsible for wash up, food preparation every last Sunday evening of the month. The preparation for supper every last Sunday of the month is done in a rotation for all groups to take part. This is done with the assistance of the chef on duty. The grouping is done by the refectory man at the be9
The worth of a dog In Mill Hill Formation House Jinja, “Man’s best friend” is a term that is used quite often to describe our dogs. The companionship a dog provides cannot be compared to that of any other animal. However, for some people, a dog is more than just an animal. A dog protects our lives from dangers. Some dogs help soldiers in the activities like detecting bombs, patrolling, sniffing wrong doers and others. Consequently, at Mill Hill Formation House our dogs are meant for security purpose. Worldwide, guard dogs are well known for being good security companions. A properly trained guard dog can make a home safe since they can be trained in a number of tasks that will help to provide security over his handler and property. Thus, theft can all be prevented with a properly trained and healthy guard dog. More so, a lot of time, effort and money are put into each and every dog not only to train it, but also to make sure that it grows up when it is fit and healthy with a good diet and proper veterinary care. For our case we are blessed with three wonderful dogs; Rambo, big man and jack so called ‘ikemefuna’ which guard our community. We are so blessed to have these wonderful creatures that are able to provide tight security. More so, each one of us is able to sleep peacefully. Peter Ginyiera Year Two, Ugandan
salonians 3:10b, “… if anyone was not willing to work, neither should he eat.” Actually, if a person came to our formation house on Saturday before 9:00 a.m. it would be pretty hard for them to miss seeing some gentlemen who are smartly donned in manual gears. These are never going to do casual work in the villages and neither are they preparing to dig trenches on behalf of National Water and Sewerage Corporation; they are instead preparing to go and attend to their plots of land before the week ends since they might have been so much immersed in intellectual work in the course of the week. How excited these gentlemen are as they head to the garden!
GARDENING AT THE MILL HILL FORMATION HOUSE, JINJA
It seems guys have changed the notion that “work without play makes Jack a dull boy” to “Work without jokes makes some people not dig.” Therefore, gardening time on Saturdays is one of such opportune moments to work while enjoying the jokes from different brothers. Just as athletes take glucose so as to re-energize, the jokes seem to be the revitalizers that do the work of catalyzing. As all this ensues, it is already a good and effective dose to some of the brothers who might have had seriously hectic days while undergoing the intellectual aspect of formation. The whole work of taking care of the gardens becomes interesting and joyous one. No wonder the brothers are often excited about the day they prepare to do the seemingly arduous work.
Whereas some refer to themselves as men who work, others toil in order to ensure that they bring some food to the community table and later boost the students’ financial account. Anyway, whatever the case, what matters most is that they are able to engage in doing some work in the garden every Saturday. These are non, other than the MHM Jinja formation house philosophy students who seem not to have forgotten St. Paul’s exhortation as regards work; 2 Thes-
Like in many other sectors that we involve ourselves, people are still encouraged to bring on board their giftedness and creativity as they both plant and also take care of the small plots of land that are allocated to each person while looking forward to the realization of the best harvest. It is upon this basis that some produce foods like cassava, matooke and maize; others bring to the table vegetables like dodo, sukuma wiki, nakati
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and spinach, while a section of members would not let us eat tasteless food, hence, they plant some onions and carrots for us. In order to ensure that there’s continuity of some people’s efforts, some brothers have invested in long lasting crops like papaya, jackfruits, oranges and tangerines.
is of no doubt that these mountains are at very high altitudes where the temperatures are very low that the water solidifies to form a block of ice. However, a slight change in temperatures of the surrounding, melts the glacier which on its part finds its way down the mountain in form of a river. As it flows down the mountain, the surrounding lands, plants, animals and people are able to beneLast but not least, I would say that garden- fit and to draw life out of it. ing time avails us with an opportunity to kill many birds with a stone. These include primarily, the involvement in production of Dear friends, our world, nation, communifood, which is coupled with exercising our ties and families are like these mountains bodies and of course catching up with jokes. onto which is a large mass of glaciated waIn addition, it enables us to refresh our ter so much that everyone’s attention is at its minds and spirits in preparation for the apex. If only we could act to add beauty, weekly pastoral engagements that always give new look, hope, love just like the glaciers do to the mountains, consequently, all happen later in the day. forms of injustices, corruption, killings, diVicent Mugerwa vorce and all sorts of environmental degradations would cease to exist. Year Two, Ugandan
THE MELTED GLACIER” Shalom friends! A few years ago in a Geography class, one of the topics I treasured was “glaciation”. Today as I reciprocate memories of that class, I draw a number of insights from it. But first, in ordinary understanding, a glacier may be understood as a large mass of ice formed by snow on a mountain that moves very slowly down a valley. Not all mountains form glaciers as one may imagine but rather a few of those by which their modes of formation and favorable to aid the process of glaciation. Volcanic mountains are more susceptible to this process because after their formation, a crater is left behind into which rain water collects to form a crater lake on top of the mountain. It
It is in letting ourselves be dissolved, embrace and care for one another like the glaciers on being exposed to high temperatures, that we shall sow love, peace, justice, hope, unity in our world, nations, communities and families. In so doing, we shall be in line with the words of the Psalmist (Ps.1:3), “they are like a tree planted near the stream of water, that yields its fruit in season, its leaves never wither and whatever they do prospers.” Magero Paul Year Two, Ugandan
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PICTORIAL
FIRST YEAR 2020-2021
SECOND YEAR 2020-2021 12
THIRD YEAR 2020-2021
FORMATION TEAM
IGNATIOUS N. OGEMA
OKUMU ALEX
YEAR TWO, UGANDAN
YEAR TWO, UGANDAN
NATURINDA IGNATIUS YEAR ONE, UGANDAN
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TABLE FELLOWSHIP
LAUNDRY
MANUAL LABOUR
CHOIR PRACTICE 14
SPORTS
STUDENTS AT LEISURE
MAKING LIQUID SOAP
INDEPENDENCE DAY
KHISA EZEKIEL
KAZIBWE DENIS
YEAR TWO, KENYAN
YEAR ONE, UGANDAN
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SUPPORT STAFF
Mr. Roy, Groundsman
Madam Robinah, House keeper
Mr. Ronald, Chef
Mr. George, Bursar
Madam Florence, Chef
Madam Rose, Chef
Mr. Mathias, Groundsman 16
COMPOSURE DURING LITURGY AND MASS Dear friends, Mass is the heart of Christian worship. In it we recollect all our thoughts, and present them to the Lord in the sacrament of the Eucharist. What a beautiful gift he left us. Humility was surely unfolded before us during the last supper. How else would Jesus have remained with us in full body and flesh. This event is exactly the reason why during Mass, all our body, mind, heart and soul have to be properly disposed to receive the graces from heaven at the time of consecration. It is shameful that today the church has become another lecture place in which some people come to continue with their daily routine, yet it would have been a place in which they presented their troubles in the humblest way possible. Why would I pocket while at Mass, why would I stand as if I’m watching some football match being played. It’s a shame indeed. In every Mass, the risen Jesus comes again to walk with us and talk with us. He opens the Scriptures for us and challenges us to open our hearts to believe in him. He breaks the bread for us and gives himself to us in his Body and Blood. Ask yourself a question, would you experience all this happening when you’re standing in a lousy posture, pocketing or even exhibiting signs of boredom? There are certain types of etiquette that are appropriate at certain places. In a marketplace it is normal to move about, talk, shop, and come and go whenever you please. At a party, you are also free to enter into discussions, to eat and drink, and move about. In an open house, you may come and go as you please. The same behavior is not appropriate in a place of worship. You go to a place of worship in order to elevate yourself spiritually. Many people, however, do not go to their respective churches with a devotional attitude, and do not derive the spiritual benefit that should result from their going to their
