It was a joyous day at St. Nicholas Cathedral as Metropolitan Jeronymos joined the kids at their Christmas party on Boxing Day. The celebration started with the Divine Liturgy which the Metropolitan officiated, joined by Reverand Fathers; Kiwanuka Emmanuel, Stelios Kasule and Kiwanuka Daniel. The Sunday School choir took center stage in chanting throughout the whole service.
His Eminence, together with the priests present, were led to the Community Center by the children and their leaders for merrymaking. Fascinating Christmas carols, dance and plays were then performed by the talented kids. The Bishop then awarded Christmas gifts to the little ones, putting indelible smiles on their faces.
In his speech, Metropolitan Jeronymos thanked the Sunday School teachers for managing to organize this year’s event. He further urged them to continue teaching the children the virtue of humility. ”Children of secular societies always have a sense of arrogance which is repellent to God’s grace. But the children of the Eklessia are required to be humble,” he said. “Our Lord and God Jesus Christ is the most perfect example of humility because in His Incarnation, He left all the heavenly glory to come and associate with us in the sinful world,” he added.
Despina Namiiro, the head of St. Nicholas Sunday School teaching staff expressed thankfulness to the bishop for honoring the event. She then clarified the significance of the annual occasion saying, ”We celebrate the Nativity of our Lord with the kids to motivate them. Since the Lord loves the little ones (Luke 18:16), we gather them here every Boxing Day and they participate in the Liturgy with our Bishop, share a meal with him, perform for him and receive gifts from him”.
The festal meal and cutting of the Santa Claus Christmas cake culminated this year’s event. The celebration, which gathers children from the cathedral and beyond, was initiated in 2000s by Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga of blessed memory. The children actively participate in the entire Divine Liturgy serving as chanters and acolytes. This is unusual because on normal days, they always have Sunday School sessions during the biggest part of the Eucharistic assembly.
This is awesome , God bless