About Us

The days I spent in Ibanda were a tremendous blessing. The faith of the people we met was inspirational, their kindness and hospitality was humbling and their profound joy was overwhelming. I felt as though I was living among saints! I learned so much about dealing with the reality of suffering by the way the people of St. Charles Lwanga Parish embrace the gifts and challenges of life as being part of God's plan for them. Adding to the experience was the natural beauty of Uganda. In every was the experience exceeded my expectations and left me wanting to experience more of the beauty of the people, their culture and their landscape. I look forward to returning again someday in the future! - - Father Chris Walsh

In 2007, my dream of going to Africa came true when I got the chance to go to Uganda. During the drive to Ibanda, further south of Kampala, I was struck by the beauty of the land. . .the varying shades of green. But I think what caught my attention the most during that initial drive was the smiles that came from the people along the sides of the road, their excitement over seeing strangers come to visit their country. . .their home. It was this sense of welcome, this genuine warmth that I was to encounter over and over again during my stay in Uganda. And it was especially the people's almost immediate ability to call me "friend" that truly caught my attention. During that visit I had the wonderful experience of celebrating a high Mass with the Archbishop of Uganda, Paul Backyenga. It was his words at the end of the Mass that summed up my personal reasons for being there. . . "We love you and you love us. Let us continue to learn from one another, so that when we all get to where we are going we will not be strangers, but rather we will know each other as brothers and sisters of Christ." I discovered that although these people are certainly in need of some basic needs, as well as material goods, what they hold fast to is friendship. To be able to reach out, take someone's hand, smile at them and speak with them. . .this is what they appreciate. . . what truly makes a difference in their lives. It is what has made a difference in my life, and why I went back again for 3 1/2 weeks in 2008, and why I hope to go back many more times in my life . . .to visit my friends in Uganda. - - Kristi

When I came to Africa I didn't know how I could help. . .so I came with my eyes and ears wide open and my mouth shut. When I first got there my mind was going a million miles an hour I was trying to absorb everything I could see in a very short period of time. Before I knew it my head was spinning. I had to shut my mind down, and just be an observer. I felt like my head would explode with all the ideas. Everything I saw that I thought was wrong I was trying to fix in my mind. I felt a need to make things better for all these people. I wanted them to have everything that I have especially, basic needs like fresh water, a new church, a good school, medical supplies for all the children, just to mention a few things. As time went on I realized that I was right about the basic human needs part, but they showed me something I had never seen before . . . hold that thought.
      As I started to get to know the people, and found out how friendly and gracious they are, I could tell you many stories, but I need to stay focused about the church in this small community. Some of the people leave their homes at midnight and start walking to arrive in time for Sunday's Mass. Sunday morning great crowds of people start arriving, coming from every direction in plenty of time before Mass starts, When Mass does start it reminded me of a reading in the Bible when King David was leading his people, who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant and he was in front of them, leaping and dancing with great abandon, being very joyous, just so happy to be in the presence of the Lord. And the sight of this really pleased the Lord, "David and all the Israelites made merry before the LORD with all their strength, with singing and with citharas, harps, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals (2 Samuel, Chapter 6)". This is what I saw, when the people were carrying the Word of the Lord up the aisle to the altar. Was the church full of many David's singing and dancing with out abandon? A big contrast to what we see here when people come straggling into church five and ten minutes late, then during Mass are looking at their watch to see how much time is left of this one hour Mass. Oh, by the way, in Africa their Sunday Mass is about three to four hours long, and they sing, dance and rejoice the whole time because they came to be with our Lord and they made this time for Him and Him only.
      The Church is very small with mud walls and a tin roof. The electricity is one light bulb hanging from the ceiling by a wire. The Church is very overcrowded, people have to sit outside on benches with children peer through windows to try to see and hear Mass. This is the house of God, so I won't say anything dispiriting about a place of worship. What is needed to be said is, "I think we should try to make it better". God described his house for his people to King Solomon, "The Temple was to be the place of their education in prayer: pilgrimages, feasts and sacrifices, evening offering, the incense, and the bread of the Presence ("showbread") all these signs of the holiness and glory of God. (Catechism no. 2581)" Just think a thousand years before the birth of Jesus, God is telling King Solomon about bread and the Presence of holiness. Could this be the same holy bread we receive at the Eucharist at Mass today? The way these people love, serve and give thanks to God is like nothing I have ever seen. I think that God and His people deserve a nicer place to worship, and we need to give thanks to our Lord Our God that there are people like this on this earth.

I was nervous and travel-weary, but nonetheless very excited, as I set my feet upon African soil for the first time. As I stepped through the heavy, warm air of the airport terminal, scramble to retrieve my gabs, answered questions from the airport security about my luggage, I began the quiet walk along the long, sparsely lit corridor toward the outside doors. As I peered up, I saw Father Joseph grinning widely, and then, amazingly all my fears were instantly dispelled by his hearty cry of "Yahoo!" It was then that I knew that I was going to be okay in Uganda. Ibanda sits in the southwest of Uganda, a mere five and a half hour bumpy car ride from the airport in Entebbe, and the people who live there have shown me new meaning of God's love in their all welcoming embrace. Everywhere I look in Uganda, I see how the people live simply, yet still have so much joy in their lives.