church. Going to a place of worship is a spiritual activity, and one must go with a devotional attitude, and with humility. At my sub parish of Nakabago in St. Paul parish Mukono, I once witnessed a child of three years of age follow the mother into the church, immediately the mother genuflected, the child also in innocent self, genuflected infront of the altar before taking up a seat in the pews. What a striking challenge it was for me. As I was receiving my first Holy Communion, my catechist taught us the best position one would exhibit at the time of receiving Holy communion. As we continued to grow up and get influence by others, some of us begun to pocket as we went for Holy Communion. What a great scandal it was and is still for our church today to see people move to communion while pocketing, others with caps on, others are chewing bubble gum. Dear Friends, can’t we show God some seriousness and show our devotion by setting aside a perfect “God-time?” According to Catholics Online, Francis Mary mentions that upon entering the Church, every informed Catholic knows that Jesus is present in the Tabernacle. The problem usually is that only few remember show some respect. Genuflecting is a sign of devotion and reverence to the Lord who for love waits for us in the Tabernacle with blessing and peace. Don’t be in a hurry, do not leave the Church before the Priest, even then, it is usually advised you sit/kneel in silent prayer of thanksgiving or simply gaze at Jesus in the Tabernacle, smile at him and just be joyful. What more can Jesus ask of us than to give him His due honor and respect while in his House. Think about it and let the change begin with you and me! Amen! Emmanuel Ebulu, Year Two, Ugandan
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SOCIAL LIFE. Human beings are naturally social beings no matter what the situation is and the circumstances under which the person is. Whether an introvert or an extrovert, this aspect of socialization does not cease to be part of the life of a person. At times, we tend to fail to distinguish between silence and social life of a person. Being social does not mean that we always be with others and forget to have time with ourselves for we ought to have some time with our own self away from other people so as to look deeply into our own lives. This should not be mistaken as being ‘anti-social’ as some may term it to be, for it clearly indicates that we do not only love
others but we love ourselves first. Every community needs a sense of socialization and time for other people too. This time helps one to be clearly understood by those he/she comes into contact with in various ways. Furthermore, when we interact with others, we tend to share some of the things oppressing us that we may not be able to handle on our own, for “a problem shared is a problem half solved” and if we share some key and personal issues of life, Fr. John Akain would say, “we become masters over them.” This clearly shows that social life of a person is very essential in any given
setting for “No man is an island.” There are three main social events in the Mill Hill Formation House, Jinja and these include the Wednesday Students’ Social, the Saturday Community Socials and the End-of -Month Socials. On Wednesdays, we have our own socials as students just to interact among ourselves and have a chat of any issue affecting us as students which cannot be handled in the presence of the formators. This social begins at 8.30 p.m. up to 9.30 p.m. lasting one hour within that period of one hour, a lot of things are done by the students. It is the moment when we face each other as brothers and handle some issues in a brotherly way. Furthermore, we have a moment of refreshment where we enjoy music and those who are capable of buying drinks do so from the students’ fridge. It helps us in refreshing our minds so as to be set for the remaining days of the week. This social is not optional to anyone except when there is something exceptional like being sick. However, there are some days of exception for this social especially during examination period where everyone is given time to prepare for the exams. On Saturday, we have Community Socials which take place every week except the last Saturday of the month. The Saturday community socials involve all the community members including the formators. During that time, people play different games as the music goes on at the background. On Saturdays, socials take a longer time compared to the ones of Wednesday for they start after the Vigil Mass and go on up to 11.00 p.m. However, during the COVID-19 lockdown time, the starting time changed from 8.30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. There are a number of games played which include Scrabble, O’Hell, Ludo and Cards among others. Lastly, we have the End-of-Month social, when we all converge to celebrate the successes of the month. The social takes place every last Saturday of the month. During that social, we are allowed to invite friends from outside to join us in the celebrations. We tend to enjoy the music alongside any other creativity prepared by both the community members and the invited guest. That is also the day when we celebrate, as a community, the birthdays of the community members in that respective month. It is
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clearly evident that these Socials tend to be the most cheerful, for we are able to identify our own talents and capabilities as well as those of our invited guests. However, Corona Virus has affected the invitation of visitors from outside due to health insecurity issues. This clearly indicates that socialization is part and parcel of the human life and it will never leave a human being as long as he/she is still alive. A lively society is that which has lively members who are at ease with one another irrespective of the challenges they face in the society. The silence of one person in the society does not mean that he ceases to be part of the community but rather gives one a reflective moment to live happily. A living human person is a social human being. Javan Brouz, Year Two, Kenyan
God became man for us and for our salvation and it is in this context that we ought to live and love in Christ in whom all the three realities were manifested since He was purely man like us in everything except sin and God at the same time. And thus, to live in Christ in the widest sense is to live in a state of grace. It is a gift but a gift which God does not deny to anyone. Hubert Van Zeller in his book “To be in Christ” says that it is not our good works and prayer that enables us to rise above and beyond ourselves and to be assumed into the fully praiseworthy life in Christ. This is so due to the share we have in the absolute Being which is God Himself, due to the faculties of the intellect and the will endowed to us. We live now not on our own, but Christ lives in us. We are nothing but what we are in Christ. Since Christ Himself is love, we ought to share in His gift endowed to us as we live in unity with others diversely. Thus, the concept of unity in diversity ought to be embraced for love to truly take its meaning in Christian living and more so in our commuTHE QUEST FOR GOD nities and societies. True love, whether towards God or man transcends self, leaves personal satisfaction aside. This triggers me The quest for God is essentially the search to quote the famous song by Michael for the full account and meaning of life. Ball “Love Changes Everything”. Man by nature seeks to know each and everything around and beyond him. But throughout this search he has run into won- Thus, the quest for God is essentially the der up to this current time. Fulton J. Sheen search for the full account and meaning of in his book “The Divine Romance” says that life. And life has a meaning because the esevery heart, mind and soul in creation de- sence of God is love. “If the spark is so sires fundamentally bright, oh what must be the flame.?” three realities: life, truth and love. But Edgar Tumwine Tumusiime on the contrary each has its own shadow. Year Two, Ugandan Life is mingled with death, truth is mingled with error, and love with hate. That is the world we live in where man cannot find solace, rest and the fulfilment he yearns for. If we are to find the source of life, truth and love that is not mingled with shadows, we must go beyond this world. We ought to go beyond the peripherals of this physical world to the world of the Supreme One, who is God. 19
