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Kapeeka Parish is located in the diocese of Kasana-Luweero. It is situated at 60 Kms from Kampala (the capital city). The Parish has been under Consolata Missionaries since 2003. It has twenty outstations in its jurisdiction. At the moment, the IMC presence is noticed by Frs. Leo Bagenda, Peter Ssemwezi and Deacon Stephen Mutuku.
During my Christmas holidays in Kiwanga (vocation and animation centre), I was warmly welcomed by our Confreres of Kapeeka parish. As soon as they were aware of my presence in Ouganda, they immediately contacted me to spend some days with them. I loved it and I went to Kapeeka. Giving a look at the Eucharistic programs, twenty Masses were supposed to be celebrated by only two priests. Imagine! I decided to give once again a look at the missal and lectionary before expressing my deep feeling. I realize that I could manage to read the Luganda (main language of Ouganda). I offered myself as one of the main celebrants. After the Christmas Eve Mass (24/12/2010 at night), I started practising how to read Luganda. I read twice and my Confreres made corrections and they all expressed their thrill to realize that I was reading quite well. They allowed me to preside over Masses. During Christmas Day, with one seminarian of the first year of theology of the local diocese, we went to three outstations for the Eucharistic Celebrations. I presided over Masses and the local seminarian shared the word of God. Frs. Bagenda, Peter and Deacon Mutuku also went to other places. I loved the experience and it was absolutely wonderful. People are very good and I found myself as if I was presiding over Masses in my own Country. WaOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! During offertory, although some are not rich financially, but they bring at least something, such as bananas, onion, fruits... I loved such a way of dealing with Christians... Within very few days, I was tempted to remain and live with these people. When I was introduced to Christians, all of them were astounded to realize that for the first time and within my first week in Ouganda, I could manage to preside over Masses in their language without being schooled. In fact, I have come to understand that Luganda language has a lot of similarities with Kikongo and Lingala, which are some of the Congolese national languages that I also master a little bit better and are also spoken in Angola. For example, in Luganda the word kugulumiza means to glorify. In Kikongo it is Kukumisa. In luganda okuziika means to bury, in Kikongo it is kuzika. In luganda tuggende means to go, in Lingala it is tokende... After these wonderful Eucharistic Celebrations on 25/12/2010, we were all found in the dining room around 3.00 pm for the sharing of the meal. I was flabbergasted to see the table full, full and full of niama choma (grilled meat), meat of pig, well done and mixed salad, spaghetti, rice, vegetable, matoke (mashed bananas), bottles of several types of wine, whisky, limoncello, boxes of beer and soft drink... The system was self-service. WaOOOOOOO! The Lord was really born in Kapeeka IMC Community. I missed a room in my stomach. I loved this wonderful experience and visit. I pray God to bless our Confreres, Christians and everybody around Kapeeka Parish.
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