Every year on July 31, Jesuits worldwide celebrate their founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola. In 2024, for the first time, St. Charles Lwanga Parish marked this feast in a big way, reflecting on our Jesuit heritage and drawing spiritual nourishment from it. The evening of July 31, 2024 was truly special, described by one attendee as “a retreat and a celebration rolled into one.”
The idea started with our Jesuit scholastic, Br. Stan Kanenje, SJ, who suggested that since we are a Jesuit-run parish, we ought to share the Ignatian charism more explicitly with parishioners. The Parish Council agreed, and so a plan formed to have a special Feast of St. Ignatius Mass and social for the parish.
Mass of St. Ignatius: On that Wednesday, Mass was set for 5:00 PM to allow working folks to come in the evening. The church was modestly decorated in white and blue (colors often associated with Our Lady – since Ignatius had a deep Marian devotion). Four Jesuit priests concelebrated: Fr. Sossy (main celebrant), Fr. Damas, Fr. Deshi, and Fr. John, SJ (a Jesuit from a retreat house who was invited). Having four Jesuits at the altar was itself a novelty for our parish and a sign of fellowship[30].
The congregation included our usual daily Mass-goers plus many others intrigued by this feast. Notably, some students from our local Magis youth and even a few friends from other parishes (where Jesuits had served before) joined.
During the homily, instead of one priest preaching, each Jesuit present shared a brief reflection on St. Ignatius’ life and spirituality[31]. This creative approach turned the homily into a tapestry of insights: – Fr. Damas spoke of Ignatius’ conversion – from a vain soldier to a humble pilgrim – encouraging us that no matter our past, God can call us to holiness. – Fr. Deshi reflected on the Ignatian motto “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” (For the Greater Glory of God), explaining that Ignatius taught us to do everything – even mundane tasks – for God’s glory. He gave examples how parishioners could live this: a teacher teaching, a mother cooking, a boda-boda rider ferrying passengers – all can be offered to God. – Br. Stan shared as a young Jesuit what “magis” means – seeking the “more” in terms of depth and love, not just more activities. He invited the youth to embrace Magis in their lives, quoting St. Ignatius: “Go forth and set the world on fire.” – Finally, Fr. Sossy wrapped up by thanking the parish for embracing the Jesuits and said that like Ignatius who sent companions on mission, the Jesuits here feel sent to Muyeye on mission and have found “God in all things” among the people. He noted how Ignatian spirituality values gratitude, and indeed we must thank God for all graces given to our parish.
This homily format was very well received – people later commented they learned more in that hour about St. Ignatius and Jesuit ethos than ever before. It was like a mini-lesson on our parish’s spiritual identity.
A memorable anecdote from the Mass: At the end, Fr. Sossy invited everyone, “Before you leave, we have a little surprise outside – like the feeding of the 5,000 perhaps!” This was a teaser for the refreshments but he couched it in a biblical way[32] that made people curious and amused.
Social and Fellowship: True to Ignatian hospitality, the Jesuit community had arranged tea and snacks for all after Mass. Just outside the church, tables were set with thermoses of tea, coffee, and an array of snacks – samosas, bite-sized bread, bananas, and mandazi (most prepared by CWA members earlier that day). As people gathered, Fr. Sossy humorously announced, referencing the Gospel miracle, “As we walk out of the church, we will encounter a little boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish. We believe they will be multiplied to be enough for everyone present.”[32] This witty line caused hearty laughter, and indeed there turned out to be more than enough food, leaving many joking about the “12 baskets of leftovers” after the event[33].
The atmosphere was warm and familial. People mingled with the priests, asking questions about Ignatius or the Jesuit missions. Youth gathered around Br. Stan who enthusiastically shared about his vocation story. Older parishioners chatted with Fr. John about the early Jesuit missionaries. It was as if that evening the distance often felt between clergy and laity closed – we were all one community sharing not just food but friendship.
Ignatian Quiz & Sharing: To add a bit of fun and learning, the youth organized a brief Ignatius Quiz during the social. They’d prepared simple questions like “In which year was St. Ignatius born?”, “Name the book St. Ignatius wrote that guides retreats,” etc. Small prizes (holy cards of St. Ignatius, a rosary) were given to those who answered correctly. It spurred interest and even those who didn’t know were eager to learn (the answer to the second question is “The Spiritual Exercises,” which we explained). This impromptu catechesis sparked some to later borrow books on Ignatius from the parish library.
Joy and laughter abounded as people shared personal experiences too – one CWA member said to Fr. Sossy, “Father, now I see why you Jesuits are always talking about discernment!” and narrated how she unknowingly had used an Ignatian method of prayer when making a family decision, which delighted the priests. These exchanges helped demystify Jesuit spirituality and show it’s accessible to all.
By twilight, as folks headed home, there was a palpable sense that something new had begun. As one gentleman put it, “Tumesheherekea mtakatifu wa mapadre wetu, sasa tumemfahamu.” (“We have celebrated the saint of our priests, and now we have come to know him.”) The Feast of St. Ignatius might well become an annual parish tradition after this successful inaugural celebration.
Community Fruit: After this feast, the parish saw a subtle yet real deepening: attendance at the next directed retreat weekend went up (parishioners were curious to try an Ignatian retreat), and the phrase “for the greater glory of God” started popping up in group meetings. Even our SCC reflections saw a sprinkle of Ignatian concepts like “finding God in all things” – evidence that the Ignatian charism was taking root among our people, not just remaining with the priests.
In essence, the Feast of St. Ignatius 2024 at our parish was more than a feast day – it was a day of Ignatian impartation, blending catechesis, liturgy, and community fun, leaving us enriched by the Founder’s spirit to continue in our parish mission with renewed vigor.
(Photo caption idea: Four Jesuit priests standing together with parishioners, enjoying tea and snacks after the St. Ignatius Day Mass, with smiles all around.)
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