Liturgy and Events at St. Charles Lwanga Parish
St. Charles Lwanga Parish in Muyeye thrives with a vibrant liturgical and community life, marked by weekly, monthly, and annual events that foster faith, fellowship, and cultural celebration. These activities complement our sacramental schedule, inviting all to engage in the parish’s mission of unity and evangelization.
Weekly Activities: Catechism classes animate Saturday mornings (9:00–11:00 AM) for First Communion, Confirmation, and RCIA, with Sunday School at 8:00 AM for younger children. Choir practices (main choir Wednesday/Saturday 4:00 PM, youth choir Saturday 3:00 PM) prepare for Masses, welcoming singers and musicians. Small Christian Communities (Jumuiya) meet evenings, often Wednesdays, for prayer and fellowship. Youth enjoy Saturday sports (football, volleyball), fostering bonds. Devotional groups, like Legion of Mary (Tuesdays 5:00 PM) or a charismatic Bible study (Fridays 6:00 PM), offer diverse prayer styles. Suggestions for new groups, like a fathers’ prayer fellowship, are encouraged via the parish office.
Monthly Events: First Fridays feature all-day Eucharistic Adoration, ending with home Communion for the homebound. Last Fridays (5:30–7:00 PM) host a parish recollection with meditation and Benediction. The Parish Pastoral Council meets second Sundays post-10:00 AM Mass, sharing decisions via the bulletin. The Finance Committee reviews budgets mid-month, posting quarterly summaries. Third Sundays highlight Youth Mass (8:30 AM) with post-Mass fundraising (e.g., car washes). Second Sundays include Communion visits to the sick, and first Saturdays (4:00–5:30 PM) emphasize confessions for youth and children.
Annual/Liturgical Events: June 3, St. Charles Lwanga Day, is the parish’s grand feast, combining anniversary celebrations with a unified Mass, cultural dances, shared meals, and volunteer awards. Lent features Ash Wednesday Masses, Friday Stations of the Cross (5:00 PM), and a Lenten retreat. Holy Week includes Holy Thursday’s foot-washing, Good Friday’s outdoor service, and Easter Vigil baptisms, followed by Easter Sunday’s joy with children’s egg hunts. Marian months (May, October) see Rosary processions and May crowning. Corpus Christi includes a Eucharistic procession, and Mission Sunday (October) highlights children’s missionary skits. All Saints/All Souls (Nov 1–2) honor saints and deceased with Masses and candle-lighting. Advent’s Jesse Tree charity and Christmas feature caroling, Nativity plays, and Epiphany home blessings. St. Ignatius of Loyola’s feast (July 31) celebrates Jesuit heritage with a themed Mass and social.
Seminars and Trainings: Annual workshops train catechists (e.g., 2025 diocesan curriculum session), liturgical ministers, and council members (e.g., 2023 servant leadership seminar). Youth receive career and life skills training, while couples and parents attend marriage enrichment and parenting seminars addressing modern challenges. Special talks tackle social issues like addiction and mental health.
Community Events: Swahili Cultural Nights, Jumuiya choir/sports competitions, and transparent fundraising harambees foster unity. Pilgrimages to local sites like the Portuguese Chapel or diocesan shrines deepen faith. These events, announced via bulletin and website, make our parish a joyful family, echoing St. Charles Lwanga’s steadfast faith. Join us to grow and celebrate together! (498 words)