Leaders of Parish Lay Apostolate Committees together with leaders of Lay Apostolate Movements and Associations in Kabale Diocese have gathered at Rushoroza Pastoral Centre for a one-day seminar aimed at strengthening their leadership capacities, deepening their understanding of the mission of the Church, and equipping them with practical skills to serve the Christian faithful more effectively.
The seminar, held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, brought together representatives of various Lay Apostolate Movements and Associations from the 43 parishes for a day of reflection, sharing of experiences, evaluation of activities, and formation in Christian witness, family life, and financial literacy.
Fr. Bruno calls for commitment to the mission of Christ.
Officially opening the seminar, Rev. Fr. Bruno Byomuhangi Sserunkuma, Director of the Lay Apostolate Commission in Kabale Diocese, expressed gratitude to the leaders for their dedication and commitment to serving the Church. He commended them for accepting leadership responsibilities within both the Church and the wider community, noting that their service contributes to the evangelizing mission of the Diocese.
Fr. Bruno also appreciated the individuals and different Lay Apostolate Movements that participated in preparations for the Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Rt. Rev. Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire as the fifth Bishop of Kabale Diocese, which took place on October 3, 2026.
He further recognized the leaders’ contribution to mobilizing funds during the Novena to the Uganda Martyrs and the Martyrs Day celebrations, describing such collective efforts as an important expression of commitment to the life and mission of the Church.
Special appreciation was extended to the Lay Apostolate Organizing Secretary, Mr. Active Xavier, for his diligence in office and his commitment to visiting different parishes whenever the Director is unable to do so because of other pastoral responsibilities. Fr. Bruno noted that such dedication strengthens communication and coordination between the diocesan office and parish communities.
Reflecting on the celebration of World Mission Sunday, observed on every third Sunday of October, Fr. Bruno highlighted this year’s theme, “One in Christ, United in Mission,” as a reminder that all Christians share a common responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and contribute to the mission of Christ.
He grounded the mandate of Lay Apostolate leaders in the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:19–20, in which Jesus Christ instructs His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations.
According to Fr. Bruno, every Christian is called to participate in the mission of Christ in three principal ways: praying for the mission, supporting it financially, and actively carrying it out through evangelization and service.
He emphasized that the Church is missionary by her very nature and that all her members, regardless of their state of life or responsibilities, must participate in this mission.
“Mission is not the responsibility of priests and religious alone. Every baptized Christian has a role to play in proclaiming Christ, supporting the work of evangelization, and putting the Gospel into practice in daily life,” he emphasized.
Fr. Bruno also challenged the leaders to embrace exemplary Christian living, reminding them that their actions often communicate the Gospel more powerfully than their words.
“If your lifestyle is contradictory to what you say, then know that you are sabotaging the mission of Christ. Even if you do not speak, your life should be able to communicate,” he said.
He urged the leaders to become credible witnesses of Christ in their families, workplaces, parishes, and communities, observing that integrity, love, sacrifice, and service are essential qualities of an effective Christian leader.
Leaders urged to strengthen family life and promote healthy living.
In his remarks, Mr. Active Xavier thanked the participants for attending the seminar and commended them for demonstrating a spirit of commitment and sacrifice in their respective apostolates.
He reminded the leaders that Parish Chairpersons of Lay Apostolate Movements serve as important links between their parish communities and the Diocesan office. He encouraged them to maintain effective communication, provide regular updates, and ensure that information and guidance from the Diocese reach members at the grassroots.
Mrs. Mary Martin, Chairperson of the Catholic Workers Movement at the Diocesan level, urged Lay Apostolate leaders to take an active role in combating domestic violence and promoting peaceful, stable, and loving families.
She emphasized the importance of effective communication between spouses, encouraging couples to speak openly about their challenges, listen to one another, and work together to identify solutions to family problems.
She noted that strong families are built on mutual understanding, respect, shared responsibility, and a willingness to address difficulties before they escalate into serious conflicts.
