Christians have been exhorted to be agents of peace and unity in their communities if they are to practice Jesus’ command under guidance of the Holy Spirit. This call was made by Rev. Fr. Austen Christmas, Parish Priest of Rushoroza Cathedral Parish while preaching in the morning Mass on Pentecost Sunday where St. Cecilia Rushoroza Cathedral Choir was inaugurated and officially launched.
While centering his message on unity and oneness among Christians, Fr. Austen noted that the Holy Spirit gives the Christians different gifts but the greatest of them is love as quoted in 1 Corinthians 13:13, thereby urging the believers to live in harmony and respect one another.
Fr. Austen warned Christians against becoming agents of disunity in communities, associations, and institutions, saying the Holy Spirit calls believers to speak with one voice and live in accord. He noted that choir members should be united and in harmony though singing different voices.
In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus told his apostles that he would be with them till the end of time. Whenever you are going, ask the spirit of God to accompany you with his power and gifts. In every activity you are doing, even singing, ask the Lord to be with you and guide you – Fr. Austen Christmas, Parish Priest of Rushoroza Cathedral.
Ms. Ngabirano Christine, the chairperson of St. Cecilia Rushoroza Cathedral Choir thanked Fr. Austen Christmas for supporting them as choir and journeying with them. He also thanked Mr. Byamukama Remigio and Mrs. Twesigye Justine for accepting to be the advisors and patron and matron of the choir and pledged to always listen to their parental pieces of advice in order to take their choir to greater heights.
Mrs. Twesigye Justine, the choir matron thanked the choir members for their dedication and urged them to uphold discipline if they are to grow in virtue and fully exploit their talent of singing. She said that as they chose her to be matron, she expressed gratitude to God for the new assignment given to her and thanked St. Cecilia choir for the opportunity granted to her to serve as the matron and advisor.
She called for cooperation amongst the choir members and notes that what disrupts groups is hesitation (okusiigana). She urged them to always be time cautions. “If it is the day for practice, don’t wait to be called, be the first on there and wait for the others. If all wait for another to report first, the group will finally crumble,” she said.
She also exhorted choir members to always respect themselves and be virtuous as they serve God through the ministry of singing. Every skill and talent must be accompanied with discipline, without which there is failure.
Mr. Byamukama Remigio, Chairman Parish Council of Rushoroza Cathedral Parish and Kabale Diocesan Education Secretary thanked Fr. Austen Christmas, the Parish Priest for uplifting the status of choir in Rushoroza Cathedral Parish. He also credited the parish priest for equipping the choir with two sets of uniform, projector, amplification among others.
He also thanked choir members for their dedication and efforts put in to perfect the singing through constant choir practice and workshops. He urged them to keep it up and prayed that God grants them good health to serve him more and more. He also pledged to continue supporting the choir in various ways in order to accomplish its tasks.
Fr. Austen Christmas thanked St. Cecilia choir members and all the other choir members in Rushoroza Cathedral for their dedication and serving the Lord through singing. He also thanked the patron and matron (Mr. Byamukama Remigio and Mrs. Twesigye Justine) for their willingness to journey with choir members in their service of the Lord.
He also said they should recruit more choir members and pledged to keep supporting the choir. “If a new member joins your choir, grant them necessary respect and initiation so that they feel at home.” He called them to be cooperative and respectful in choir so that he who sings well prays twice as St. Augustine puts it.
At. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Kitanga Parish, Rev. Fr. Marius Byamukama, Parish priest of Kitanga Parish and Dean Kitanga Deanery said the Gospel text of John 20:19-23 remains relevant today because many Christians continue to live behind “locked doors” of fear, sickness, sin, disappointment, family conflicts, financial struggles, and hopelessness. “But the risen Jesus can enter even where doors are closed. No problem is too difficult for Him and no heart is too wounded for His mercy,” adding that “when Jesus showed the disciples His wounded hands and side, He demonstrated that suffering can be transformed into victory and testimony.”
The pain we carry today can become the source of strength and hope tomorrow – Fr. Marius Byamukama, Dean of Kitanga Deanery.
Fr. Marius further pointed out the role of the Holy Spirit in transforming lives, saying the Spirit changes fear into faith, weakness into strength, and sadness into joy. He challenged Christians to always allow Jesus in their lives and transform them with his peace so that they too can spread peace to others and division.