Kampala — Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has instituted a commission for the canonisation of the pioneer Catholic missionaries, Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro. Amans of the society of White Fathers, who brought the Catholic faith to Uganda. Mathias Mazinga interviewed Fr. Richard Nnyombi, the chairman of the commission. Below are the excerpts:

What is canonisation?

It is an act by which the Church declares a deceased person to be a saint. A saint is that Christian, whom the Church acknowledges to be of exceptional holiness.

What is the role of your commission then?

The commission, which I head, is in charge of the task of managing the process for the canonisation of Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro. Amans, the first Catholic missionaries, who brought the faith in Uganda on February 17, 1879.

Our primary task is to do through research into the lives and activities of the two missionaries, in order to come up with substantial reasons or causes for their canonisation.

We shall give sensitisation talks about the two missionaries, through workshops and seminars. We shall also record important information about the life, examples and miracles of the two missionaries. We shall compile the data into a book, which Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga will subsequently present to the Vatican, where the file for their canonisation will be opened.

What is the pre-condition for sainthood?

By the way, before a Christian attains sainthood, he or she must first be beatified and acquire the title blessed. Beatification is recognition of a deceased person's accession to heaven, and also their capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. Beatification is the third of the four stages to sainthood.

Before a beatified Christian becomes a saint, Rome will demand proof of a miracle received through his or her intercession. That miracle must also first be tested for its validity. It may be a supernatural healing or a special favour, received after praying through the intercession of the person to be canonised.

Before the Uganda martyrs were declared saints, for example, two medical practitioners in Uganda were cured of leprosy, through the intercession of the martyrs.

Rome nonetheless had to send a Muslim doctor to get proof of the supernatural healing, before Rome could consider it.

Before Mapeera and Amans are declared saints, Rome will also summon us to the Vatican, to defend causes for the duo's canonization, before a no-nonsense panel.

So, what is the role of Christians in all this?

We call upon Christians to pray to God through the intercession of Mapeera and Amans and accordingly report the subsequent miracles attained through the duo's intercession to the parish priests, who will present them to the commission for further scrutiny, before being presented to the Vatican. We also encourage Christians to recite a special prayer for the canonisation of the two missionaries.

We would like to know the members of your commission. Who are they?

Members of my commission include Monsignor David Kyeyune, Father Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, Father Joseph Sserugga, Father Charles Lwanga Ssengendo and Father Benedict Ssebulege.