Missionaries of Africa
Province of Uganda

In the footsteps of Fr. Mapeera Lourdel and Brother Amans

Celebrations at Kisubi -130Years- 22nd February 2009

These Celebrations were part of the 130 years of the arrival of the pioneer Missionaries in Uganda, Fr. Mapeera Lourdel and Br. Amans with the theme: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FR. MAPEERA LOURDEL AND BR. AMANS.

Tradition has it that after the arrival of the two missionaries in Uganda their boat (dugout) broke into pieces at Entebbe, so they continued their journey on foot. When arriving at Kisubi they pitched their tent as usual for the night. When they left the place in the morning one of the pegs of the tent was left

Behind and it is this peg which then started to grow and has now become a huge tree, known as Mapeera Tree. (It is said that this very species of tree is not known in Uganda and this is the only one of its kind in the country...so it must have been imported from outside, i.e. Tanzania).

On the very spot of Mapeera Tree a beautiful Senior Secondary School has been build, called appropriately "Mapeera Senior Secondary School", Kisubi. This School was then also the venue for our 2nd venue of the 130 years Celebrations....The week leading to the big day was marked by visits of the Vocation Team of the Missionaries of Africa - White Fathers and MSOLA (White Sisters) to the various schools of the area. The Team explained the mission of the M.Afr. and invited the young men and women to also follow the footsteps of the Pioneer Missionaries.

A public lecture about the legacy of the pioneer missionaries in the field of education was delivered to the students and staff of UMU (Uganda Martyrs' University)Kisubi Brothers of Christian Instruction Campus and was well received.

It was also in the course of the celebrations under the Mapeera Tree, Kisubi that the two second year stagiaires in Uganda, Boris Yabré and Florent Sawadogo made their declaration of intent, which was received by the Provincial of Uganda, Rudi Lehnertz...

Bishop Robert Gay was the guest of honour and a good many diocesan priests were present at the celebrations, not to forget of course the hundreds of attentive students of the neighbouring schools, some founded by the Missionaries of Africa and MSOLA.

Rudi Lehnertz M.Afr., Provincial

Cliquer pour agrandir la carte du Vicariat "Victoria-Nyanza" (vers 1890)
Leave the mouse abose the picture for reading the legend

For More

* 2008 :The beginning of the Mission in southern Uganda and the organization of the catechumenate 1879-1914 by Marinus Rooijackers

* 12 May 1890 - Death of Father Lourdel (1853-1890) (by Fr. Stefaan Minnaert M.Afr. & photos archives)

* Archbishop Léon Livinhac, (White Father) Founder of the Catholic Church in Buganda, 1846-1922 (by Fr. Stefaan Minnaert M.Afr. & photos archives)

NABULAGALA 1879-1882
Opening of our new parish Mapeera-Nabulagala in Kampala June 24th 2007