Holy Cross religious order gains provincial status

FORT PORTAL -The Congregation of Holy Cross in East Africa, a religious order in the Roman Catholic Church has been granted a provincial status.

The Holy Cross of East Africa Province will now cover the countries of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

During the inauguration of the province on Sunday at Virika Cathedral in Fort Portal Diocese, the host bishop, Robert Muhiirwa who also led mass, said becoming a province means addition of responsibilities.

“I want to inform the Superior General of the new Holy Cross Province of East Africa that the responsibilities before him are now quite tough because a province is a big thing. The task ahead now is on how you will able to mobilise resources to run this province,” Muhiirwa said.

He said the duty of the provincial superior general is to oversee the others within the area and work with his council.

“It’s now your responsibility to be innovative in terms of mobilising finances. Good thing, you have been in it. Only that you have been added responsibilities,” he said.

Bishop Muhiirwa promised to work hand in hand with the provincial superior general and the Holy Cross family as a whole to ensure the order is established in other countries of East Africa.

The Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Bro. Paul Bednarczyk who presided over the inauguration function and installation of the first East African Provincial Superior General appealed to the congregation and all religious leaders and Christians to support the new province.

He said the establishment of a province is not just celebrations but a commitment to serve God and his people in a different capacity.

Justine Kasule Lumumba the minister in charge of general duties in the Office of the Prime Minister commended the work of the congregation of the Holy Cross in the development of Uganda.

She said the ministry has helped the country in the establishment of schools, hospitals and extension of water to different communities.

“The Holy Cross has done a big role in the development of Uganda. There is a need for the establishment of Holy Cross communities in Rwanda, Congo, and South Sudan,” she said.

Fr. Cyprian Binaka who was inaugurated as the first Provincial Superior of the Holy Cross of East Africa Province said he is ready to work with his council and other provincial superiors to see the work of Holy Cross grow to another level.

He said to start with, he is mobilising for the construction of a memorial conference hall in Jinja.

“The erection of the Holy Cross of East Africa Province and the celebrations involved is an expression of gratitude to God to Holy Cross missionaries and the lay collaborators who have for many years worked hard to bring the work of the Holy cross in this part of the world to what it currently looks like,” Fr. Binaka said.

The inauguration was attended by, among others, Archbishop of Nairobi Philip Anyolo, Archbishop Emeritus of Arusha [Tanzania] Josephat Lebulu, and Fr Bill Lies, the Provincial Superior of the US Province.

Background

Holy Cross established a presence in East Africa in 1958 in response to a general invitation by the Holy See to organise the Church’s missionary activities around the world.

The first group of Holy Cross religious leaders in East Africa was led by long-time missionary Rev.Vincent J. McCauley, C.S.C, who later became the first Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese.

The religious leaders settled in the Northern portion of the Mbarara Diocese in Uganda, which later became the dioceses of Fort Portal, Hoima, and Kasese.

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