INTELLECTUAL FORMATION Human beings are rational animals. This means that we have the ability to reason out and in case of any misconduct, we are held responsible at all cost. Such quality helps us to learn a variety of things and reason them out in different ways basing on one’s ability to do so. This therefore shows how intellectual formation, just like other dimensions of formation such as human, spiritual and pastoral, is important and essential for the ministry. There is no doubt that an ignorant mind is most poisonous, in that the information delivered will be based on ignorance.
The intellectual formation requires commitment. However, all these can be summed up into one which is commitment. Commitment can be said to be the centre of all the academic formation of an individual. Committed people will aim at doing all that is required of them without being forced. This helps people to be prompt and organized in their academic works.
the use of the title of the book or the name of the author in case one is not certain about where the book is. The recording of the books taken also helps in stock taking so as to be able to know the borrowed books and those shelved. Furthermore, the internet is also available to cater for other research which may not be found in the library. The internet also helps us to easily access infor-
mation from different parts of the world. It is vivid that intellectual development is not only about books but also being conversant with whatever is happening around the world. This has been greatly aided by the presence of other facilities such as television and computers which help us to be aware of what is going on around the globe. Therefore, I would like to acknowledge the work done by the formators and the entire Mill Hill Family in enhancing our intellectual development.
Many activities are done in higher learning institution like the PCJ with people of different nationalities, cultures and communities, engaging in activities such as sports which not only enhance socialization but also help in intellectual development as students exchange their ideas. More so, other academically oriented activities; course works, group presentations, tests, and lectures contribute to our intellectual growth. Daniel Okello To enhance intellectual formation, our own formation house has been helpful by ensuring that we have a well-equipped library for research and mental nourishment. In addition, the books are arranged according to their respective course units so as to make them easily accessible by the students. The
Year Two, Kenyan
search box also helps us students to easily locate the position of a given book by 20
HE WHO PAYS THE PIPER CALLS THE TUNE Human beings with all their intellect are meant to have a capacity to perform, exhibit leadership and above, recreate the world and make it a better place. In that endeavour however, we sometimes go overboard and tend to exercise control over almost everything. In our world it gets worse when someone pays for something. In my earlier days, I realized how situations soured up whenever there was a price paid for something. I witnessed how our neighbour’s house help went through hard times at the cost of a meager payment, my empathy towards her could only arouse tears in me but also bring me to a realization that every time someone paid for something they were mostly likely bound to control it. In the same homestead, it was no longer news whenever the mother to my friend Joshua received unexplained beatings from the husband, for me this was always hard to comprehend how a husband descends on his lawfully married wife and beats her up. As I grew older I heard justifications that men always beat up their wives since they considered them as their personal possessions for they paid bride price before marriage. These sentiments continued to expose me to the ugly reality that whenever someone paid for something then they claimed full control over it. With time I slowly picked interest in matters of national importance and began to look at those matters from an analytical point of view. After reading some small history about Africa in a bid to trace my roots, it was more shocking than it made news to me that African people were sold as slaves and taken to European countries with little or no pay at all. This was now clear that the oppressors of the Africans always justified their inhuman acts basing on money and material things they exchanged our people for. I have come to realize that even in our contemporary world, society is managed in the same way. When our leaders are seeking
the people’s mandate to represent them, most of them bribe the people with money and material things and the end result is not always appealing. Once they get into positions of power they switch and become rulers and controllers instead of providing leadership. I have witnessed in many communities and it has re enforced the fact that a price attached on something inspires utter control over it. Whereas, most of my observation portray a negative connotation as regards the idiom, he who pays the piper calls the tune, it can have a positive connotation as regards to the fact that when a person pays for something, it is only fair that they be in charge of it. This is the world we live in today, a world where someone dictates for what they have paid for. Nicholas Agaba, Year One, Ugandan A REFLECTION ON PRAYER Prayer can be defined in different ways by different people. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, prayer is the communion we have with God, the intimate relationship with Him. Prayer is a mystery that we cannot fully comprehend due to our human limitation. Consequently, it is an expression of God loving us and in return, our expression of our love for Him. We pray not because we are holy but because we want to be holy and need Jesus to teach us. While praying, there are things we are supposed to avoid. These include hypocrisy, showing off, meaningless words, asking for forgiveness before forgiving others, among others. On the other hand, there are things that we need; meaningful words, humility, privacy, sincerity, repentance, and believing that God knows all. In prayer, we need to set our minds and lift our hearts to God so that we are united with Him. Sister Briege McKenna says, “The discipline of sitting before the Lord is very
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important and it is only when our spirit is still and when our ears of the spirit are open that we can hear the Lord, and experience the wisdom and the insight that come from the Holy Spirit.” Thus, we should create silence in our heart so as to listen to God. Listening is a virtue we should learn in prayer. Prayer is a gift from God. We need to be faithful and to co-operate with this gift which calls us to have a discipline so as to receive graces from God. More so, through prayer, we experience change in our lives and it gives us meaning when we feel weary. At times, sitting before the Lord is not an easy task since one can easily feel bored or empty and distracted. Subsequently, it is easy to give up claiming that we feel nothing at all, but that calls us to open our spiritual eyes in order to see the goodness of prayer. St. Paul says in Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” We should not just give up prayer. We need to experience it and our presence matters a lot. As sister McKenna says in her book Miracles Happen, “This moment of doubt and feeling empty the Lord says to us,” “you need not say something just be with me, come into my presence for it is not what you do for me but it is what I do for you.” We should find joy in just being with the Lord, for he only needs our presence to manifest Himself in us, as St. Augustine says, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” As we all strive for holiness, let us remember that Jesus fell severally on his way to Calvary but he kept getting up and moving on. We must never give up on prayer despite the challenges we encounter. We ought to continuously ask for God’s grace so as to remain focused. We are all invited to be followers who recognise and accept our weaknesses just as St Paul says in 2Corinthians 12:10, “…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” It is really a joy to stay with Christ in prayer for He changes our lives. We ought therefore, embrace a life of prayer. It is through prayer that we can experience oneness with our Lord Jesus who is the wounded healer and our great physician, inspiration today and forever. Through faith-
ful prayer, let us continue seeking to be united with our loving God, the sole giver of life.
