HCFMEA
The Holy Cross Family Ministries offices Regional office in Fort portal organized a Try Prayer! It works! Contest at St. Adolf On-going Centre and more than 30 schools participated in this competition. They were 1500 participants who filled in the forms but only 400 participants returned them back.
Try Prayer! Contest is a creative contest intended to deepen the students understanding of Catholic Faith through Art work, Poetry and Essay Writing through careful interpretation of the theme.
It was based on the theme ‘’Who is my Mother? Who are my brothers and sisters?
Students of St. Maria Gorreti Fortportal holding the banner with the theme ''Who's my Mother,Who are my brothers and sisters?''
We started with a band marching from Holy Cross Family Ministries offices at Virka Cathedral premises in Fort portal to the venue grounds. This was followed by the celebration of Mass, and the main celebrant was the Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese, Rt. Rev. Robert Muhirwa and co-celebrants including the youth chaplain Fr. Kayondo, Director HCFM, Fr. Leonard Olobo CSC, and other priests.
In his homily, the Bishop encouraged the students to be understanding and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus because this is the day of the Lord. He added that Jesus’ resurrection is still the challenge to the Christians just as it was to the disciples.
''Faith is not a feeling, Faith goes beyond feeling and any other thing. It is a gift, a leap in its own. It grows slow and as it grows, you have to take care of it. This is why the church encourages us to renew our baptism vows''….said Bishop Muhirwa.
The Bishop also encouraged the youth to always attend Mass celebrations, worship the Lord in the morning, afternoon, evening as an individual or in a group.
‘’Pray individually, never miss to go to church on Sunday and also receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. During Mass, when the celebrant utters before the Eucharist, let us always receive Him worthily, prepare yourselves, receive penance so that you receive the Lord when your soul is cleansed’’…..said Bishop Muhirwa.
The Bishop urged the students to always share the good news to others because after Mass, the Lord gives us the authority to spread the good news to those that did not have a chance to listen to it.
He also urged to the students not to be pressurized by fellow peers and end up doing vices, they have to stick to what is right just like Peter and John who healed the crippled man.
Bishop further more urged the youth to dress up appropriately and drop off the provocative dressing and be respective to themselves and others. He added that the youth need to realize that the dressing of today is indecent.
After the celebration of Mass, the best students were awarded prizes. The overall best students received shs100, 000 and a T-shirt and the patrons also got shs50, 000, a T-shirt and a certificate for the school.
These are the best students in each category.
- Art- Kalenzi Alex (Nyakasura School)
- Essay Writing-Kemigisha Mary( St. Maria Gorret Girls’ School)
- Musoki Shine ( St. Mbaga Spring of Hope)
To the rest of the schools, the overall in each school received a T-shirt and certificates of participation were awarded to them.
The Guest of Honor was Rt. Rev. Robert Muhirwa, who appealed to the students to continue practicing the skills and talents even at their respective schools.
He added that these skills and talents give incredible character, adds value to the curriculum vitae because at the workplace, it helps in team building and getting orders from the supervisors.
Bishop Robert urged the students to put the theme of the contest (Who is your mother? Who are my brothers and sisters?) Into consideration, to care and be merciful to each other just like Pope Francis appeals to us.
He added to them to be kind to those that are in need and reflect the Christ in them.
‘’Let us pray through our Lady and be committed to her to intercede for us to be brothers and sisters. Let us resurrect with the risen Lord in everything we do…..said the Bishop.
The Director Fort portal office, Sem. Richard Serugo encouraged the students to always pray, never forget to try prayer, it works.
The Director Holy Cross Family Ministries East Africa, Fr. Leonard Olobo CSC, thanked the Bishop for always accepting the invitations and be part of the functions fully. He appreciated him with a gift and Fr. Peyton’s portrait and the Bishop was very happy.
The function concluded with school presentations, some presented traditional dance, poems, drama and composing songs.
