On June 3 in Kampala, Uganda, one of the largest religious gatherings in Africa and the world, Ugandan Martyrs Day, will take place. This event is expected to draw anywhere from 500,000 to millions of Catholics and other Christians from across Africa.
A group from the Nzoia Deanery of the Diocese of Kakamega in Kenya has already begun their over 200-mile pilgrimage to the Namugongo Shrine in Uganda, where the event will take place. They left on May 21, blessed by Fr. Columban Odhiambo, the parish priest of St. Joseph the Worker Kongoni Parish.
These pilgrims will walk 18-25 miles each day, carrying various prayer intentions, including praying for more people to embrace their faith and answer God’s call in their lives. The journey is not just a physical one but a spiritual journey as well, with personal and parish intentions being carried in their prayers.
Fr. Odhiambo explained that the intention to pray for vocations to priesthood, religious life, and marriage was inspired by a recent priestly ordination in their deanery, where nine deacons were ordained as priests.
The Kenyan pilgrims, accompanied by two priests, participated in confession and Mass before starting their journey. Along the way, they will join other faithful from the Kakamega Diocese. Together, about 150 pilgrims will sing, pray the rosary, pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and go to confession.
This year, the pilgrimage group from Nzoia Deanery is the largest yet, with 19 people, compared to just three last year.
The Namugongo Shrine is a significant site on the edge of the Archdiocese of Kampala. It is where St. Charles Lwanga and his companions were martyred by King Mwanga II of the Buganda kingdom. Ugandan Martyrs’ Day commemorates the 45 men who were killed between 1885 and 1887 for refusing to renounce their Christian faith.
Source: ACI AFRICA
