From Francis Monnie
Most Rev. Vincent Sowah, SVD, Bishop of Yendi has advised the youth to avoid ostentatious lifestyles and the craze for material things with the aim of getting-rich-quick.
He lamented that the youth have developed an attitude of clouding their minds with things of the world leading them to indulge in vices such as “sakawa” (cybercrime), teenage pregnancies, abortions and drug addiction and other social ills currently plaguing our society.
The Bishop gave the advice in a homily at a Mass to launch the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the St. Charles Lwanga Parish at Saboba in the Yendi Diocese on the theme: “Making Christ known to all people, the way forward.
Bishop Boi-Nai noted Christians were bound to face challenges during their earthly life, saying that in times like that they must not give up Christ, but lean on Him.
Bishop Boi-Nai reminded Christians that they were called to serve, love fellow mankind and chart a path of holiness that will appease God thus preparing themselves for the Kingdom of God”. Bishop Boi-Nai paid tribute to the early Missionaries of the Parish led by Rev. Fr. Joseph Connolly and his Confreres as well as the lay pastoral agents for their zeal and dedication despite the challenges they encountered.
He said the arrival of the Missionaries brought both spiritual and physical development to the people of Saboba through the buildings of Schools, Health facilities and helping them to appreciably depart from their fetish practices and embracing the Catholic faith. He urged the Parishioners to pray for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. As part of the launching of the Golden Jubilee, the Bishop installed the first Parish Pastoral Council chaired by Mr. Stephen Mayen.
Rev. Fr. Sunil Rodrigues, SVD, Parish Priest said the Catholic population in the Parish had grown steadily over the years, noting that the youth of the area were yearning for a taste for spiritual development, education and job opportunities, marriages, family life, guidance and counseling. He said despite these contemporary challenges, the Parish had left no stone unturned to keep the flame of evangelization burning for the salvation of souls.
Mr. Jacob W. Bakatiche, the Chairman of the Jubilee Anniversary Planning Committee, said the celebration would be climaxed on February 6, this year. The Saboba Parish from which the Holy Cross Parish at Sambuli and Holy Trinity Rectorate Wapuli were carved out, was established in 1965 by the SVDs and has a Catholic population of about 2,000 with 13 Outstations.
