The Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira has exhorted Christians to be proud of their Catholic faith and be firmly rooted in it. He made this call on Sunday, while presiding over Mass on Pentecost Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Good Shepherd Rushoroza Cathedral. He reminded Christians that Pentecost marks the birth of the Catholic Church and challenged believers to remain committed to sustaining their Church by being courageous and offering faithful service to others.
“On Pentecost, we celebrate the birth of the Church and we therefore must be challenged to be ready to sustain the Church forever. Let us be courageous to spread the Good News by the help of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
The bishop urged Christians to emulate the Apostles, who spread the Gospel fearlessly after receiving the Holy Spirit, and encouraged believers to use their different spiritual gifts to serve the Church and society. Pentecost Day, celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and early followers of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, empowering them to spread the Gospel and marking the birth of the Church.
He also challenged Catholics to be proud of their faith and avoid fear when expressing their religious identity in public. He pointed out that many Christians shy away from leading prayers even in small gatherings, saying believers should instead be willing to serve God boldly through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
You see a Catholic in public and fears to make the sign of the Cross, not to be identified as a Catholic. Be proud of your identity and stop the fear, be true witness – Bishop Callist Rubaramira.
He also urged parents to teach their children Catholic prayers and values from home, describing families as the first church and the first school. The bishop emphasized the importance of respecting different gifts, roles and responsibilities within the Church and society, urging Christians to complement one another in unity and mutual respect.
He concluded by calling on Christians to forgive one another and become true instruments of peace in their families and communities, remembering that peace was the first gift of the risen Christ to his disciples.
Bishop Rubaramira used the opportunity to warn Christians against handshakes and unnecessary travel as part of efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola following the confirmation of new cases in Uganda. He urged Ugandans to take the Ebola outbreak seriously and called for strictly observance of the preventive measures to minimize the risk of infection.
He also cautioned Christians against handshakes, saying that physical contact could accelerate the spread of the deadly virus. He also advised believers to avoid unnecessary movement and travelling to areas with known Ebola outbreaks.
The bishop further called upon Christians to unite in prayer for God’s protection against the disease and for healing for those already infected.
“We must take this outbreak seriously and adhere to all preventive measures. Let us combine efforts in prayer and ask God to protect our country and heal those affected,” Bishop concluded.