Petererick Mwenda Year Three, Kenyan.
THE VALUE OF WORK Work is as important as basic necessities to every human being on earth, for it is through work that we can survive. In fact, Saint Paul emphasises that, “whoever is unwilling to work should not eat” (2 Thess 3:1). This calls each one of us to love work, and respect the work of others. With this, our work will benefit us and the communities where we live. In the first place I got concerned when I read the letter of Pope Leo XXIII on capital and labour of 1891. In his letter he talks about how the employer- employee relationship should be based on harmony and agreement because each one needs the other. Instead, the two groups have decided to live in mutual conflicts. He further mentions that, mutual agreement results into good order while perpetual conflict leads to confusion and barbarity. All this can be avoided when we take seriously the obligation of justice. Justice can be in form of fair and timely payment, good working conditions, consideration of employees’ health, family and many other related elements. While relating the pope’s message to the present labour industry, I found out that the letter addresses the current problems in the industry. It is a fact that when one is employed in a certain company or organisation, it means spending most of their time at the work place. They report early in the morning and leave late in the evening or even some work for 24hrs. Apart from that, others migrate to new places of work to ensure time manage-
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ment and efficiency at work. As a result, there has been a gap created between the workers and their family members to an extent that children grow up without the knowledge of who their parents are. Having sacrificed to this extent for work, they are rewarded with unfair and delayed payments, and sometimes no payments, unfair dismissal from work, limited or no time for rest, denial of medication and many other forms of injustices. This is a sign that we have an attitude of an employee as a tool for exploitation. The workers exchange their skills, talents, abilities and time to help the organisation attain its goals, in the same respect, the managers of organisations should give in return a certain amount of payment to ensure the wellbeing of workers and their families, considering a fair payment which can cater for the basic necessities of the worker and his family members. The vice of mistreatment of workers is in all sectors of social, cultural, religious, economic and the rest. It is important to know that workers depend on their jobs, looking at their working schedules which do not give them time to do other activities outside work for their own survival. Workers are threatened and punished for having failed to attain the set goals by reducing their salaries, delaying their payments and termination. But which punishment is suitable for an employer who does not give a worker his due having faithfully completed their tasks?
ganisations as far as employee- employer relationship is concerned. We saw companies which had survived for a long period of time and had made a lot of profits denying their workers by laying them off without any support that could help them pass through the pandemic. Many workers were laid off, salaries were reduced, others worked but they were not paid, the reporting and leaving time did not change although curfew and total lockdown was put in place and many others. Yet this was the time that organisations could have stood by their workers by providing them with necessary support such as food, transport, flexibility in the work schedule considering curfew and lockdown, financial support, provision of sanitizers and masks, and most important psychological support through connection with the employers and counselling seminars to help the workers handle the stress that the pandemic had caused to them.
On the other hand, the workers should do their best to help their organisations attain their goals by doing what they were hired to do with love and trust. Therefore, there is a need for a mutual relationship between the workers and their employers and the absence of one affects the other. Joseph Tusiime, Year Three, Ugandan
The most important part that would be given attention would be the health of employees but it is surprising that the worker is considered important when in good health conditions without the organisation’s contribution to the healthy wellbeing of their worker. It is evident in some companies when a worker gets an accident at the work place for instance, one who is injured by a machine, the managers tend to mind less about the health of the person, instead they pay attention to the state in which the machine is after injuring a person. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed all the weaknesses of different companies and or23
HEARTFELT JOY After spending five months of formation in Kenya for human growth and development, the outbreak of COVID-19 could not allow us to cross the border and to come back to our mother land, Uganda. We stayed in Kenya for more four months up to September when President Museveni eventually opened the borders for Ugandans to come back home. It was a grand jubilation to my brothers and I on receiving the news of our return to Uganda where we would be re-united with our families once again.