I have seen the children, wearing the same raggy, dirty clothes everyday, singing and playing, teaching us games, holding our hands, and so eager to pose for and see themselves in photos that we take of them.
I have seen the poorest of the poor. Peasant mothers, living in small one or two roomed mud huts, struggling to raise families of six, seven, or more children, would think nothing of serving us a delicious smorgasbord of fruits, and welcoming us as honored guests, all the while kneeling before us in utter humility in their own home!
I have seen the faithful of all ages, crowding into a mud walled church, and spilling outside, to worship and sing and dance for the Lord, with such heartfelt reverence and enthusiasm, I only wish I could bottle it and share it with the world.
I have seen orphaned school children, begging me to be their sponsor so they can continue to learn in a safe environment, eager to learn, knowing that education is their way out of poverty into a brighter, hope filled future.
I have met children born with HIV who, by the grace of God, are receiving medical treatments and living normal lives. I have also seen full blown AIDS victims, emaciated in the final stages of dying, who are at such peace with their situation, only asking for prayers.
I have played with orphaned babies at the Holy Innocents Babies home, seeing the constant care the Sisters give to them, with their own struggles of space, health, food supply, even water. And I have seen two of these babies become adopted into an American family right before my very eyes!
I have seen travesty upon travesty I once only read in magazines and news stories: children walking barefoot for 45 minutes to retrieve water; the deaf students at Bubaare school with no teacher, learning in a silent world right along with the other students; children with the most meager portion of a rice meal, sharing with their family and friends, eating with their fingers, smearing their faces, girls graduating elementary school and starting a family at the age of 16, 17, 18; those with ;physical disabilities who had not been brought outside for a long, long, time lacking a wheelchair or some helpful device to give them some little comfort.
It seems somehow that Africa has been forgotten. HIV and malaria are daily threats. Clean, safe water is a daily chore to retrieve. Shoes are a luxury, and education is beyond the means of most families. All the basics we take for granted in America are constant struggles in Uganda, the likes of which we cannot even image, where, for about $4 a malaria victim can receive the medicine, without which, and often case, children will surely die, and many do because of lack of funds for this medicine. Yes, $4.00!
I have witnessed the beatitudes in action. I have seen the meek, the poor in spirit, the hungry, the sorrowful. These people whom I now call friends, who have daily struggles the likes of which we cannot even imagine, and yet, they have welcomed me and treated me with honor, impressing me with how they still hold themselves with dignity and pride.

For all the "Webare Munonga's" I have received (that means "thank you very much"), I can only be humbled. My heart has been changed. My soul has been changed, and I am driven in my desire to want to do so much to help these people in this remote pocket of the world, to bring this story to more Americans, more people in our "civilized" world.
When Jesus taught the beatitudes, he told the less fortunate in this world, "you are not forgotten, so be glad and rejoice." The Ugandans are already rejoicing. It is now my job to tell the story and make sure they are not forgotten. - - Bill Monaghan

It was a more spiritual trip than I would have ever imaged. The first person we meet was Father Joseph; we were greeted like old friends. The first thing I noticed was the green hills with their planting of tea, coffee and bananas. Then we arrived in the town of Ibanda, Uganda. The people are the most gracious people. I just fell in love with them all. They have nothing compared to us but will share everything they have. Mass is so uplifting, a special blessing to experience. People walk miles to attend and they are always on time and no one leaves till the Priest walks out of the Church and we are finished singing. My family and friends expressed concern of my safety. I assured them I'd be fine the Lord was with us. I felt so safe, He was with us all the way. Now as the new group prepares to go I get a longing to be with them. -- Carol Evans

Bits and pieces of my African Journal
My trip to Uganda in June 2008, my experiences and observations there, can be summed up into three words or themes: beauty, poverty, and simplicity.

The Sounds of Uganda:
The breeze blowing through the leaves of the banana trees…The goats slowly making their way through the tall grasses with occasional “bahs”…The neighborhood kids outside playing and frequently in the windows and calling for me to come out and join them…At night you can hear the sounds of Prex and Evelyn chatting and laughing in the courtyard…The echoes of people in the hallway of the rectory; doors opening and closing and occasionally slamming shut with the breeze…Motorbikes and cars driving by…Crickets chirping…The kittens “meowing”…The rooster “crowing”…Father Joseph yelling “Yahoo!”…Father Maurice playing Akon in his car with the bass turned way up…Drumming and singing from the church…The neighborhood kids laughing and popping the mini M&M containers we gave them

