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"Religion that God our
Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and
widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the
world." (James 1:27) |
Diocese of South Rwenzori, Uganda
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Bishop Zebedee K. Masereka and his wife Stella
Our Uganda ministry began in 1997 with the visit of Bishop Zebedee K. Masereka and his wife Stella, of the Diocese of South Rwenzori,
Uganda. The Diocese is in western Uganda, near the city of Kasese. Our parish
family is helping the Diocese with the many challenges they have in ministering
to their parishioners. Much suffering has been caused by drought, famine, war,
and rebel raids. For a good while, many of the people were displaced and forced
to live in refugee camps. Fortunately, the area is stabilizing, and the process
of rebuilding has begun. Our two main areas of help are with the orphans of the
Diocese and the support of two seminarians.
Orphan Sponsorship
There are hundreds of children who have been left orphaned
by the rebel raids, AIDS, malaria, and other causes. The St. Mark’s parish
family currently assists 25 orphans with their school fees. Nineteen are
individually sponsored; the rest are supported through combined donations and
the proceeds from Fr. Ed’s Sermon CD sales in the bookstore. The cost for
Primary school is $81 per year; Secondary school is $152. These fees cover
tuition, books, uniforms, bedding, and shoes. If anyone is interested in
sponsoring a child or donating to the Children’s Fund, please see Elaine or
Harris Humphreys.
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Fr. Yese Thembo, of the Childcare Programme,
with some of our children
Below are Fr. Thembo’s biographies of the children still
in need of sponsors:
Ramson Masereka
Ramson’s father, Kaheru, was killed by rebels. After his
death, the family was displaced. Life became hard for the family because Kaheru
was the breadwinner. Now the family stays with some relatives. However, they
find it difficult to raise school fees. Ramson is 16 years old and attends
secondary school. Ramson studies very hard and aspires to become a building
engineer.
Hellen Kabugho
Helen was born into a family with four children. Her father
died from malaria. After his death, the district was invaded by rebels. As a
result the family was displaced from November 1996 to the summer of 2002. Hellen
is 17 years old, and attends secondary school. Hellen enjoys working in the
garden, reading, making baskets, and singing in the church choir.
Godfrey Baluku
Godfrey’s father died from malaria. He is one of six
children left behind by their late father. His mother works as a maid to support
her family. Even so, school fees are high in relation to the wages
earned. Godfrey is 11 years old and attends primary school.
Loice Biira
Loice’s father died from diabetes. Her mother, who works in
the fields, has seven children in her care. Some have had to go and live with
relatives. Finding school fees has been very difficult. Loice is 17 years old
and is in secondary school.
Robert Baluku
Robert’s father died of cancer. After his death, his mother
became blind. Her sight is completely gone. She is helpless, and is being
assisted by well-wishers. Robert is 13 years old and is in primary school.
Our Seminarians
During the past seven years, St. Mark’s has sponsored five
seminarians in their theological studies. Three have already been ordained to
the priesthood: The Rev. Phillip Mulengo, The Rev. Gershom Kibethe, and The
Rev. Laban Mugisa.
Our current seminarians, Alfred Mugisa Muhungo and Nelson
Walina, are in their second year of study at the Ugandan Martyrs Seminary in
Kampala. They are excellent students, and we are so proud of them! They work
very hard at school and also during the holidays. Alfred did concrete work last
summer, for the equivalent of $1 per day. You can see why school fees are so
hard to raise when the wage scale is not comparable.
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Alfred and
Nelson in front of the Ugandan Martyrs Seminary
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Alfred, his wife Laheri, and Children
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Nelson, his wife Milena, and Children
Our Former Seminarians Who Have Been Ordained
The Rev. Laban Mugisa
Fr. Laban Mugisa is serving in the Ikoboro Parish about 25
kilometers from the Diocesan headquarters. It is in a mountainous area near the
border of the Congo. He and his wife, Grace, have five children.
Fr. Laban Mugisa On Ordination Day
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Fr. Laban
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Fr. Laban with his family on Ordination Day
The Rev. Gershom Kibethe
Fr. Gershom Kibethe has been assigned to the Kitabu
Parish. It covers an area of 30 kilometers and has 12 sister churches in which
he does pastoral work. Since it is so mountainous, he is unable to use a bicycle, so
he walks all those miles! Fr. Gershom and his wife, Jonolisi, have two
children.
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Rev. Gershom Kibethe
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Rev. Gershom's son James
WISH LIST FOR UGANDA
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Individual sponsors for Orphans
($81 Primary; $152 Secondary) |
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Contributions of any amount
to the General Children’s Fund. |
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Musical Instruments: Used/New.
You bring them; We’ll ship them. |
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Monetary contributions for musical
instruments. Fr. Laban wrote that his parish “has no musical
instruments with which to worship our Creator.” |
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Educational books, e.g.,
dictionaries, illustrated books, etc. |
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School Supplies: pens, pencils,
sharpeners, colored pencils, rulers, markers, etc. |
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Sewing supplies and portable sewing
machines for the wives of the priests/seminarians so they can supplement their
income, which is very small. |
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Computers for the Diocesan
Office. These can be used computers, in decent condition. |
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Contributions toward the future
purchase of motorbikes for our priests serving multiple parishes in rural,
mountainous areas. |
