By Arinda Nsheeka Wilfred
The Mbarara catholic Archbishop His grace Paul Kamuza Bakyenga has called for the need of catholic priests who are trained in sign language to interpret for the deaf and dumb Christians saying that they are all people of God.
Bishop Bakyenga expressed concern that due the increase of the special interest groups such as deaf and dumb believers all rectors in seminaries should consider teaching students sign language before completing senior six(S.6) if the word of God is to flourish equally.
He made remarks on Tuesday during the Holy Mass to officially erecting and establishing the St Augustine Minor Seminary Rweera parish in Rweikiniro sub county Ruhaama county Ntungamo district where 13 pioneer seminarians received the Holy sacrament of confirmation which coincides with the feast of St Augustine the Patron (omutonganirizi) of Mbarara Archdiocese.
The 74 year old Archbishop Bakyenga, who is approaching his retirement age (75) revealed that he visited the Rweera school of the deaf but failed to communicate well with the pupils appealing to the rectors to enroll the program to all seminaries.
“ I visited the Rweera school of the deaf and dumb when they speak I failed to get them well they just laughed at me but I implore you(Rectors) in near future to start considering teaching the seminarians sign language to interpret for these believers because they are also God’s flocks” Bishop Bakyenga.
He noted that St Augustine Minor Seminary Rweera will be second seminary after St Francis Xavier minor seminary Kitabi which started way back in 1935 saying that it will act as a seed for catholic priests in the Mbarara Archdiocese.
“Due to the increased demand and number of students admitted in St Francis Xavier minor seminary Kitabi we realized to start another minor seminary in the parish of Rweera that’s why we are here today 28th August 2018 on the feast of St Augustine the patron of Mbarara Archdiocese”, He said.
The new St Augustine Minor Seminary Rweera will be hosted in the former buildings of Zhengmei construction LTD a Chinese company which was constructing Ntungamo- Mirama Hills road 10 km from Ntungamo town and started this academic year with senior one students only.
The Rector St Augustine Minor Seminary Rweera Rev.Fr. Denis Beinomugisha hailed the Archbishop Bakyenga for starting the seminary aimed at increasing the number of catholic priests and promotes education in the country.
Rev Fr Beinomugisha also expressed optimistic and commitment to teach sign language to student saying that he is trained to do so.
The chairman parish council Rweera who is also the principal assistant secretary Ntungamo district Kiiza Federis hailed the move in promoting the priesthood because Kitabi was too far to students from Ntungamo District.
Bishop Bakyenga was assisted by axially Bishop of Hoima Diocese Lambert Beinomugisha among others.
Over 30 million shillings was raised in cash and pledges towards the construct of seminary buildings.
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