New Book on Stress and Burnout Management

For a long time the end-of-course evaluations by the different priests who attended the ongoing formation course at St. Augustine Institute indicated "Burnout and Self-care" as the module they found most helpful. Eventually a book has now been put in print, availing much more detail on the subject than can be covered in the one-day module. Although it is yet to be launched officially, copies are already available at St. Paul Book Centre, Kampala, Nsambya Procure, and at St. Augustine's Institute Shop. Read more...

Institute Shop Opened

It is no longer necessary for course participants or other guests to go out for shopping, unless they want to. Nor is their shopping at the institute limited to buying drinks and a few personal items, as was the case with the old canteen. Now a full-fledged shop has been constructed and was launched on Friday 8th July 2011 with Holy Mass and a blessing. The shop is managed by the support staff of the institute. The revenues from it are intended to supplement their salaries.

Silver Jubilee Retreat 2011

In the picture are the priests who attended the Silver Jubilee Reunion Retreat in March of this year. The program included two days sharing on "good old days" as well as joys and struggles of labouring in the Lord's vineyard for 25 years, four days' retreat conducted by Fr. George Ukken SJ, one day of do-what-you-like, and picnic day at Kisubi beach. Others who have celebrated similar reunion retreats with are those who are 15 years in ministry and those who are 35 years. The reunion for the five-year Jubilarians of this year has been rescheduled to take place 3rd to 11th October of this year.

Msgr. Mukasa Celebrates 40 Years in Ministry

On the 20th of December 2010 Msgr. Gervase Mukasa, one of the resident staff of St. Augustine’s Institute celebrates 40 years in priesthood. Monsignor Mukasa, now also Episcopal Vicar for the religious in Masaka diocese, has served in various capacities both in his diocese and on the national level. One of the appointments he vividly recalls is when he had to go back to Gulu in the middle of the war, having experienced the thick of it before. Not feeling ready for martyrdom, he pleaded with his bishop to have a different appointment. The simple answer from Bishop Adrian Ddungu RIP was: “Your colleagues are there too!” It was then that, after so many years, Fr. Mukasa recalled the souvenir he had chosen at his ordination: “Here I am Lord, send me.” “After that I decided to go back, and I felt great peace of mind.” He says that he never felt the urge to run away again in spite of the constant threat of war. He felt God’s protection. Nor did he ever feel hesitation before any appointment, having come to the conviction that God speaks through our superiors even in undesirable commands.
On 21 June 2019 The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI honored Fr. Mukasa with the title of Monsignor, together with five other priests from Masaka. Monsignor Mukasa, we thank God for all the work he has enabled you to do in these 40 years and we pray that you continue responding to his invitation with “Here I am Lord, send me”.

Bishop Joseph Willigers joins Facilitators

Bishop Joseph Willigers of the Mill Hill Missionaries, first bishop of Jinja diocese since 1967 and long-time chairman of the Financial Commission of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, retired in May of this year after nearly 43 years of service.
Bishop Willigers acceded to the request to join the facilitators of the ongoing formation program for priests at St. Augustine’s Institute. While residing at the Mill Hill regional house at Nsambya, about 7 minutes’ walk from the institute, he will facilitate two modules: Priests/Bishops Relationships and Pastoral Ministry and Canon Law, and occasionally facilitate recollections as well.
Thank you bishop Willigers for generously placing your time-tested experience and your wisdom at the service of the renewal of priests in Uganda. Welcome to the community of St. Augustine’s Institute!

I nstitute Library Reopened

After the fitting of windows in the ground floor rooms, left side of the administration block, the Institute library is finally picking up again. The Institute has received a new staff member, M/s Rose Namusisi (in the photo below), who is both Institute librarian and Assistant Secretary.
The participants of Integral course II of October 2010 were the first to utilize the re-established library facility. A participant who celebrated his priestly silver jubilee this year and still looked very young was asked to share the secret of his young appearance. He told the group that a religious sister once gave him the ‘recipe’ for keeping young: A good diet, exercise and some good reading. We hope that the use of our library facility will keep us young.
We have received a donation of a variety of reading materials for our library this year. We are grateful for the donations of books received from Bishop Robert Gay, Fr. Benedict Ssettuuma Jr., Fr. Desiderius Pule, and BookAid International. Thanks for supporting our Institute library.

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