Mrs. Martin also encouraged participants to pay attention to their eating habits and lifestyles to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. She further advised them to identify and manage sources of stress, explaining that unmanaged stress can negatively affect personal well-being, family relationships, and productivity.
She called on Lay Apostolate leaders to use their meetings, seminars, and workshops as opportunities to address practical issues affecting the faithful, including income generation, financial sustainability, a culture of saving, and the promotion of responsible parenting and good family life.
Eucharistic Congress reports highlight the need for continuity.
The seminar also provided an opportunity to evaluate the Eucharistic Congress activities conducted at Deanery level in Rushoroza, Rubanda, Mutolere, Makiro, Bukinda, Kitanga and Nyakibale.
Reports presented during the meeting indicated that feedback from the faithful was encouraging, with participants expressing a desire for the Eucharistic Congress to become an annual event on the Deanery level.
There was also a recommendation that the event be organized on a rotational basis among Parishes within each Deanery. Such an arrangement would enable more parish communities to participate actively, strengthen unity among the faithful, and deepen devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist.
Participants noted that regular Eucharistic Congresses could provide valuable opportunities for spiritual renewal, catechesis, fellowship, and a deeper appreciation of the central place of the Eucharist in Catholic life.
Lay Apostolate movements present activity reports.
Representatives of different Lay Apostolate Movements presented reports on their activities, achievements, challenges, and areas requiring further support. The movements represented included the Legion of Mary, the Apostolate devoted to Praying for souls in purgatory, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, St. Jude Thaddeus, Catholic Men Apostolate, Catholic Women Apostolate, Catholic Workers Movement, Holy Family, Uganda Martyrs Guild, Eucharistic Crusaders, Xaverians, Catholic Professionals, among others.
The reports provided an opportunity for participants to share experiences, assess the progress of their respective movements, and identify ways of improving coordination and participation at parish and Diocesan levels.
The discussions also reinforced the importance of accountability, regular meetings, collaboration, and continuous formation in ensuring that Lay Apostolate Movements remain active and responsive to the spiritual and practical needs of the faithful.
Mr. Kamugisha Innocent, Diocesan chairperson of Catholic Men Apostolate (CMA) observed that the CMA had not yet taken root in some parishes. He called for renewed efforts to revitalize the movement in parishes where participation and coordination needed improvement.
His remarks highlighted the need for sustained formation, stronger parish leadership, and deliberate mobilization of Catholic men to participate actively in the life of the Church and the development of their families and communities.
Leaders reminded of the Church’s teaching on the Lay Apostolate.
Participants were reminded of the objectives and responsibilities of the Lay Apostolate as outlined in Apostolicam Actuositatem (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity), one of the documents of the Second Vatican Council, promulgated on November 18, 1965.
The decree explains the vocation and mission of lay people in the Church, emphasizing that the apostolate is not merely an additional activity but an essential expression of the Christian calling received through Baptism and strengthened through Confirmation.
According to Apostolicam Actuositatem, No. 2, the Apostolate of the Laity is participation in the Church’s saving mission. Lay Christians are called to proclaim Christ, contribute to the sanctification of the world, and bring the values of the Gospel into every aspect of human life.
The objectives of the Lay Apostolate include:
- Evangelizing the world: Proclaiming Christ and spreading the Gospel through words, actions, and Christian witness.
- Contributing to the salvation of humanity: Helping people encounter Jesus Christ, the source of salvation.
- Sanctifying the world: Making Christ present in families, workplaces, communities, and society through Christian living.
- Renewing the temporal order: Transforming social, economic, political, and cultural life according to Gospel values.
- Promoting justice and charity: Defending human dignity, serving the poor, and working for the common good.
- Participating actively in the mission of the Church: Collaborating with priests, religious, and fellow lay faithful in fulfilling the Church’s mission.
- Witnessing to Christ in daily life: Demonstrating faith through holiness, integrity, love, and service.
The decree also identifies three central areas of lay apostolic activity: evangelization, the sanctification of people, and the penetration and perfection of the temporal order through the spirit of the Gospel.
