Welcome, sisters and brothers from Uganda!

St. John’s Cathedral, Kasaka, and Synod Office (right)

The Rev. Canon Michael Lubowa, Bishop-Elect, Central Buganda

Thanks be to God! We rejoice that we will soon receive six guests from our Companion Diocese, the Diocese of Central Buganda of the Church of Uganda. Arriving this coming Friday evening, 7 October, will be our long-time friends Bishop Jackson Matovu and his wife, Perusi, The Rev. Canon Jason Musoke and his wife, Faith, along with the Bishop-Elect of the Diocese, The Rev. Canon Michael Lubowa, and his wife, Janepher Nankya Lubowa. Official notice came from our own bishop just a couple of days ago:

Faith and Jason+

“The planning for a visit from senior leadership in the Diocese of Central Buganda has been in process for over a year. The goal was to bring retiring Bishop Jackson Matovu, new Bishop-elect Michael Lubowa, Archdeacon Jason Masoke (Orphan program) and their spouses (Perusi, Janepher and Faith, respectively) to our Diocese prior to the retirement/installation service taking place in Uganda at the end of January 2017. The challenge was not knowing the identity of the bishop-elect until the end of August, and then gently discovering whether he was interested and able to travel to Canada. This was followed up by the need to apply for and receive travel visas for the trip – which were approved and delivered in record time. (Thanks be to God!) So the “green light” for the trip was obtained only yesterday. (Sept. 29)

“Hence – the lateness and urgency of this communique. God-willing, the 6 of them will arrive at Winnipeg airport at 8:20 pm on Friday October 7. Anyone is more than welcome to come out to the airport to “receive” them. Our Companion Diocese Committee is busy putting together itineraries for each of them. While their Sunday morning commitments are already set, and some other activities are in place, there are also open spaces for their time with us which concludes on the Sunday after our Diocesan Synod (they’ll be with us at Synod). They fly out on Monday October 24.

Bishop Jackson and Perusi

“There are two events in particular that will be excellent opportunities (for those within “range” of Winnipeg) and one event in northern Ontario to gather with the visitors:

Fri. Oct. 14 – A “party” being held at St. Francis Church, 253 Burin Ave., Winnipeg. It will begin with a potluck supper followed by entertainment and fellowship. Details of the exact time will follow.

Tues. Oct. 18 – 7 pm Choral Evensong and fellowship/refreshments at St. Luke’s Church, 130 Nassau St. N., Winnipeg.

For Ontario parishes – 4 of the 6 visitors will be participating in the Archdeaconry/Deanery meeting scheduled for Sat. Oct. 15 in Dryden, ON. This will be a great opportunity to interact with our companions from Central Buganda.”

Our guests will be with us here at the Cathedral on Sunday, 23 October, their last Sunday among us, and the day after the conclusion of our Diocesan Synod, where they will also be honoured guests.

It was my privilege to travel to Uganda last January/February and spend two weeks with our partners in the Gospel there. It was my joy, as with all the clerics who went, to preach and preside both Sundays that we were their guests. I thank God that they have now received visas, our six guests, and will be with us in only a few days time. I’ll be at the airport on Friday evening to greet them, and I hope that some of you will join us there, to give them a warm Rupert’s Land welcome.