Kabale Diocese hosted a provincial workshop on the Doctrine of the Faith for participants from Kabale Diocese and Mbarara Archdiocese under the theme, “Growing Together in Faith: Strengthening Catholic Identity through Local Faith Groups.” The seminar took place at Rushoroza Pastoral Centre from the evening of Wednesday, June 24, to Friday morning, June 26, 2026.
Opening the workshop, Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, Vicar General of Kabale Diocese, described the seminar as timely, emphasizing the need to equip Catholics with sound knowledge of the faith before they can effectively teach others.
He commended the national office for organizing ongoing faith formation for the People of God, noting that the initiative reflects the spirit of the Synod on Synodality initiated by the late Pope Francis.
“The composition of participants clearly demonstrates that we are journeying together as the People of God,” he said.
Msgr. Vianney stressed that the Church’s first responsibility is to teach the faithful the authentic Catholic faith.
“In the Church, we are all the People of God. Before we can teach others, we ourselves must first be taught. What we teach is the doctrine of the Catholic Church, summarized in Canon 750 as the ‘Deposit of Faith,’ which is revealed through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium.”
He observed that although many people join the Catholic Church, some are not adequately grounded in Catholic doctrine. Consequently, when challenges arise, they easily abandon the faith.
“Our responsibility is to help people understand the authentic teaching of the Church and live their faith with conviction,” he added.
Preserving the Deposit of Faith
Facilitating the workshop, Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Debo, National Executive Secretary for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Uganda Episcopal Conference, explained that the Doctrine of the Faith is the Church’s oldest department, entrusted with preserving and promoting the faith and morals of the Catholic Church.
He said the office provides moral guidance to the faithful and supports ongoing catechetical formation.
The workshop brought together priests, religious sisters, catechists, and lay faithful from Kabale Diocese and Mbarara Archdiocese.
Fr. Debo noted that while the Catholic Church has long served as a source of spiritual nourishment, moral guidance, and community life, rapid social changes have caused many baptized Catholics to drift away from active participation in the Church.
He cited findings from the 2024 National Population Census, which indicate that the Catholic population declined from 38.7 percent in 2014 to 36 percent in 2024, while the proportion of Pentecostal and Evangelical Christians increased from 10.9 percent to 14.7 percent over the same period.
According to Fr. Debo, these trends have affected Church attendance, community participation, charitable works, and, most importantly, doctrinal and moral formation. Quoting from the Rite of Ordination of Priests, he reminded participants of their responsibility as teachers of the faith:
“Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” This calles for exeplary living and walking the talk.
Need for Ongoing Faith Formation
Fr. Debo said understanding why some Catholics become lukewarm or leave the Church is essential in designing effective pastoral interventions.
Among the reasons he identified were limited opportunities for continuous faith formation after receiving the Sacraments of Christian Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
Referring to St. Anselm’s famous definition of theology as “Faith Seeking Understanding,” he emphasized the importance of lifelong catechesis and doctrinal formation.
He expressed confidence that ongoing formation would contribute to the return of inactive Catholics, stronger Small Christian Communities (SCCs), greater parish participation, and more vibrant Christian communities.
He encouraged Catholics to embrace synodality by meeting regularly to reflect on the Word of God, studying Scripture together, praying together, participating actively in the sacramental life, supporting one another, and putting their faith into practice.
Strengthening Catholic Identity
Fr. Debo outlined the essential elements of Catholic identity, including:
- Doctrinal identity
- Sacramental identity
- Ecclesial identity as members of the universal Church
- Liturgical and devotional identity
- Missionary and communion identity, rooted in Baptism
He explained that strengthening Catholic identity requires both understanding and living the Catholic faith. This includes embracing Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium as the Church’s teaching authority.
He encouraged the use of Small Christian Communities and lay apostolate groups—including the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR), Legion of Mary, Crusaders, Xaverians, Catholic Men’s Association (CMA), Catholic Women’s Association (CWA), altar servers, and other associations—as effective platforms for nurturing Catholic identity.
Relevant Preaching and Sound Catechesis
Msgr. Paulino Mondo challenged priests and other preachers to make their preaching more relevant if the Church is to strengthen Catholic identity.
“Faith must be firm. Your faith should not merely be ‘a form’; it must be firm and intelligent,” he said.
He observed that inadequate preparation for homilies, coupled with weak catechesis, has contributed to some Catholics leaving the Church.
“Some people feel that the Church is not addressing their daily struggles, so they seek solutions elsewhere,” he noted.
Echoing the same concern, Mr. Tumukwasiibwe Nicodemus Odo, Chairperson of the Laity in Kabale Diocese, appealed to homilists to prepare thoroughly and relate their preaching to the everyday realities faced by Christians.
He also called for stronger leadership formation within both the Church and society to help Catholics become confident and principled leaders without compromising their faith.
Addressing Contemporary Challenges
Fr. Felecian Kananura of Mbarara Archdiocese, who also serves as Chaplain of St. Joseph’s Vocational Secondary School, Mbarara, said the workshop focused on strengthening Catholic identity at every level—from individuals and Small Christian Communities to parishes and lay apostolate groups.
He identified materialism, secularism, and the influence of Pentecostalism as major challenges affecting Catholic faith today.
“Many people pursue wealth at the expense of their faith and family life. Others treat faith as something purely private and neglect prayer. Some perceive the Catholic Church as too rigid and consequently seek other denominations,” he explained.
He emphasized that participants had been trained as trainers who would, in turn, pass on the knowledge they had acquired to others.
Participants Appreciate the Initiative
Mr. Mwongyera Tadeo, Head Catechist of Mbarara Archdiocese, thanked the Church for organizing continuous formation programmes.
He said the workshop had enriched his understanding of Catholic doctrine and pledged to share the knowledge with fellow catechists.
He also urged parents to fulfill their primary responsibility as the first teachers of the faith by passing Catholic values on to their children.
Commitment to Sharing the Truth
In his closing remarks, Fr. Fidel Ndagijimana, Pastoral Coordinator of Kabale Diocese, thanked Fr. Peter Debo and Msgr. Paulino Mondo for dedicating their time to strengthening doctrinal formation across Uganda’s Catholic dioceses.
He also expressed appreciation to all participants for their commitment and encouraged them to share what they had learned within their parishes and communities.
Quoting John 8:32, he reminded participants of the importance of sound doctrine in Christian life: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
He concluded by emphasizing that Catholic doctrine is fundamentally about knowing, living, and proclaiming the truth revealed by Christ.