These responsibilities call on lay Christians to bring their faith into practical engagement with family life, education, business, public service, culture, and other areas of society.
For the Lay Apostolate Commission of Kabale Diocese, the overall objective is to evangelize and sanctify humanity, lead people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, and transform human life and society through the values of the Gospel, for the glory of God and the salvation of humanity.
The seminar therefore served as a reminder that Lay Apostolate leaders must not only understand the teachings of the Church but also translate them into practical action within the communities they serve.
Emphasis on financial discipline and self-reliance
Mr. Tugume Robert, Manager of Centenary Bank, Ishaka Branch took the participants through a presentation on financial literacy and management. Opening his presentation with the question, “What do you do to earn a living?”, Mr. Tugume challenged participants to reflect on their sources of income, financial habits, personal ambitions, and responsibilities toward their families.
Drawing from his personal experience, he explained how alcoholism had negatively affected the family in which he grew up. Having witnessed the hardships associated with excessive alcohol consumption, he resolved never to take alcohol, a decision he said helped him concentrate on his education, secure employment, and provide for his family.
He explained that his commitment to a different lifestyle enabled him to progress in life and help his brothers, sisters, and the wider family move away from the difficulties associated with alcoholism.
His testimony illustrated the importance of personal discipline, responsible choices, and long-term planning in overcoming challenges and building a more secure future.
Mr. Tugume encouraged participants to develop a clear vision for their lives, write down their dreams, and establish practical plans for achieving them. He advised them to begin with the resources available to them rather than waiting until they had accumulated substantial wealth.
Using the biblical account of Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, he illustrated how God can use the little that people have when it is offered with faith and put to good use.
He urged participants to combine prayer with practical effort, emphasizing that personal development requires both trust in God and a willingness to work.
“Pray and work,” he advised, encouraging the faithful to avoid idleness and make responsible use of their talents and opportunities.
He further emphasized the importance of cultivating a saving culture, preparing budgets, controlling unnecessary expenditure, and avoiding waste.
“The rich man dreams and follows the dream. The poor man dreams and keeps the dream,” he said, urging participants to turn their aspirations into achievable goals through planning, discipline, and consistent action.
Mr. Tugume also encouraged parents to invest in the practical education and skills development of their children by enrolling them in vocational training institutions and skilling centres.
He explained that vocational education can equip young people with practical competencies, increase their chances of earning a living, and enable them to become job creators rather than relying solely on the search for formal employment.
Addressing husbands in particular, he reminded them of their spiritual responsibilities within the family, urging them to lead family prayers, pray for their spouses and children, and foster a home environment rooted in faith.
He called on fathers to take an active role in the spiritual formation of their families and to entrust their households to God’s protection while fulfilling their responsibilities with love and dedication.
Citing Job 28:28, he reminded the participants: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
He concluded by encouraging the faithful to remain prayerful, disciplined, hardworking, and committed to building families founded on Christian values.
“When you kneel before God, you stand before everyone,” he said, emphasizing that humility before God should inspire courage, integrity, and responsibility in everyday life.
Mr. Tugume thanked Fr. Bruno Byomuhangi Sserunkuma for organizing the seminar, noting that such formation programmes are important in equipping Lay Apostolate leaders with the spiritual understanding and practical knowledge they need to guide the people entrusted to their care.
Strengthening lay leadership for a missionary Church
The seminar underscored the important role played by Lay Apostolate Movements and Associations in advancing the mission of Christ in Kabale Diocese. Through evangelization, family formation, charitable service, community engagement, and responsible leadership, lay Christians contribute to making the Gospel present in everyday life.
As the leaders returned to their respective parishes and movements, they were challenged to put the lessons into practice, strengthen collaboration with the diocesan office, and become credible witnesses of Christ in their families and communities.
Ultimately, the seminar reaffirmed that the mission of the Church is a shared responsibility. When lay Christians unite in faith, serve with commitment, and live according to the Gospel, they become effective partners in building a Church that is missionary, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of God’s people.
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Thank you for the information