Thousands flock to Mucwini to commemorate Luwum Day

From Uganda-

Thousands of Christians from across the country yesterday attended celebrations in memory of Church of Uganda’s first archbishop, the late Janani Luwum.

About 9:30am, bishops walked down from St Paul’s Church of Uganda in a procession to take their seats at the altar prepared on the ceremonial grounds in Mucwini Sub-county, Kitgum District.

The colourful function was animated by ululation and songs by Christians. A combination of members from St Janani Luwum Parish, Kitgum Town, Christ Church Gulu, and All Saints Church formed the choir.

February 16, is gazetted nationally to remember Luwum who was brutally murdered by Idi Amin’s regime in 1977.

More here-

https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Thousands-flock-Mucwini-Luwum-Day-Kitgum-Ntagali/688334-5459078-3dyy5p/

Christians Walk to Mark Martyrs Day

From Uganda-

More than 500 pilgrims from different corners last Saturday participated in 'The Walk of Faith' to mark Uganda Martyrs Day.

According to Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the walk is part of the spiritual preparation for the Martyrs Day Celebrations on June 3.

The 'Walk of Faith' was flagged off at Munyonyo Martyrs shrine by Archbishop Dr Lwanga and the first Deputy Prime Minister, Gen Moses Ali, who represented the Prime Minister Mr Ruhakana Rugunda.

The symbolic pilgrimage kicked-off at about 9.00am from Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine with a word of prayer and ended at St. Matia Mulumba Parish in Old Kampala.

"The symbolic pilgrimage walk under the theme; " Stand firm in the faith that we have been taught" (Colossina 2:7) which calls on the faithful and pilgrims to be strong witnesses in faith, personal lives, families, places of work and all areas that their daily lives influence," Archbishop Lwanga said.

More here-

http://allafrica.com/stories/201705290110.html

CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT MARTYRDOM: THE LESSON OF ST. STEPHEN

From The Living Church-

Ten years ago, I was ordained a deacon on June 3, the day the Church commemorates the Ugandan Martyrs, a group of Anglicans and Roman Catholics who were executed in the late 19th century for their faith. I asked the bishop if he would be willing to pray the collect for that day during my ordination. The dean of the cathedral strongly objected. She was disturbed by the collect’s proclamation, à la Tertullian, that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The bishop, however, agreed with me, and so a room full of well-dressed people squirmed a little in their seats as these words were read aloud.

Martyrdom is not usually among the first things we mention about Christianity to prospective converts. “Come and join us! If you do, there is a better than average chance you’ll be killed for it!” Of course, that is not always true, especially in America, where we can practice our Christianity quite comfortably, despite the protestations of some that we are all suffering mightily for not having store clerks wish us a Merry Christmas.

More here-

http://livingchurch.org/covenant/2016/12/26/christmas-is-about-martyrdom-the-lesson-of-st-stephen/

Hundreds repent as church remembers Uganda Martyrs

From Uganda-

Hundreds of Christians repented and got born again as the Anglican Church commemorated the Uganda martyrs who were killed 130 years ago for refusing to denounce Christianity.

The message of repentance and holiness dominated the sermon of the guest preacher from Nigeria Bishop Dr. Samuel Chukwudi Ezeofor at the Anglican martyrs' commemoration service at Nakiyanja at Namugongo in Wakiso district.

In line with Mathew 5:10, the service was organized by Namirembe diocese under the theme of "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

More here-

http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1426157/hundreds-repent-church-remembers-uganda-martyrs

Uganda: Martyrs Day - Preparations Complete

From Uganda-

With barely three days to this years' Uganda Matyrs' day, officials at both Namugongo Catholic and Anglican shrines where the main celebrations are held have said they are ready for the day.

The June 3 celebration themed: "The truth will make you free", will be led by the Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana on behalf of Kampala Ecclesiastical Province at the Catholic shrine while celebrations at the Anglican shrine will be led by Namirembe Anglican.

"About 20,000 pilgrims from Uganda have so far arrived at the Anglican shrine largely from Kabale, Mbarara and Hoima," the Rev Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, a priest at Namugongo Martyrs' shrine told Daily Monitor yesterday.

According to the Rev Muwonge, apart from a few cases of pick pockets, pilgrims already at the shrine have not had serious challenges and "we have all been sent out from the premises for security check-ups".

More here-

http://allafrica.com/stories/201605310090.html

Rwanda: Christians Pray for Peace, Genocide Commemoration

From All Africa-

Clerics in various parts of the City of Kigali extended sympathy to the people of Kenya in their Easter Sunday messages yesterday.

At St Etienne Cathedral Kigali, the Anglican Bishop of Kigali Diocese, Louis Muvunyi, prayed for peace in Kenya and Burundi and encouraged Christians to keep praying for the two countries.

In Kenya, some 147 people, mainly students, were killed when Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab terrorists attacked Garissa University last Thursday.

Kenya is holding three days of national mourning for the victims of the attack, with Easter masses dedicated to the memory of the victims.

Tensions are rising in Burundi ahead of the upcoming general elections, due May, with some civilians fleeing into Rwanda last week.