We had a meeting with our rector the following day and discussed how we would go about the COVID-19 tests so that within the next seventy two hours we would have crossed over to Uganda before the expiry of the results. We went to Kisumu for the tests and it was all successful and the following day our results were out and they were all negative. We prepared ourselves to travel to Uganda the following day. Finally, morning came and we were all “dressed to kill” with our faces punctuated with lots of smiles ready to start the journey. Our rector bid us safe journey and we began the journey while singing melodiously in our hearts. Within two hours, we were at the border to be cleared. It took us almost two hours to clear at the border because we had to pass through various offices to ensure that we meet all the conditions required. Nevertheless, my brothers and I finally got into the Mill Hill Formation van and within no time we arrived at the Mill Hill Formation House, Jinja. What we saw, experienced and heard was beyond our expectations. We all felt welcome because they treated us like angels. I was unable to discern the hearts of my brothers and how they felt in their hearts. The fact is that my love for Mill Hill increased because of
the love, care, kindness, good atmosphere exhibited. Ronald Rujumba Year One, Uganda A CLIFF OF LEADERSHIP A leader is someone who leads people in a community. He or she is entrusted with an office to represent, guide, influence and protect the development and the unity of a community. It is a call to be responsible and keen to issues affecting the community both negatively and positively, and then act as a bridge between the people and the higher authorities. He or she must be ready to cooperate with the members, bring all of them on board and listen to their concerns and act accordingly. It’s a sign of simplicity for a leader to have a listening ear. If all members are equally considered despite their age, gender, capability, economic status, or family background; they feel to be part of the community. A leader with the smell of his sheep understands better the people he or she leads: It is only when one stays with the people, eats, chats, and works with them that one will ably understand their problems. Though people might differ in ideas, they all expect positive feedback from their leaders. Despite the difference in ideas among the people, decisions have to be made. Sometimes making a decision alone can be a problem in that each party may feel that their idea is the best. To come up with a good decision as a leader, one has to consider the common good of the whole community without being influenced by other external forces. One must also be aware that no matter how good and fair the decision might be, it will always be criticized. People in
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opposition will always be there to put a negative remark. In leadership one will struggle thinking that he or she is doing their best but only a handful of people appreciate.
Being a leader does not mean that one should do everything. Sharing responsibilities is very vital in the community. One should therefore avail opportunities to the rest of the members for effective running of the community. More so, listening is very significant in leadership. Listening to people’s opinions as a leader is good but it requires one to reflect before making a decision. Additionally, it requires openness to the extent of correcting a friend without considering the consequences to the friendship.
from heaven, where He was worshipped and honoured as He deserved, to come to earth as man where He would be mocked, betrayed, beaten, and crucified on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin, rising again from the dead on the third day. He considered our need for salvation from our sins and its penalty as more important than His own comfort and life.
Sometimes people may give their lives willingly for those they deem as friends, relatives, and other good people but Christ’s love goes beyond that. Christ’s love extends to those most unworthy of it. He willingly took the punishment of those who tortured Him, hated Him, rebelled against Him, and cared less about Him, those who were most undeConclusively, leaders ought to know that serving of His love. He gave the most to the they may not possess the best ideas in the least that deserved it, which is the essence of world. They therefore need to employ the Godly love, ‘agape love’. services of others in order to brainstorm together and come up with the best for the This love which He demonstrated towards us community they are entrusted to lead. on the cross is just the beginning. When we place our trust in Him as our Saviour; He Evans Otieno makes us God’s children, co-heirs with Him, Year Three, Kenyan He comes to dwell within us through the Holy Spirit and promising that He will never forsake us. Hence, we have a loving companThe Love of Christ ion for life. And no matter what we go The phrase “love of Christ,” refers to the through, He is there, and His love is ever love that He has towards mankind. His love with to us. But as He rightfully reigns as a can be briefly stated as His willingness to act generous King in heaven, we need to give in our best interest, especially in meeting our Him the position He deserves in our lives as greatest need, even though it cost Him every- well as that of Master and not merely a comthing. We were the least worthy of such love. panion. It is only then that we will experilife as He intended and live in the fullStill Christ Jesus, being God in nature, exist- ence ness of His love. ed from the beginning of time with God the Father and the Holy Spirit; He willingly left Peter Ginyiera, Year Two, Ugandan His throne to become man in order to pay the penalty for our sins so that we would be saved from eternal suffering. Because mankind’s sin has been paid for by our sinless Saviour Jesus Christ, God who is just and merciful can now forgive our sins when we accept Christ Jesus’ payment as our own. Thus, Christ’s love is shown by His coming down 25
POWERFUL FEMALE FIGURE It did not begin today morning; neither did it begin yesterday. It has been there from age to age and has brought about a great level of inequality between people. This is the aspect of the female figure being considered inferior, powerless and therefore not valued thus treated in a very negative way. This has made the males to suffer from superiority complex making the female figure non-existent. This has resulted into the females being given less opportunities compared to the males. For instance, to some people it is an abomination for a woman to do some courses such as mechanics and constructors. If I may ask, how many female mechanics or construct do you know? Some might tell me, “none” but in the same courses there are thousands of males. This clearly shows the increased gap between the males and the females.
unacknowledged and unrecognized soldiers who fight a battle no one can fight. They struggle in very tough moments but no one thinks about that. They suffer for the sake of others but no one appreciates their efforts. They fight a very tough invisible battle that no one can tell the opponents. Who can dare explain the qualities and the goodness of his/her mother irrespective of whether she’s lame, handicapped, poor or of any other shortcomings and exhaust them to the fullest? Who can repay the love and commitment of his/her mother? Even if I buy all the best things for her, I cannot say that I have repaid her for her love and care.
