EDITOR
Thousands of Christians gathered at Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Kitanga Parish Church on Friday as Kabale Diocese prepares to commission Kitanga Deanery as its newest Pilgrimage Center, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing 2025 Jubilee Year celebrations under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The commissioning of Kitanga Deanery—comprising Kitanga, Bucundura, Nyarushanje, and Nyakishenyi parishes—is scheduled for Sunday, where the Principal Door of Kitanga Parish Church will be solemnly opened. This symbolic act will allow pilgrims from across the Deanery to pass through the Holy Door and obtain a plenary indulgence, in line with Catholic tradition.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1471), an indulgence is the remission before God of temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven. To receive a plenary indulgence, pilgrims must fulfill three conditions: sacramental confession, reception of the Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the Pope.
Preaching to the faithful during the preparatory celebrations, Rev. Fr. Fidelis Ndagijimana, Pastoral Coordinator of Kabale Diocese, urged Christians to remain hopeful and to lean on spiritual guidance during life’s challenges. He emphasized the role of spiritual leaders, mentors, and Christian counselors in offering biblically grounded advice, emotional support, and prayerful companionship.
“Christian mentors and counselors help believers see their situation through a faith-based lens,” Fr. Ndagijimana said. “They offer not just emotional comfort but a deeper understanding of God’s will.”
Kitanga is the latest among several deaneries being designated pilgrimage centers as part of the Diocese’s wider Jubilee initiative. Similar centers have already been established in Makiro (Kanungu), Nyakibale (Rukungiri), Mutolere (Kisoro), and Rubanda Deaneries.
Future pilgrimage destinations will include Bukinda and Rushoroza Deaneries, as well as national and international sites such as Namugongo/Munyonyo (June 26–28, 2025), Kibeho in Rwanda (August 6–8, 2025), and Rome via Fatima.
The Diocese’s strategic move to establish localized pilgrimage centers aims to deepen the faith of its people and make spiritual milestones more accessible across regions. The faithful are encouraged to actively participate in this sacred journey, embracing the Jubilee theme by becoming true “Pilgrims of Hope.”
