SIGN 'CATHOLIC CHURCH', NAMOGONGO; ARCHBISHOP; HELPERS; WORK AT SITE; SCHOOL CHILDREN; TENT.




Initials NAC/VS/BOB/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF RUBAGA, THE MOST REVEREND EMMANUEL NSUBUGA, HAS MOVED FROM HIS OFFICIAL RESIDENCE AT KAMPALA TO A TENT AT NAMUGONGO, TEN MILES AWAY (16 KM), TO SUPERVISE WORK ON A SHRINE FOR THE 22 UGANDA MARTYRS WHO DIED THERE IN 1882. THE POPE WILL VISIT THE SITE IN JULY TO CONSECRATE THE ALTAR AT THE SHRINE.

THE ARCHBISHOP MUSTERED HIS TROOPS ON MONDAY AND THEY BEGAN TO CLEAR A SITE. WIELDING A PANGA HIMSELF, THE ARCHBISHOP SET ABOUT SMALL TREES LITTERING THE SITE. HE WAS AIDED BY A BATCH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO MOVED DEBRIS AND TIMBER. PRIESTS, NUNS AND LAYMEN ALSO HELPED TO DEMOLISH THE MUD-WALLED PARISH CHURCH THAT STOOD ON THE SITE, AND PREPARE IT FOR THE NEW SHRINE. WORK IN NO EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED FOR THE POPE'S VISIT BECAUSE OF THE CONSIDERABLE LABOUR INVOLVED. TO DATE ONLY A FIFTH OF THE MONEY FOR THE PROJECT HAS BEEN COLLECTED.

A NEARBY LAKE WILL BE USED FOR AN OPEN-AIR CONSECRATION CEREMONY, WITH THE POPE OFFICIATING FROM A SMALL ISLAND IN THE CENTRE OF A NATURAL AMPHITHEATRE WHICH IS CAPABLE OF HOLDING 100000 PEOPLE.

SPEAKING ABOUT HIS FIRST-EVER TRIP TO AFRICA, POPE PAUL SAID IT WAS HIS DESIRE TO CONSECRATE THE ALTAR TO THE MARTYRS WITH AFRICAN BISHOPS. THE POPE'S GESTURE HAS ECUMENICAL SIGNIFICANCE, AS THE MARTYRS WERE KILLED AT THE SAME TIME AS SEVERAL ANGLICAN PRIESTS.