Married couples have been urged to have time for God and their families amidst their work schedules. This call was made by Mr. Kisembo John Mary, leader of Cana on the national level, while meeting cana leaders and family ministry coordinators in Kabale Diocese, a function which took place on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in Rushoroza Pastoral Centre. He reminded them to always be there for each other both in good and bad times since the they made a commitment to be together forever. He said attending Cana weeks could help the couples learn how balance work and family.
Mr. Kisembo also used the opportunity to remind Cana fraternity members to make more mobilization and recruit more members by targeting parishes so that Cana families can increase and have impact in parishes. This in turn will help in the formation of Cana fraternities (different cana families).
On behalf of the Diocesan team, Aloysius and Glorious Byaruhanga, the Lead team of Cana Fraternity Kabale Diocese said that CANA in Kabale Diocese was introduced after a resolution of the Diocesan synod of 2014 with a view that it would help to solve some of the challenges the families were going through.
Aloysius said that the first CANA Week was held at St. Paul’s Seminary Rushoroza in 2015 and was attended by 27 couples and one priest, Rev. Fr. Ireneus Tibemanya and as of August 2025, there 67 fraternities comprising of 336 couples and members continue to increase with each passing Cana week. The current leadership team of CANA was inaugurated in February 2024 and is comprised of:
1. Aloysius and Gloria Byaruhanga – lead couple
2. Everist and Annet Mbonigaba – Secretarial Couple
3. Ernest and Pross Nkusimire – Treasurer couple.
4. Maximian and Deodanta – Formation and Training couple
5. Pancras and Joy Mbeine couple – In-charge of Fraternities.
In an attempt to fulfill the demand of Bishop Callist Rubaramira of taking CANA to the door steps of the people, the CANA training centres or Deaneries have been increased from 2 to 4. So far this year, we have operated in three centres of Nyamwegabira, and Kakore (August 23-30, 2025) and Kinanira (September 7-13, 2025) while Kitanga centre is scheduled for December, 2025.
The Cana fraternity members expressed appreciation to Bishop Callist Rubaramira and Diocesan Administration for allowing CANA to operate in Kabale Diocese and supporting its activities since its inception in the Diocese in 2015 through the Family Ministry Office.
They also thanked the CANA International leadership and National Team for always putting them on their visitation programs and continued guidance which exposure has given them an opportunity to learn. Appreciation was extended to the National Lead couple, John Mary and Noeline Kisembo for cheerfully journeying with couples in Kabale Diocese and facilitating the training plus extension of support during CANA weeks and other programs.
Different fraternity members appreciated the efforts of Cana fraternity in modeling and shaping families in Kabale Diocese. Mrs. Edvinah Tugume shared fruits of Cana and said that Cana improves affection and intimacy. It imparts open and honest communication.
Everest and Assumpta Ngabirano of Buhara Parish said they are leaders on the parish level (vice Chairperson of Parish Council) because of how Cana has shaped their family and other people admire them.
Denis and Honest Niwagaba narrated how they first attended a marriage conference in 1989 which became their base and with the coming of Cana which cemented everything. “For us everything is ours, nothing is mine or hers. Children are ours, money is ours. We cooperate and try to get everything possible for the well-being of our family”. He called the national and diocesan leadership to help couples (whether wedded or not) attend Cana week, and this can help to establish stable families and a vibrant Church where we get good leaders for both church and government.
Sr. Bourbonnais Marie, the Cana leader on international level and member of Chemin Neuf Community urged the fraternity members to always ensure responsibility and follow up of members. She gave tips to the fraternity leaders on how they can be responsible fraternity leaders:
1. Working with God: you have to work at times like Martha (lead others help them here and there) but also listen to God like Mary (listen to what he says in particular aspects). This can be done by discernment through conviction or desire, Praying with the Bible (Lexio Divina), daily events (things that you don’t decide on but sometimes God uses them to communicate to you) and the brethren in Christ (fellow believers).
2. Work with your spouse: Cana is an opportunity to help you work as a couple. Work on your unity as a couple before going out to unite other couples. Agree on how things should be done, business conducted, affairs run. Unity of the family is important. There should be harmony in the family. You might spend a lot of time as couples and forget the children.
3. Working with the Church: Be in harmony with your church leaders, seek spiritual nourishment. Cooperate with church leaders.
4. Work with the world: we are in the world though not of the world. Be in harmony with neighbors and workmates. The good news is for all, therefore extend to all and do apostolate among all people of God whether Christians or not. Be a testimony in the world. Be a sign of God’s love in the world.
Sr. Judith Atukwatse, coordinator of Family Ministry in Kabale Diocese thanked the couples that attended the seminar and cautioned members against living a free-floating life. She urged the members to go back and live according to what they have been taught. She said there are many couples that know cana by an individual and requested them to recruit more to attend Cana week which is meant for the married so that their families become stable and develop.
She also called on married couples to live according to the covenant. This comes at a time when there are many single parents (single fathers or single mothers) not because marriage has failed, but because they prefer to have children but not living as married.
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Big applause to our Bishop calist for his support to family