However, the Bible still gives us a clear image of the role played by the female figure towards the salvation of people. In the old testament, through the pleading of Abigail, her foolish husband was forgiven by King David. In the New Testament, the simple ‘YES’ from Mary, the mother of Jesus, the whole world was saved and brought back to God. Furthermore, it was through Mary’s request that Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana. In addition, through the prayers of Monica, one of the most renowned female saints of the catholic church and a role model of all mothers, her husband was converted and her son Augustine changed from sinfulness to sainthood, thus, also recognized as one of the doctors of the This thing has been disturbing my mind church. The female figure has played greatfrom time to time in that at some point I feel est roles in the lives of many people, you like the world is completely unfair to this and me included. Who can deny this?\ people. In some communities, it is normal for a man to have sexual relationship outside I have witnessed many families developing marriage but it is a great offence for a wom- due to the efforts and the work of the female an to even be found talking to another man figure. This clearly indicates that a successirrespective of what they might be talking ful family has a strong and determined feabout. This is also evident among the Jews male figure. The worst thing that a person as illustrated in the Gospel of John 8:2ff can do is to mistreat or mishandle a female where the people brought before Jesus a figure. God trusted them that He gave them woman who had been caught committing the ability to carry other lives with them. It adultery. Even if I ask anyone to tell me becomes the most painful thing in anyone’s where the man was, no one would be able to life that the person you supported and gave tell. It looks ambiguous for a woman to up everything for his/her sake becomes your commit adultery in the absence of a man. abuser. How merciless and brutal are we to This clearly shows that from long ago, the mistreat the person who carried us for nine female figure was considered inferior and months, bore the pain at delivery endangertherefore nothing good would come from ing her own life alongside ours and stayed them. with us teaching us a variety of things. With this I would like to say, “If males are enerIt is clearly evident that mothers are getic, females are strong. If males are 26
strong, females are powerful and if males easing the embargos, for this would later are powerful, then females are strongly translate into resumption of our normal propowerful.” grams. However, I would like to appreciate and Therefore despite the fact that the outbreak acknowledge the work well done by differ- of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted most ent Non-Governmental Organizations and of the things all over the world, and specifidifferent governments in empowering the cally our programs here at the formation female figures. If this continues, the gap house, we cannot fail to thank God for the many blessings between the males and the females will be He bestowed narrowed which in turn will result into unto us during peaceful co-existence and cooperation, thus, that hard and development. It is until when the power and tensional time. the potentiality of the women will be fully Having spent a recognized and appreciated that we would good number of witness a great level of development and weeks indoors unity in the world. yet the lockdown was becoming TO MOTHERS tighter, the brothMum, if I ever mistreat you, remind me you ers had to think had my life in your hands of better ways of If I ever abuse you, remind me you taught creatively spending such precious time. It me how to speak. If I ever slap you, remind me you were the was at this point that some people dedicated some of their time to learning music instrufirst to wash my hands. If I ever push you, remind me that at one ments of their choice. Others decided to concentrate on the improvement of those point you carried me with one hand. If I spit at you, remind me that it was your instruments that they already had knowledge about. This work actually yielded fruits milk that gave me saliva. If I cane you, remind me at one point I could since the major keyboard players we have in the community today, are as a result of the not even lift a stick. If you starve as I enjoy, remind me that you lockdown. starved for me to get satisfied. Since we are always told that a If I talk ill about you, remind me that people healthy mind is preceded by a healthy body, mistreated you because of me. we did not hesitate to intensively engage in If I make you feel low, remind me you various sports activities as we kept our bodstepped on thorns that I may pass. ies in good shape. This further enabled us to be well disposed to a few academic assignJavan Brouz, Year Two, Kenyan ments that were before us. This was of great help since it helped us to accomplish all of THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN EXPERI- them successfully. It was actually here that ENCE IN THE COMMUNITY some people ventured into the unknown in At the beginning of the year 2020, as many the field of games. Some people endeavof us came back to the formation house to oured to learn games like basketball, volleystart the new semester, none of us ever ball, lawn tennis and indoor games like O’ thought that the semester and the rest of the Hell. No wonder we have some good playprograms would come to a hiatus due to the ers in such games. outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even But all in all, we continue to pray through when many activities came to a pause, we the intercession of St. Raphael to heal our were still hopeful that things would in a world from the pandemic. month or two get better. But then, there reached a time when only the much more Vicent Mugerwa strong- hearted would really continue to Year Two, Ugandan hold on to the virtue of hope in relation to 27
TRUE SERVICE The book entitled, The Scandal of Service by Jean Vanier gives a splendid analysis on The washing of the Feet which many looked at as a scandal because the general view of service in the spirit that Jesus advocated for, was truly scandalous before human eyes. It is at this juncture that with great conviction, I agree that true service in the spirit of Jesus’ teaching was scandalous. Service as understood in today’s world is relative. There is service that aims at reward at the end of it all. On the contrary, the service that Jesus our Lord advocates for, is that which is above self; a service that does not seek any reward when it is rendered. It is that particular type of service that appears scandalous and even undesirable in the eyes of humanity. The washing of the feet that Jesus carried out on Holy Thursday was a true act of service above self. We have read in the Scriptures that the first sign in Jesus’ time, the act of washing the feet must have been scandalous, was the reaction by Simon Peter. Peter could not bear the sight of Jesus washing his feet. It was only with clarification from Jesus about no admission into the kingdom if he refused, that he accepted to have his feet washed. The attitude of Peter clearly reflects our own life and struggles in which we resist the gesture of service by our masters seeing it as unusual and scandalous. In all truth, it would not be something scandalous for us to have those we call superiors, to offer lowly service to us but rather look at it as a form of fraternal love that Jesus himself advocated for. It is also good to realize that if truly we want to feel the true meaning of service, then the version of service Jesus advocated for would be the best course of action we would take in order to inherit the Kingdom of God. It may look scandalous to some
people when we offer service to the unwashed of society, those at the periphery of life but our joy and strength should be drawn from the hope of an eternal reward offered by Jesus himself, the architect and model of service above self. Humility is one of the best virtues that can direct one’s life into the path of divine favour, human acknowledgement and admiration. The act of service requires humility in which someone forgets about himself and lives a life of service in order to offer comfort to others. Jesus is the perfect icon of humility. I think leaders can learn from Jesus’ gesture of washing the disciples’ feet to which they were called to come down to the level of the people they serve. Leaders ought to mix with the people they lead. Pope Francis once called on all the religious and priests to “be shepherd with the smell of the sheep.” Smelling like the sheep means coming down to the people and listening to them, directing and offering guidance in their day to day affairs. This is the mission of Christ portrayed in the ritual. Emmanuel Ebulu, Year Two, Ugandan FATIMA! STILL RELEVANT! The country of Portugal has been an epicentre of pilgrimage and tourism in the last century, and because of this, I came to realise that the apparitions at Cova da Iria, Fatima have led to that. Three shepherd children, two of them now revered as saints, Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia, at a young age, were blessed with the visitation of our Lady.
Many writers and commentators have already written beautiful and exhaustive treatises about this matter. However, my reflection is on the relevance of the message of our Lady at Fatima in the present world. Should our Lady give us another apparition suitable for our time, or should we follow the event of more than one hundred years? While pondering on all questions and intending to probe into the mystery circulating around Fatima, I was even more perplexed.
