The Catholic church authorities at Our Lady Queen of Peace – Maria Kiwamirembe Catholic Shrine has benned women from wearing of pair of trousers in Eucharistic Masses during this lent period.
Teaching in his homily, Rev. Fr. Edward Kabanda, the director Kiwamirembe Catholic Shrine women’s underpants peep out of worn tight and fitting trousers, distract attention of their male counterparts during Mass thus leading them into temptation.
Fr. Kabanda who used Islamic illusions of; “Munno Tomugyako Uzi” – don’t make your neighbour unclean, said the ban is not only meant to promote decency in church but also stop evil acts that may tempt believers during lent.
He made the remarks during the celebration of Ash Wednesday Mass prayers which commences the beginning of 40days of Lent season in the Catholic church.
On the enforcement of this regulation, Fr. Kababda revealed that church administration has employed Askaris / guards to help in enforcement.
“And this goes to all females, the church will be providing ‘lesu’ – covering cloths to all women and girls who come to this place wearing trousers to help them cover up their bodies. The church has instructed Askaris to give you Lesus at the entrance which you will return after Mass,” Fr. Kabanda said.
The regulation will commence with effect from tomorrow Thursday 18February until the end of the lent season.
In his homily, the priest clarified on the catholic church tradition of not emphasizing on “dry fasting” – fasting without eating food and getting any drink stating that the church only recommends Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as the days of dry fasting.
“It is not sensitive for a man to fast for food, drinks when his heart is in the darkness sin,” Fr. Kabanda said quoting Scriptures in Joel 2:12–18. “Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.”
He asked Catholics to reconcile with God during this Lenten season and immerse themselves in prayer, fasting and Almsgiving.
“For anything to be called a prayer, you must do three things; prayer with meditation, fasting and Almsgiving,” the priest said. “Do not be racist and selective when doing acts of charity to people. If its your moslem neighbor or a born again Christian, give him/ her any support that they may be in need of. And give out good items.”
This year’s Ash Wednesday was celebrated on a day which marks 142 years since the French white Fathers; Fr. Siméon Lourdel Pere alias Mapera and Brother Amans Delmas alias Amansi, made their first footstep on Ugandan Land a journey that was a turning point to the birth Catholic church in Uganda.
The duo came to Uganda on February 17, 1879 through Indian Ocean and Bukoba landing site then through Lake Victoria and had stopover at Kigungu in Entebbe municipality Wakiso district.
They were welcomed by the then King of Buganda, Kabaka Muteesa I who allocated to them a living place in Rubya Nabulagala.
It is said that Fr. Mapeera and Bro. Amansi refused an offer of beautiful girls for sexual pleasures who had been accepted by all previous white explorers and travelers.
A church building and a Guava tree were set up and planted at Kigungu in memory of Fr. Mapeera.
The Missionaries of Africa to which Fr. Lourdel and Brother Amans belonged, constructed a monument at Kigungu which depicts the two missionaries, in white, kneeling and humbled in prayer.
In the midst of the kneeling missionaries is a concrete with words. They read, “On this spot landed the first catholic missionaries of Uganda on the 17th day of February in the year of our lord 1879, Reverend Simeon Lourdel and Brother Amans of the society of the white fathers.”
The memorabilia metallic placard is affixed on a concrete and half bricks and just below it a cross and further below the word ‘Thy Kingdom Come’, taken from the Lord’s Prayer.
On a monument, Brother Amansi is holding a metallic brief case which depicts them as travelling evangelists.
The two still live in the hearts of Ugandan believers and a number of hymns are in their memories.
