Hundred of Christians from the parishes of Bukinda Deanery (Muhanga, Kamwezi, Maziba and Bukinda) gathered at Bukinda Parish for a three day Jubilee Year Pilgrimage which was concluded with celebration of Pentecost Sunday. The Pilgrimage started on Friday, June 6, 2025 and was concluded on Sunday, June 8, 2025 and saw Christians trek from Kamwezi, Maziba, Muhanga and different parts of Bukinda Parish to attend to the jubilee year sessions facilitated by Fr. Fidel Ndagijimana, Pastoral Coordinator for Kabale Diocese under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The pilgrimage was culminated with opening of Holy Door of Bukinda Parish Church and all the Christians gathered passed through it in order to obtain a plenary indulgence attached to the Jubilee Year 2025.
While presiding over Mass to celebrate the solemnity of the Pentecost, Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, Vicar General of Kabale Diocese who represented Bishop Callist Rubaramira to open the Holy Door, said that the Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the advocate, the counselor, who manifests in different signs eg wind, fire, anointing oil, water, hand.
He said that God loved us so much and wanted to liberate us by sending his son who was born among us on Christmas. He remained with us but time came when he suffered (40 days of lent), died and resurrected on Easter. He spent time appearing to his apostles (40 days). He promised them the Holy Spirit and ascended to heaven and 50 days after Easter, we celebrate Pentecost.
Msgr. John Vianney noted that Christ has never left his people, and he is always with them especially in the Sacraments and all these Sacraments are made possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us gifts ( Isaiah 11:1-2) and with him we bear fruits (Galatians 5:22-23). On this Msgr. John Vianney urged the faithful to nurture the gifts God has given them and thank God for each gift received which should be used to build God’s kingdom.
Understand and listen to what the Holy Spirit has given to you. But you must nurture the gift that God has given you. Don’t run after what is not yours and don’t run after what is not yours. – Msgr. John Vianney Sunday.
St. Paul reminds the Christians of Rome that that what is of the flesh does not opposed what is of the spirit, thereby encouraging them to make their bodies the dwelling place of the Spirit of God. The code of Canon law, (can. 1251) teaches about fasting and abstinence. People fast in order to mortify their bodies as Paul says that what is of flesh opposes what is of spirit. Don’t attend too much to the body and forget the spirit. Msgr. John Vianney thanked the priests of Bukinda Deanery for their availability care for people souls and Spirit by administering Sacraments to them especially the Sacrament of penance in order to reconcile people to God. Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is one of the conditions for obtaining the plenary indulgence in the Jubilee Year.
On Pentecost Sunday, the Catholic Church celebrates her birthday, when the Holy Spirit demanded on the Apostles and enabled them to preach the good news to all people of all nations. The Apostles received the Holy Spirit and moved out to start the mission of spreading the Good News of the risen Christ. “You too have been called by Christ in the Sacrament of baptism and sent through the Sacrament of confirmation,” said Msgr. John Vianney Sunday.
Hon. Wilfred Niwagaba, Member of Parliament for Ndorwa East and chairperson of the Kabale Diocesan Land Board thanked the pilgrims from Bukinda Deanery and urged them to be hard working in order to be financially self sustaining by using their small pieces of land well in order to increase food production and surplus for sale. He contributed 2 million shillings towards the development of Bukinda Deanery association.
Speaking as one of the pilgrims from st. Mark’s Kamwezi Parish, Dr. Sylvia Arinaitwe, the Deputy Managing Director of National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) thanked Kabale Diocesan leadership for the arrangements of Jubilee Year Pilgrimage in order for people to renew their faith and hope in the Lord. She thanked Bukinda Deanery administration for being hardworking in order to transform the lives of the people of God. She contributed 2 million shillings towards the development of Bukinda Deanery association. She also pledged to construct the grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Bukinda Parish worth 25 million shillings.
Mr. Beinenama Francis, the Chairperson of Laity Council for Bukinda Deanery, on behalf of the Christians of Bukinda Deanery thanked the Bishop of Kabale Diocese and the Diocesan Administration for the Jubilee Year program and pilgrimage in Deaneries so that all Christians are given opportunity to participate in the Jubilee Year activities. He also thanked the Pastoral Coordinator for the different sessions conducted in order for people to understand the Jubilee Year and thanked the Vicar General for opening the Jubilee Year door for pilgrims to pass through and obtain indulgences.
Fr. John Byamukama, Parish Priest of Bukinda Parish and Dean of Bukinda Deanery thanked the priests in Bukinda Deanery for the cooperation and hard work they are doing in respective parishes. He thanked all the pilgrims for listening to the call of their parish priests and participate in the Jubilee year activities like jubilee charity, jubilee pilgrimage, jubilee hymn competitions among others.
Fr. Fidel Ndagijimana, Pastoral Coordinator for Kabale Diocese thanked Dean and priests of Bukinda Deanery for the cooperation. He thanked Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, who represented the Bishop at the opening of Holy Door of Bukinda Parish Church for Jubilee Year pilgrimage in Bukinda Deanery. He expressed gratitude to the Diocesan Curia for entrusting him with Jubilee Year program which is ongoing so that he executes the different activities therein. He awarded certificates of participation to the parish choirs, primary and secondary schools that participated in the Jubilee Year Hymn competitions which saw at. Luke Muhanga Parish choir, Muhanga Kitaburaza Primary School and St. Paul’s Secondary School Bukinda respectively emerge winners.
Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, in his final remarks thanked the pilgrims of Bukinda deanery for actively participating in the Jubilee Year. He also thanked the Pastoral Coordinator and the collaborative departments for the Jubilee Year activities which have been accomplished under his efforts. He thanked Dean of Bukinda Deanery for the mobilization. He thanked all the people of God for actively participating in the jubilee and wished them fruitful Jubilee Year as Pilgrims of Hope.