Suspension of Public Way of the Cross Hampers Conversion of Non-Christians- Luweero Lay Leader

The suspension of the Public Way of The Cross in commemoration of Good Friday to forestall the spread of Covid-19 has negatively impacted on the efforts of reaching out to non-Christians, according to some clergy. There are fourteen traditional Stations of the Cross from the first where Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, to when he died on the cross and was placed in the tomb.  

While marking Good Friday, Christian accompany their leaders and say special prayers as they make stop overs at each of the 14 stations. In Luweero, for more than two decades, the tradition has been that the Catholics, Anglicans & Orthodox jointly participate in the public Way of the Cross.

The Bishop of Kasana-Luweero Catholic Diocese, the Bishop of Luweero Anglican Diocese and the Leader of the Orthodox Church along with thousands of their followers would gather at Kasana Cathedral as the starting point for the way of the cross. Christians could then walk while taking turns to carry the Cross as they target the 14 stations for a distance of over 2 kilometers across Luweero Town Council, climaxing at St. Mark’s Cathedral.

The last of its kind was held in 2019 when Bishop Paul Ssemogerere, Bishop Eridard Kironde Nsubuga & Rev. Fr. John Kibuuka of the Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox respectively led their followers. The tradition had been kept only until the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Good Friday of 2020 came at a time when places of Worship were completely under lock down. The one for 2021, has come at a time when the lock down when government has eased the lock down but restricted the number of worshipers to only 200 people. 

There are restrictions on public processions due to the containment of Coronavirus. As a result, Christians in Luweero couldn’t have a joint way of the cross because of Covid-19 restrictions. Bishop Paul Ssemogerere led the congregation and conducted one inside Kasana Cathedral with less than 200 participants.  

Likewise, the Anglicans held their inside St. Mark’s Cathedral. Speaking to Uganda Radio Network, Yvonne Ssenvuma, the Leader of the laity of Kasana Cathedral Small Christian community, under Kasana Cathedral Parish, says that for two consecutive years now as leaders in Kasana-Luweero Diocese, they have missed out on attracting people

from other religious denominations.

According to Ssenvuma, in 2019, a number of people she knows that took a decision around Kasana & Luweero towns and joined the Catholic faith after admiring the devotion exhibited by the large group of believers who were partaking in the public way of the cross.

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John Baptist Kyamanywa, a Retired Catechist from Kyegombwa Sub-Parish under Kasana Cathedral Parish concurs with Ssenvuma. According to Kyamanywa, The Public Way of the Cross is a contributor to strengthening evangelization as non-believers or those who lost faith can then enthusiastically rejoin Catholicism.

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