Nebbi Catholic Diocese will animate the 2024 Martyrs Celebrations for a second time in 16 years. The decision was made by the Episcopal conference of Uganda last year. In 2007, the Diocese took charge of the Martyrs Day celebrations for the first time, following its separation from the Diocese of Arua. This year, the Uganda Martyrs celebration will be animated by Nebbi Diocese under the theme; “But as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) As we think of the Martyrdom of the martyrs, the Holy Pontiff reminds social communicators and all about the impact of technological innovations. The theme for the 58th World Day of Social Communications is: Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication.
The Pope writes this, stating that; “the rapid spread of astonishing innovations, whose workings and potential are beyond the ability
of most of us to understand and appreciate, has proven both exciting and disorienting. The deeper question this brings about humanity is; how can we remain fully human and guide this cultural transformation to serve a good purpose?” Our purpose in life is but known by our
good deeds. This is what the Uganda Martyrs had in common. They knew what their purpose in life was; to die for their faith. One
might challenge and say that their time did no characterize a lot of the scientific innovations we have today but like any era, they too had
their challenges of the time. Like Pope Francis notes, it is only the wisdom of the heart that can help us out of so many situations. At this
time in history, where we risk becoming rich in technology and poor in humanity, the Pope notes clearly that our reflections must begin
with the human heart. “Only by adopting a spiritual way of viewing reality, only by recovering a wisdom of the heart, can we confront and interpret the newness of our time and rediscover the path to a fully human communication,” he states.
The pope explains that wisdom of the heart, then, is the virtue that enables us to integrate the whole and its parts, our decisions and their
consequences, our nobility and our vulnerability, our past and our future, our individuality and our membership within a larger community.
This wisdom of the heart lets itself be found by those who seek it and be seen by those who love it; it anticipates those who desire it and it goes in search of those who are worthy of it (cf. Wis 6:12- 16). It accompanies those willing to take advice (cf. Prov 13:10), those endowed with a docile and listening heart (cf. 1 Kg 3:9).
The martyrs put this wisdom into practice. The life and experience of the martyrs Fr Nicholas Onyait Mccj explains is a reminder to all believers to be witnesses to the truth of faith and not to compromise anything that goes against what we profess, what we believe. He clarifies that a Christian should be a martyr to all that is contrary to the Christian vocation.
“We need martyrs who can say no to corruption, martyrs who can say no to injustices, martyrs who can say no to political systems that oppress, those who can say no to war and be agents of peace, martyrs who can say no to practices that destroy nature and
Mother Earth, martyrs who lose themselves to save others and the planet Earth,” he summarises. These and the sacrifices to make in life can
only be possible with the Wisdom of the heart. May the Holy Martyrs intercede for us and May the almighty God fill us with the wisdom of the
heart to live in the present time.
© 2022 Leadership Magazine.