St Cecilia Rubaga Cathedral choir concludes centennial celebrations
The concluding function took place at Rubaga Cathedral in Kampala city's Rubaga division on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Archbishop Augustine Kasujja (wearing a skull-cap) cutting cake with some of the leaders of St Cecilia Lubaga Cathedral Choir. This was during the celebration of the choir's centennial celebration at the Cathedral in Rubaga Division on Sunday, November 24, 2024. (Photos by Mathias Mazinga)
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
The year-long celebrations of the 100th anniversary of St Cecilia Rubaga Cathedral choir have climaxed.
The concluding function took place at Rubaga Cathedral in Kampala city's Rubaga division on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
The day-long activities started with a solemn Pontifical thanksgiving Mass presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Dr Augustine Kasujja.
Members of St Cecilia Lubaga Cathedral Choir sharing a photo moment with Archbishop Augustne Kasujja (wearing a white mitre) and other clerics after the thanksgivng mass for the 100th anniversary of their choir at Lubaga Cathedral (in Rubaga Division) on November 24, 2024.
The mass attracted a good number of concelebrants including Msgr John Waynand Katende (from Foyer de Charite Namugongo), Fr Anthony Musaala, Fr Denis Warren Wyne Kibalama, Fr John Mary Walugembe, and the administrator of Rubaga Cathedral, the Very Rev Fr Achilles Mayanja.
Delivering his homily during Mass, Nuncio Augustine Kasujja spoke highly of the 100-year sacred music ministry of St Cecilia (Rubaga Cathedral) choir, which he said, had enabled the cathedral’s congregants to worship God better, and also, to internalize the Gospel message even more deeply.
He urged the Cecilian choristers to be conscious of the importance of their ministry.
“Always remember that what you are doing is a ministry, an apostolate of spreading the Word of God. You have the responsibility of teaching your Christian brethren how to sing the hymns. The congregants should not be mere spectators. They should sing together with the choir. If the choir sings alone, the essence of divine worship is lost. The Church becomes like a theatre where people just come to watch the choir,” said Dr Kasujja.
Fr Anthony Musaala performing a hymn with the Cecilian choristers.
The Chairman of the choir, Paul Mukoota Nsubuga voiced his gratitude to the subsequent parish-priests of Rubaga Cathedral for supporting the ministry of the choir. He said the choir would continue to be loyal to the Church.
The chairperson of the choir’s board of trustees, Aloysius Kyeyune Ssemmanda, expressed the need for young people to join the choir and its leadership.
The reigning parish priest of Rubaga Cathedral, the Very Rev Fr Achilles Mayanja said the parish’s executive council would maintain its support to the choir.
During the function, individual choristers and other people of goodwill who contributed to the choir’s ministry were recognised/appreciated with accolades and certificates.
The awardees included Fr Dr James Kabuye who revived the choir in 1967, veteran organist Joseph Mary Ddibya and Chevalier Joseph Balikuddembe Kiwanuka, just to name a few.
St Cecilia Choir also appreciated its sister choirs at the cathedral, which included St John the Baptist Choir, St Francis Choir, Good News Choir, St Francis Choir and St Genesius Choir.
Fr Joseph Sserugga (left) receiving Fr Kabuye's accolade from Archbishop Kasujja.
Cecilian fact file
According to Paul Mukoota, St Cecilia Rubaga Cathedral Choir was established in 1924. Its pioneer members included the late Matayo Mugwanya, the late Kapere and others.
The choristers were mainly young men who were being taught by the White Fathers at St Mary’s School Lubaga before it was transferred and transformed into St Mary’s College Kisubi.
The choristers used to do their rehearsals at the school, which stood at the current location of Uganda Martyrs High School Rubaga.
As a symbolic gesture of the choir’s connection with Uganda Martyrs High School Lubaga, the school’s brass ensemble (Eclipse Brass Band) took active participation in the celebrations.