Catholics in Boston mark 20 years of Uganda Martyrs Celebrations

June 3rd is a day the Catholic Church universally commemorates the Uganda martyrs, Saints Charles Lwanga and Companions. In Uganda, it is a solemn event marked as a national holiday; while in other parts of the world, significant numbers of Ugandans and other faithful also observe the day with a level of prominence. 

One of the prominent international celebrations happens in the city of Boston in the State of Massachusetts in the United States. For 20 years the Ugandan Community in Boston has honored Uganda Martyrs Day.

Celebrating Mass on Sunday June 11th, 2023, at the St. Mary’s Church in Waltham, Kampala Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere applauded the Uganda Catholic Community of Boston (UCCB) for their continued enthusiasm for the feast day. In his homily to a fully packed 1,000-seater church, Archbishop Ssemogerere noted that “The world thirsts for witnesses, who are notably firm on the truths people need to know today.”  He encouraged the Congregants “to be firm and courageous like the martyrs.” 

The Uganda Christian martyrs were youthful pages of King Mwanga of Buganda in the late 19th century. They were sentenced to death by King Mwanga to death because of their Christian faith. On October 18, 1964, Pope Paul VI canonized 22 Catholic Martyrs for their heroic virtues. In 1969, when Pope Paul VI visited Namugongo where most of them were burned to death, the Pope noted the Uganda Martyrs performed the most heroic and beautiful of all actions.

He stated: “They laid down their lives for their faith, and for the freedom of their conscience. They had great love for Jesus Christ; [and so must you also] try to know Him well, remain united to Him, and have great faith and trust in Him. Second, be faithful to the Church; pray with her, love her, make her known, and always be ready, as your martyrs were, to bear frank witness to her.”

At the Waltham celebrations in Boston, Archbishop Ssemogerere urged the congregation not to forget the strong faith roots of the Uganda Martyrs. “Let us remember our roots and beginnings,” he remarked, before adding, “The memories of our past should humble us in our pride of life, yet strengthen us to stand for what is right. Like the martyrs, our models for Christ’s followers, may we never be separated from God, regardless of any persecutions we may ever face.” 

UCCB sought permission from the Archdiocese of Boston to celebrate the Uganda Martyrs Day alongside Sunday of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

Lacing his sermon with great Luganda humor, Archbishop Ssemogerere called on the congregation, which included Buganda kingdom Premier Charles Peter Mayiga, and Prince David Kintu Wassajja, to unite around Christ for strength. “The Eucharist is the center of our celebrations. When we receive Christ, we assimilate Him and in Charity unite with one another.” 

He further said: “Let us make Christ our Lord present in our daily lives, by being devoted partakers of His Body and Blood. And may the Eucharist unite and strengthen us, with Jesus our Savior remaining in us.”

On his part the Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister Peter Charles Mayiga urged Christians not to vilify King Mwanga, but rather concentrate on celebrating the good fruits of King Mwanga’s orders. “You must know that the king was torn between defending his nation from the colonizers, and the new religions his subjects were readily embracing. He felt a real threat to his kingdom and tried to protect it. The laws then, empowered him to put to death dissenters” the Prime Minister argued.