Things I Didn’t Expect to See In Africa:
Evergreen trees…Cell phone towers…Everyone with cell phones…People burning their trash…Corn everywhere…Little kids (5 or 6) taking care of infants…Rap/Hip-Hop in Swahili/Ugandan languages on TV – the same kind of music videos that are on TV in the US

Smells of Uganda:
Smoke from people cooking and burning trash…Prex cooking in the kitchen…Exhaust from cars and motorbikes…The breeze blowing through the banana trees…The people (dusty and sweaty but happy)

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I slept well underneath my mosquito net. The house started stirring at 5am; I got up at 6:30am. I went to 7am Mass and got my first look at the church (benches almost on the ground, Stations of the Cross on the walls with fake flowers underneath). It was dark, but beautiful as the sun was rising in the windows. Some people were praying the Rosary as we entered; Bill and I sat in the back. Not long after we sat down a little boy, about 5 years old, in a school uniform with no shoes came in and sat in the front. When he saw us he got up and walked right back to Bill and I and sat in between us. As Mass began more and more people came in and many more children joined us. By the end of Mass our bench was full of kids! The choir with drums sat in the front and everyone else clapped along. It was strange to not understand the Mass, but at the same time peaceful and a time for reflection.

After Mass I met many people and we had breakfast (corn flakes with warm milk, toast and delicious Ugandan tea). Then Carol, Bill and I walked around the rectory property and saw Father Joseph’s garden (peppers, tomatoes, squash, corn, bananas, and lettuce).

After we went to Bubaare Primary School – what an experience! We signed in at the office and had to wait for the headmaster. Some of the P4 students spotted Bill and started yelling and then they all went on break. About 200 kids were gathered all around us, some introducing themselves and some just watching. We sang, danced, and played games. All of the students were crowed around me – it was unbelievable to look out and see hundreds of smiling children’s faces starring back at me!

Thursday, June 19, 2008
The day began with 7am Mass, then breakfast (corn flakes, toast, and lots of tea). Then Father Joseph, Bill, Carol and I hopped in the truck and drove to all the parish centers and local elementary schools. Bill and I sat in the back of the truck and bumped around (luckily it wasn’t too dusty). I took lots of pictures of the beautiful scenery and ordinary life in this area. The weather has been absolutely perfect! 70° - 75°F (25°-30°C) breezy and sunny with big fluffy clouds in the sky! We visited the parish centers and five primary schools; we surprised theme and didn’t tell them we were coming so they didn’t prepare for us. Many of the students were so excited to see Amuzungu (white people)! We talked to the Head Masters mostly about how the P7 classes were doing. At the last school we visited when the students saw us they all ran out of their classrooms and I was surrounded by children in purple uniforms starring at me with wide eyes. As we bumped along in the back of the truck back to the rectory we waved to the people we passed; I felt like a beauty pageant queen waving to the crowds from the back of a fancy car!

Friday, June 20, 2008
Bubaare Primary School had a Noon Mass. Godfrey played the keyboard, Bill played guitar, and I played the big bass African drum with Jackie and some of the other teachers and sat in the front and played and sang for Mass. I think everyone got a kick out of me playing; when Father Joseph walked up the isle to the altar and saw me, he chuckled. I knew a couple of the songs they played which was cool! After Communion all the students gathered around the altar and danced to a “Song of Thanksgiving.” It was awesome to see then all waving their hands in the air as one big sea of people praising God!

Saturday, June 28, 2008
I was ready to go home a couple of days ago but now I am very sad to go! I will miss this place and these people! It definitely feels like home! I see why Bill keeps coming back – I think a piece of my heart is now in Uganda! I feel like I belong here in a way, I just don’t know what my mission is yet! This trip has shown me however, that I need God in my life much more, so with prayer and a better relationship with Him I hope to find my place.

Sunday, June 28, 2009 – 1 year later…
Throughout my college years I have felt seriously called to make a difference in the world and in the lives of others, which is I want to join the Peace Corps when I graduate and why I have chosen teaching as my career. When the opportunity arose for me to travel to Uganda last summer as a representative of the Building a Bridge to Uganda organization I embarked on the mental, physical, and spiritual journey, after much thought and prayer, but still not really sure if this was what God wanted me to do, and not really sure what to do when I got there. Once I arrived in Uganda however, the people gave me the welcome, support, and most importantly the courage I needed to realize that this was definitely what God was calling me to do…whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters you do for me. This realization was not a grand revelation however; I realized that my mission is to do whatever I can. God is not asking me to move mountains, my mission is in the little everyday things…a smile, a hug, the value of a good education, and simply a friend. The ironic part is that by starting there and working with other people who have committed themselves their mission I feel like together we can move mountains. I feel forever indebted to the people of Uganda for giving me the courage and strength I need to continue on my journey and to work with organizations like Bridge to Uganda and the Peace Corps who have heard God’s call and taken action and are making a difference.