FROM DEATH TO BIRTH TO NEW LIFE!

February brought sadness to my heart with the loss of Michael, my dear friend. I have never forgotten him, nor could I ever as he touched my life so deeply with his kindness. His family is moving on and his brothers are slowly healing with everyone’s prayers and support. Life continues despite the sadness. There is a continual rebirth of creation surrounding us, and a call to be present through it all.

Palm Sunday

Easter season was a powerful one here at the Monastery. This, being the most sacred of celebrations for the church, is fully embraced and experienced in all aspects of life here.

The Blessed Sacrament for the all night vigil

The most powerful for me was Holy Week. I had never experienced being so close to the powerful sacredness of the Passion as I was this week. The all night vigil of the Holy Eucharist with the quiet chanting that the Brothers kept was especially powerful. I could even hear them from my room throughout the night.

The stations of the cross

Now…in Africa, they seem to do everything in the church BIG! (The Easter vigil not withstanding). It was the most AMAZING celebration I have ever seen! Fr Raymond and Fr Henry really take care to include the local culture and dance into the celebrations making them exceptionally powerful! The celebration included the following (but not limited to):

·      A bonfire outside to light the Easter Candle

·      Rwandan dancers and drummers dancing around the fire and the crowd with the most palpable, heart thumping and intense drumming imaginable

·      Full on local and tribal dancing throughout the celebration

·      The usual fireworks

·      LOTS AND LOTS OF SINGING AND CLAPPING

The next day was even bigger from what I hear, though I was at Busega to help out with the Easter celebration there. Fr Raymond had local dancers come in to entertain the boys following their Easter Mass. This again, was un-comparable!

Baby Pricilla's Baptism

To top it off, I was asked by one of the past female residents of the Good Shepherd Home to be the God Mother of her child being baptized that day. It is important to the local people to have their children baptized on Easter if at all possible.

The first Baptism at Busega!

I agreed and Brother Peter became the God Father. It was the first baptism at Busega with Fr Raymond presiding. All the children raised their hands to bless their new Sister to the world. Very touching. Welcome baby Pricilla!

Soon after this, I was invited to my first “introduction”. This is basically a Ugandan wedding. I could spend hours describing the traditions and the celebration process, but suffice to say, it is just as emotionally charged, expensive and HUGE as any wedding in the USA! Julius, our driver at MOP is getting married!

The Brothers and Jared arrive for the Introduction

Unlike the USA, however, it the man who has to pay for everything…and organize everything! Most people do not get married as the cost for this is extensive, especially if one wants to get married in a church (because then there are basically 2 weddings…one traditional and one for the church).

The Groomsmen
(Julius in the middle with the cross) 

Preparing to visit the Bride's family 

Julius' family getting ready to enter the bride's home

THE ONLY bad thing about this was I had to wear a Gomez…the traditional dress for Uganda women that happens to highlight all the wrong curves! Lets just say, it brought with it unwanted attention though everyone seemed to get a kick out of it.

The children LOVE weddings! 

Hopefully the only time you will see me in this
(Gomez: traditional Ugandan dress) 

The introduction lasts hours and hours. The Brothers, Fr Henry and another volunteer (Jared) and I were invited to escort the groom to the bride’s home. The groom has to come bearing gifts for the whole family. There is a lot of traditional teasing going on between the two tents set up across from each other (one housing the bride’s family and the other the groom’s family) There are several sets of women that come dancing before the groom’s tent all decked out in their best. First the youngest group moving towards the oldest. The groom is to choose from among the women who his bride will be.

The older women dancing in to present themselves to the
Groom's family

The Bride and her escorts are the last to dance

Of course, the Bride comes in the last group…the bride’s sister in law leads her dancing toward the groom seated in his tent while waving a hankerchief…she then holds it over the groom’s head. He grabs the hankerchief form the other end and they all dance out to the middle. He now has his bride.

Julius the nervous Groom, Father Henry and Julius' sister 

Juliette...the beautiful bride
(I think Ugandan women are very beautiful) 

The parents of the groom are not present (they are not invited) though the parents of the bride are obviously there. It is the sister and brothers that are in charge of this union ceremony. There are speeches, gift giving and feasting. There is also a traditional song sung by an old man to the bride…I found out he is telling her how to be a good wife….hmmmm too bad there isn’t as song for the groom as well.

Our group (the Brothers, Father, Jared and I) was invited into the small one room home of the bride where water and a basin were brought in for us to wash our hands. They then brought in a feast for us including Matoke (the steamed bananas; meats, potatoes both sweet and Irish, greens, beans, bread and soda)

Enough food for even ME!
(the meat is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed) 

We had to leave after several hours though the introduction lasted well into the night. It was truly a celebration of a new life together. The happy couple will be married in the Church in June…imagine…doing this all over again…ahhh…it will again be a joyful occasion!

The continuum of life marches on…goodness abounds and joy can be found around every corner. Father always says, “ desolation never lasts forever, God’s mercy and compassion is ever present and reminds us that new life and new beginnings are always surrounding us…just embrace it all”