(This article was first published in Toto Magazine on September 14, 2022)
By Mathias Mazinga
The Catholic Church has introduced a Christian association for children. Jesus the Loving Pelican Guild, was launched by the Bishop of Kasese Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Francis Aquirinus Kibira. This was during the celebration of the 143rd anniversary of the first Catholic mass in Uganda. The function took place at St. John the Baptist Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic parish church, in Rubaga Division, recently.
Nabulagala is where the first Catholic mass in Uganda was celebrated by Archbishop Leon Livinhac, one of the pioneer Catholic missionaries of the society of the White Fathers on June 25, 1879. Bishop Kibira gave first holy communion to about 200 children.
Why The Name Pelican?
According to Fr. Richard Nnyombi, a pelican is a desert bird which loves its young ones so much that if it fails to find food for them, it pierces itself and feeds them on its own blood. The Pelican is thus a symbol of sacrificial love. The children who belong to this association are, therefore, expected to extend the sacrificial love of Jesus to others.
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