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Our Lady took her time, left heaven and Stemming from a place of helplessness, the came on earth to warn humanity of the dan- Great Yes of Mary and the Holy Silence of ger they were heading to (world wars). From Joseph are a May to October of 1917, she visited those spicy addition to children monthly and gave them messages; this great feast. messages of conversion, consecration to the St Joseph, thereImmaculate Heart, and reparation. fore shines in the great story of God-made-man even though in Dear brothers and the shadows of sisters, as we go Mary and Jesus; about our businonetheless he nesses, let us consider seriously shines. these things so that we may reap the fruits that were On 8th December 2020, Pope Francis with sowed at Fatima, his Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde (With the in that way Fatima Father’s Heart) celebrated the 150th Anniwill still be rele- versary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph vant. as Patron of the universal Church, by Pius IX in 1870. On the same day and in the Ad Iesum per same Letter, Francis declared this year as Maria, the Year of St Joseph: from 8th December 2020 to 8th December 2021. Alfred Mivule, Year One, Ugandan In his Holy Silence, St Joseph teaches us that action is louder than words. His silence was pregnant with activity. Indeed, while it is true that Joseph said nothing, what is said of him and his actions reveal who he is. We know that Joseph was a lowly carpenter (Mt 13:55), betrothed to Mary (Mt 1:18; Lk 1:27). We also know that he was a “just man” (Mt 1:19), ever ready to carry out God’s will as revealed to him in the Law (Lk 2:22.27.39) and through dreams (Mt 1:20; 2:13.19.22). After a long and tiring journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, he beheld the birth of the Messiah in a stable (Lk 2:7). He witnessed the adoration of the shepherds (Lk 2:8-20) and the Magi (Mt 2:1 -12), who represented respectively the people of Israel and the pagan peoples, (Patris Corde, pg. 1).
Holy Silence of Joseph, Great Yes of Mary and Christmas Christmas is here again. Jesus is taking up human flesh again. He comes when we, as the entire human family are experiencing a lot of pain and anguish since the outbreak of Covid-19 in March 2019. The world is pained. The world is strained. Yet, the Messiah knocks at the doors of our hearts with a promise of new hope; with a promise of Light that dispels all darkness within and around us. Christmas this time is like no other. Its core message, an invitation to worship and adore the fragile and vulnerable baby, our Saviour in the new mangers of our hearts, only adds more weight to what this season of COVID-19 has taught us: the world is not saved by the strong or the pow- In his holy silence, Joseph listened, obeyed erful but by the weak in the hands of God. God’s will and accommodated the courageous, faithful and Christmas thus is a feast of the weak, the great Yes of Mary. On poor, and the homeless Jesus, thrown for the account of the Silence of Joseph and the Yes weak, the poor, and the homeless of our day. 29
of Mary inspired by God himself, we have Christmas because “unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting King, Prince of Peace,” (Is 9:6). At this time when all seems gloom and doom, we need this Child more than ever; He is all things to all people. To those who mourn their loved ones, he is a consoler and comforter; to those who are hungry and thirsty, he is the g bread and water of life; to the blind, he promises and restores new sight; to the deaf and the dumb, he restores their hearing and the power of speech; to the sorrowful, he gives joy; to the orphan, he is a father; to the marginalised and the outcast, he restores their dignity and makes them bearers of the Good news. And to you?
the womb, with new and fresh hopes for the fresh year 2021. May St Joseph pray with and for us! Fr. John Akain Kwa,
Formator, Cameroonian
Dear readers of Outreach, Jesus is all things to all people; He came, he comes and he will come again. Let us like Joseph, cultivate a dose of holy silence, so we can feel the new, fresh and refreshing breath of hope and peace which the Prince of Peace promises and brings us; let us, with a convincing and a firm yes like that of Mary, recommit ourselves to the will of God and so be open to receive Christ into our lives in a new way. Once, we have received Christ and all that his coming brings, in keeping with our theme of this formative year, Witness, we will reach out to others as witnesses of Hope, witnesses of love, witnesses of joy, witnesses of peace and witnesses of Light and Life: Christ himself. He is fresh from 30
ACROSS 2. The bible contains seventy__books 4. First five books of the bible are called 6. Another name for the book of Revelation is 9. The first book of the Bible is 10. The bible is interpreted in this sense 11. Books erroneously held to be inspired and to be included in the canon of scripture, but rejected as such by the Church 12. The New Testament was written in the language called 13. Translated the bible into Latin 14. List of inspired books of the bible 16. The book of Job, The book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs, The Book of Ecclesiastes, Canticle of Canticles, The Book of Wisdom, and The Book of Ecclesiasticus are categorized as_______books. 17. Book of the Old Testament composed of sacred songs, or of sacred poems meant to be sung 19. The Bible was written with the inspiration of_______ 21. The first Greek version of the Old Testament, made at Alexandria in the 3 rd century B.C., Traditionally by 70 translators 22. Douay______ is a translation of the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English made by members of the English College, Douai, in the service of the Catholic Church 24. Synonym for Holy Scripture 25. The bible is interpreted in this sense
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1.Another name for Torah 3. Bible Index 5. Books of the Old Testament whose place in the canon was admitted after the other books 7. Latin version of the bible declared authentic or authoritative by the council of Trent 8. A person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith 15. Books written before the New Testament 18. Type of Prophets (Minor or Major) 19. The Bible was written with the inspiration of_______ 20. Gospels written by Matthew, Mark and Luke are called___Gospels 23. Type of Prophets (Minor or Major) Source: MyCatholicSource.com
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FRATELLI TUTTI (ON FRATERNITY AND SOCIAL FRIENDSHIP) SUMMARY Friendship and unity in a fragmented world The document begins by explaining that our call to love others as brothers and sisters, even when they are far from us is a call to 'open fraternity', a love without borders. The encyclical offers eight chapters, each exploring themes of friendship and unity in a time of growing fragmentation, with a focus on the human family in a postCOVID-19 world. Below is a summary of each chapter.
to determinism or fatalism as a justification for our indifference. We are being encouraged to create a different culture: one in which we resolve our conflicts and care for one another (FT 57) because we all have one Creator who is the defender of the rights of all. We are moved and called to expand our hearts to embrace the foreigner. It is a call to fraternal love that extends from the oldest text of the Bible to the New Testament (FT 61). Love does not care if a wounded brother or sister comes from one place or another. Love shatters chains and builds bridges; it enables us to create one great family, where all of us can feel at Chapter 1: Dark clouds over a closed home. Love exudes compassion and digniworld ty (FT 62). The first chapter describes the dark clouds over a closed world; these clouds extend to all parts of the world, hindering the development of universal fraternity (FT 9). What are these clouds? They are the circumstances that leave many people wounded by the roadside, discarded and rejected. The clouds plunge humanity into confusion, isolation, and desolation. The Pope reminds us that love, justice, and solidarity are not achieved once and for all but that they have to be built and worked by each person day by day (FT 11).