More here-

http://allafrica.com/stories/201504061281.html

Hundreds gather to mourn Christians slain by Islamic State

From Canada-

The Coptic Christians of Toronto and their friends gathered in Mississauga Feb. 22 to answer the murder of 21 Egyptian Copts by Islamic State allies in Libya. They answered the Feb. 15 beheadings with Bible readings, prayers, songs, hope and forgiveness.

Many of the 600 to 700 faithful who gathered that Sunday evening at the Virgin Mary and St. Athanasius Church wore orange buttons — orange for the colour of the overalls the Egyptian migrant workers were wearing when IS militants murdered them before a video camera. IS dresses its prisoners in orange because it is the colour of prison uniforms at the American military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The buttons read “21 Copts, Martyrs of Libya.” In the centre of the button was a Coptic cross with a crown of martyrdom on either side.

Just one week after the video of the beheadings hit the Internet, the church was already displaying a new icon of the 21 martyrs.

More here-

http://www.catholicregister.org/item/19759-hundreds-gather-to-mourn-christians-slain-by-islamic-state

Egypt's churches charred to shells

From The Pittsburgh Tribune Review-

Two downed electrical towers, two armored personnel carriers, and stacks of old tires form an improvised gate to this impoverished Upper Egypt city.

Graffiti on its buildings denounce the police as “thugs” and “dancing prostitutes.”

Islamist militants ruled over Delga's 120,000 people – a fourth of them Christians – for more than a month in 2013, before Egyptian security forces regained control.

Even today, a visit to one ravaged Christian church requires an armed escort by three truckloads of twitchy police and shotgun-toting local guards in ankle-length gowns.

More here-

http://triblive.com/usworld/betsyhiel/7570943-74/church-christian-churches#axzz3PH3KjnhF

Civil rights demonstrator Jonathan Daniels remembered

From Alabama-

Civil rights demonstrator Jonathan Daniels, a seminarian from New Hampshire who came south to help the poor, was remembered Thursday as someone compelled to make a difference in reducing poverty.

Daniels made his presence known immediately as he helped impoverished residents of a Selma housing project learn how to read, but his life was cut short by a shotgun blast at a small grocery store in Hayneville.

"He was a genuine Christian who did not hate the people he was fighting or those who were trying to kill him," Selma historian Alston Fitts said following a discussion about Daniels at the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

More here-

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/local/alabama/2015/01/17/civil-rights-demonstrator-jonathan-daniels-remembered/21931411/

Museveni unveils sh36b Namugongo Martyrs’ Museum

From Uganda-

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni on Sunday unveiled the foundation stone and launched the fundraising drive for the Uganda Martyrs’ Museum that is expected to cost sh36b. 

  The President announced a donation of sh400m towards the construction works of the facility out of which he paid sh40m.  He said the remaining sh360m is to be availed in two weeks time.

  During the ceremony, sh510m was realized both in cash and pledges.  The President auctioned the new Museum plan together with the portrait of the late Tefeno Kisosonkole, who donated the 48-hectre piece of land on which the Uganda Martyrs’ Anglican Church is seated. He bought it at sh 10m. 

More here-

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/660428-museveni-unveils-sh36-bn-namugongo-martyrs-museum.html

Christians protest in Pakistan streets after mass murder

From The Church Times-

CROSSES were held aloft, tyres were burned, and roads were blocked in cities across Pakistan this week, as Christians demanded better protection from the government, in the wake of the one of the worst attacks ever on the country's Christians.

Eighty-five people were killed in a suicide bombing at All Saints', Peshawar, part of the United Church of Pakistan, on Sunday. Victims included 34 women and seven children. More than 100 have been wounded. On Tuesday, the Archbishop of Canterbury described the dead as "martyrs".

Security sources have reported that two suicide bombers carried out the attack as worshippers left the church after the service for refreshments on the lawn outside.

More here-

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2013/27-september/news/world/christians-protest-in-pakistan-streets-after-mass-murder

Christians now suffering mass martyrdom, says Archbishop of Canterbury

From The Telegraph-

The Most Rev Justin Welby said that there had been more than 80 Christian “martyrs” in the last few days alone.

He was speaking about the bombing of All Saints Anglican church in Peshawar, Pakistan, in which 85 were killed and more than 200 injured.

But he said that Christians were also being singled out for violence in a string of other countries.
Christian communities which have existed “in many cases since the days of Saint Paul” are now under threat in countries such as Syria and Egypt, he said.

Last month around 100 Christian sites were attacked amid the turmoil in Egypt, with 42 churches burnt to the ground. Ancient Christian communities in Syria have also been singled out for violence.

More here-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10334556/Christians-now-suffering-mass-martyrdom-says-Archbishop-of-Canterbury.html

A Martyr’s Theology

From The Living Church-

Christian de Chergé was a Trappist monk who, with six of his monastic brothers, was killed in Algeria in 1996. The exact circumstances of their deaths remain disputed. They were abducted by a band of radical Islamists, in the midst of a horrendously violent period of civil-religious strife. Only their severed heads were subsequently recovered. To what degree did the Algerian army play a role in their deaths, and with what assistance from French security advisers, wittingly or unwittingly?

Rather, de Chergé gave his life as a reconciling gift thrown into the midst of the hostility and violence associated with antagonistic diversities. His was a witness made quintessentially within our late modern culture of fragmented “globalized” hopelessness.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/martyr-theology