Yearly Archives: 2013

O God, we thank you for giving us another year of life. We thank you for all people who have remembered us this First January 2014, and who have sent us cards, letters good wishes, e-mail and presents. We thank you for everything, which we have been enabled by you to do and to be in the past year. We […]

How can Christmas be Christmas for us? How can the light and joy, the freedom and the peace, brought by the savior be ours? These will be ours, if we do as the shepherds did. They left the place where they were, they took time. They gave themselves the trouble to look for that child the angel had told them […]

If you trust Jesus  you can be sure that your road  is correct. We are a volunteers of the Salesian Voluntary Movement of Don Bosco. Our arrival to Calm was preceded  a year of preparations for the trip to the  Salesian Mission Centre of Warsaw. It was a time of spiritual discernment and his vocation. Time devoted to prayer, establishing […]

He is getting nearer and nearer. In a few short days, he will be born. Have you prepared his way? Hurry! Quick! Time is running out

In the due course of this year (2013), the Salesians Community of Don Bosco-C.A.L.M (Children and Life Mission) Kira- Mulawa- Namugongo, was blessed with a huge gift from the New Rochelle. Through its sharing hand all over the world, the World Vision surprised the Don Bosco CALM Community with a fully packed container that contained different items. It was such a huge and long container that left part of the Don Bosco CALM Community main entrance and the road down blocked for users. However, the container still found its way inside the community and the items that were packed in different sized boxes were unloaded from it by around 140 boys since the rest were still at school. The boys were guided by the Reverend Fathers, Uncles, Brothers and Aunties. It took the boys almost 2 hours to complete the unloading process and arranging the boxes in the store. Among the items in the boxes, they included; T-shirts of several colors and sizes, jackets, jeans, shorts, women and men belts, ladies’ shoes, necklaces, bags, watches, earrings, bangles, Toms shoes, jumpers, sweaters, jerseys, to mention but a few.

But as it is a culture in all the Salesian Houses, a slogan “In Don Bosco we share,” could not go unnoticed. Therefore, the items were later divided such that even the Salesian Communities of Bombo-Namaliga in Luweero District and Kamuli in Kamuli District respectively could also have a share of this great gift from the New Rochelle

The Apostolic Nuncio of Uganda at Don Bosco CALM/Namugongo 

Hospitality:On our first day after reaching Namugongo ,we were highly welcomed in the community starting from the uncles who take care of the boys and  at Don Bosco CALM. This was really very human and conducive for us.Programmed routine:Everything in Namugongo is well programmed. On our arrival we were showed our rooms in which we could get papers-time table of the day, with all the activities taking place. One cannot get lost.

Dedication to work::The Fathers of the community are totally devoted to their work, even the uncles-Social workers, whom we sometimes helped wherever and whenever it was deemed necessary. Normally in the morning after breakfast we could do some general cleaning around the community house until mid-day. Then lunch and time to be with the boys who come back from school in the afternoon hours. It is well arranged, as one cannot get bored of doing nothing.

In the family of Don Bosco Calm, there felt the 17/11/2013 a fully flowered Sunday. Although with the family of DON BOSCO Calm Namugongo the most centered programs of day to day life is the holly mass which is celebrated in the same manner, the celebration of the holly mass on this the 17/11/2013 was really of great colures and joy.  We can even ask ourselves how, what so special, why is the joy.... and so many questions that we might ask ourselves, but now here you are, the beauty of the brotherhood that exists in the family of Don Bosco Calm was really witnessed when the holly mass was about to begin with the procession song. The small chapel in the centre of the compound was filled with the members of the family of Don Bosco Calm and many other faithful, different group of people who came to share the joy that was about to begin in this family of Don Bosco and the local church of the Archdiocese of Kampala.

    

Unlike the past Sundays, the 33rd Sunday in the ordinary time, was extra-ordinary here at Don Bosco –CALM. I can conclude that it really proved the existence of God’s Kingdom to those who were doubting, whereby, in a great joy, fourteen “young men” (boys) of the community officially entered Catholic Church by being baptized and at the same time receiving their first Holy Communion.

It is quite unbelievable but true to say that even the sun as it was setting, it set the rays of happiness, the wind was blowing over the trees producing well harmonized sounds and everybody around was put in the moods of joining hands with the Angels to welcome in the Church the new members ready to sacrifice themselves for the glory and dignity of God here on earth. The young men had dressed very well, just like a bridegroom who has been waiting for a very long time for his wedding day and therefore prepares in advance such that, on that day he appears different even before the eyes of the one who is a passer-by.

We had a lively mass led by Rev. Father Jean Marie (The Vice Rector of the community)  being assisted by Rev. Father Richard ( the Rector of the community ) and while preaching, the main celebrant ( Fr. Jean Marie ) very well explained the sacraments to be received and their roles to Christian life and then also the role of the receiver ( the one to receive them ), his parents and God parents. Ad if it was food, I would sincerely conclude that it was the best meal ever, and whoever tasted it, found it good and satisfying. When a moment of baptizing arrived, the mass which began in English was turned into Luganda and there Rev. Fr. Richard proved to be a Polish-Muganda as he perfectly read Luganda words to the extent that Christians shook their heads and said (after mass) that if they never knew the history of Buganda kingdom, they would say that he has been a spokesman or a secretary of Buganda kingdom for quite a good time.

On the side of the choir, I would say that probably the choir  Don Bosco-CALM was joined by the Angels and Archangels from heaven as they perfectly and excellently animated the mass  with sweet, well harmonized  voices being accompanied by musical instruments and above all, singing songs which were directly proportional to the function.