Chapter 2: A stranger on the road There is a stranger on the road, the pope says, wounded and cast aside amid the dark clouds of a closed world. Here Pope Francis draws us to the parable of the Good Samaritan. As we look upon the stranger, the Holy Father says there are two attitudes we can take: we can pass by on the other side, or we can stop and be moved by pity. The type of person we are or the type of political, social, or religious movement we belong to will be determined by whether we embrace the injured stranger or abandon him. God leaves no room for an appeal
Chapter 3: Envisaging and engendering an open world
God is universal love, and since we are part of that love and share it, we are called to universal fraternity, which is openness. There are no “others,” no “them”; there is only “us.” Human beings can live, develop, and find fulfillment only in the sincere gift of themselves to others; they cannot fully know themselves apart from an encounter with other persons. No one can experience the value of living without having real faces to love (FT 87). Life exists where there is bonding, communion, and fraternity. Life is stronger than death when it is built on true relationships and bonds of fidelity (FT 87). Every healthy, authentic relationship opens us to others; we cannot reduce our lives to ourselves or to relationships with a small group (FT 89). This universal openness is existential rather than geographical; it has to do with our daily efforts to expand our circle of friends, to reach out toward the margins, to include those whom I do not naturally consider a part of my circle of interests even though they are close to me. A love capable of transcending borders is the basis of “social friendship,” 33
the condition of possibility for universal openness (FT 99). The future is not monochrome: our human family needs to learn to live together in harmony and peace, without having to be all exactly alike (FT 100). No one can remain excluded (FT 121). Development must ensure human rights— personal and social, economic and political, including the rights of nations and of peoples (FT 122). Business activity should always be clearly directed to the development of others and to eliminating poverty (FT 123).
Francis illustrates how a call to charity and fraternity naturally leads to better politics – a timely reminder as the world seeks to emerge from the COVID pandemic. A better kind of politics seeks the common and universal good, Pope Francis says, one that practices social charity and pursues human dignity. It can be carried out by men and women who, with political love, integrate the economy into a popular social, cultural, and political project. Pope Francis calls us to a social and political order whose soul is social charity. He urges Chapter 4: A heart open to the whole us to rehabilitate politics as one of the loftiest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks world the common good (FT 180). Such political We experience social friendship, we seek charity is born of a social awareness that what is morally good, and we practice so- seeks the good of all people (FT 182). cial ethics because we know that we be- “Social love” makes it possible to advance long to a universal family. We are called to towards a civilisation of love, to which all encounter, solidarity, and gratuitousness. of us can feel called. It is a force capable of The conviction that all human beings are inspiring new ways of approaching the brothers and sisters forces us to see things problems of today’s world, of profoundly in a new light and to develop new responses renewing structures, social organisations (FT 128). When our neighbour happens to and legal systems (FT 183). Politicians are be an immigrant, complex challenges arise. called to tend to the needs of individuals As long as no substantial progress is made and peoples (FT 188). Politicians are doers to avoid unnecessary migrations—and that and builders with ambitious goals; they means creating the conditions needed for a should possess a broad, realistic and pragdignified life and integral development in matic gaze that looks beyond their own the countries of origin—we are obliged to borders (FT 188). They are called to make respect the right of all individuals to find a the sacrifices that foster encounter and to place that meets their basic needs, and seek convergence on at least some issues where they can find personal fulfilment (FT 190). (FT 129). We must do our best to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate those Chapter 6: Dialogue and friendship in who arrive. To that end, we should in- society crease and simplify the granting of visas, Pope Francis echoes his predecessors when adopt programmes of sponsorship, open he speaks of the important place that ongohumanitarian corridors, provide housing, ing dialogue and friendship holds in the life guarantee personal security, grant access to of faith. Dialogue is respectful, strives for basic services, and ensure consular assis- consensus, and seeks the truth. Dialogue tance, among other things (FT 130). opens the way to a culture of encounter so that encounter becomes a passion, a desire, Chapter 5: A better kind of politics and a way of life. Those who dialogue recIn this chapter of his new encyclical Pope ognise, befriend, and respect other persons. 34
Approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one another, and finding common ground: all these things are summed up in the one word “dialogue” (FT 198). If society is to have a future, it must respect the truth of our human dignity and submit to that truth. A society is noble and decent not least for its support of the pursuit of truth and its adherence to the most basic of truths (FT 207). Relativism always brings the risk that some alleged truth or other will be imposed by the powerful or the clever (FT 209). In a pluralistic society, dialogue is the best way to realise what should always be affirmed and respected apart from any ephemeral consensus. There are certain enduring values that make for a robust and solid social ethics (FT 211).
Chapter 7: Paths of renewed encounter In chapter seven of the encyclical, Pope Francis writes of the need for renewed encounter and the restoration of peace in societies throughout the world. We need boldness and truth (FT 225), he says, recognising that any renewal must begin with an acknowledgment of what has been. Those who were fierce enemies have to speak from the stark and clear truth (FT 226). Only by basing themselves on the historical truth of events will they be able to make a broad and persevering effort to understand one another and to strive for a new synthesis for the good of all (FT 226). Truth is an inseparable companion of justice and mercy. All three together are essential to building peace (FT 227). The path to peace does not mean making society blandly uniform; rather, it means getting people to work together, side-by-side, in pursuing goals that benefit everyone. The problems that a society is experiencing need to be clearly identified, so that different ways of understanding and resolving them can be found. We should never define
others by what they may have said or done in the past; we should value them for the promise that they embody, a promise that always brings with it a spark of new hope (FT 228). Authentic reconciliation does not flee from conflict, but is achieved in conflict, resolving it through dialogue and open, honest and patient negotiation (FT 244).
In chapter 8, the final chapter, the pope deals with Religions at the service of fraternity in our world. Mutual cooperation as the code of conduct The encyclical concludes with an appeal from the Holy Father to all people of goodwill around the world: that ‘In the name of God and of everything stated thus far, we declare the adoption of a culture of dialogue as the path; mutual cooperation as the code of conduct; reciprocal understanding as the method and standard (FT 285).’ ‘May God inspire that dream in each one of us,’ Pope Francis concludes.
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