Jesus Youth Teens Spreading Love and Hope in Uganda

Lira, Uganda, July 17, 2024: Jesus Youth Middle East celebrated a remarkable year as 17 teenagers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Kuwait embarked on a ten day mission program from 4 to 14 July to the diocese of Lira in Uganda. The mission team consisted of 24 participants in total including two supporting families and two youth volunteers from the UAE and Kuwait. The teens were led by Rev. Fr. Vignandas Gangula, the Associate Director of Communio from the CCBI Centre in Bangalore, India. 

During their time in Uganda, the group engaged in various outreach activities including interacting with locals, singing songs, praying, and sharing gifts such as rosaries. They also visited villages, hospitals, an orphanage run by missionary sisters, and a local prison. 

The teens were particularly moved by the strong faith and prayer life of Uganda's youth, which inspired many of them to pray in their own words and intercede for the village's needs. The Ugandan liturgy offered the teens a vibrant experience of Holy Mass, filled with joy and community.  

Despite challenges like long bus rides and poor road conditions, the teens found solace in singing, chatting, and cultivating patience through the experience. The mission trip was organized by the Jesus Youth Movement, a Pontifically approved international Catholic private association which began in the 1980s in Kerala and is now present in 35 countries across the world. 

By Mrs. Manju Paulose