Deepening spirituality and growing a Christ-like life. This is how Africa diaspora communities do it: An African Martyrs' Day in USA

Community can act as a driveway to God's eternal glory. 

The main celebrant in the middle and co-celebrants on either side, 

Saint Mary's Catholic Church 

Landover Hills, MD

Every now and then, through Godly acts, we take a sip of the thirst quenching waters of eternity (John 4:14).  Peace is like a river. It flows from you to me and from me to you. Spirituality is the riverbed through which the river of peace ceaselessly flows. The currents are the dynamic force giving the river its fervent flow into a distant future. A nation, any nation, dedicated to the Almighty God receives lasting bounty and people live fulfilled lives because they backed their trust in a faithful God. When two or more God-fearing nations share cultures they receive God’s glory so many folds which in turn manifests as cosmopolitan and egalitarian aspirations.

And so it is when the Africa diaspora communities in America conduct worship, social and cultural events which contribute to the civic kaleidoscope of America. Between May to June 2026 in the DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area several get-together events were conducted by Africa diaspora communities. 

The Islamic community in Springfield concluded a well-attended Eid Aduha event. The Cameroonian community led and concluded a planning meeting in which strategies were laid to facilitate a more visible engagement in community events. The Ghanaian community led the Saints of Africa event with memorable animation and worship billed as one of the best. These and many others are some of the many testaments of the critical voices proclaiming the greatness of God (Matthew 10:27).  

The Africa diaspora communities use social and cultural activities to grow a Christ-like lifestyle. It is a lifestyle grounded in cognizance of the public nature of charity, participation in a life through actions that make God's kingdom experienced on earth.

The time prior the Uganda Martyrs' Day celebration may have gone like this.  Word of mouth, a reminder message, planning committee activities, a father making sure the family is ready for the day's event.  Somewhere a loving mother is showing her child how to tie that shoelace.  A younger sibling is led by an older one through a pew to where they are to sit during Mass. Parents continue supporting a child who is going through the processes preparing her or him to be a Catechumen.  The Pastor's message alert lights up with a text about a delivery of janitorial products to be made two days before the event. The choir goes through Mendel's Alleluia after which they tune the membraphonic instruments to accompany the music. 8 adolescents who volunteered to serve as sacristans as well as serve during the Mass are taken through the nine yards of such a calling. Rehearsals for the Gloria which will be said in Latin are taking place. The choir has to find time to go through all the Church music from all parts of Africa chosen to be sung during the service. A catering team makes sure Jane or Michael who expressed fear of allergenic exposure during a prior survey are catered for. The family cars to transport members are well maintained. The clothes to wear are pressed and in place. People are drawn in silent contemplation about how to give glory to God every minute through life's activities. Over there at the sanctuary the priests who conduct the Holy Mass prayers have their palms clasped as a sign of piety. Two young adults in their mid-twenties called in two days back at their places of work and asked for a day-off so that they could attend the event.  Everyone in this space is taking up roles which become the critical events culminating into showing up for Holy Mass and all post-service events. 

These experiences are a continuation of praise, worship and acknowledging God in our midst. These experiences are the actions behind our witness of God's glory shared with each other. The good actions are a yearning for God. Our small steps as everyday saints bring us fulfilled joy at a personal and community levels. This joy comes with responsibility and accountability without doubt. To be an everyday saint also means we are called to carry an every minute responsibility and second-by-second obligation. They manifest as devotion, charity, dedication, duty, jubilation and living fulfilled lives. The heart's intentions manifest publicly in the form of social values, compassion, connectedness and missionaries for Christ. 

There is vibrancy, a renewal and brimming spirituality. The responsibility of being a follower of Christ and a propensity to adopt actions that reflect Jesus in all of us are actions which are our own journeys into and with Christ.

And so it was that on the 20^th of June the DMV Uganda diaspora community represented by well-wishers, Catholics, Uganda Martyrs’ Society and the Holy Martyrs of Uganda Community members participated in the celebration of the Uganda Martyrs’ Day 2026 which began with a Holy Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Landover Hills MD. The theme was “Christ our peace, breaking the walls, healing the nation.” The main celebrant was the Most Rev. Roy E. Campbell Jr. Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington.

During the prelude right before introductory rites, Saint Mary’s Church’s interior lights high up in the ceiling were like a fountain pouring joy on all congregants.  Lights beaming with bespoke brilliance affirm the on-going reverence in this worship space. The ushers identifiable by murram-brown sashes direct the congregants toward the sitting area. Time is ticking away toward 4:00 pm. Two cultures who tell time differently have so far reached the last minutes simultaneously. African time and American time have agreed with each other! A few minutes before 4:00pm, a triumphal entry procession led by the Most Rev. Roy E. Campbell Jr., Priests, servers and those chosen to represent the Martyrs with sashes having the Martyrs' names marched in dignified step to the music by the choir. An atmosphere of reverent solemnity is amplified by crimson vestments of the priests, the glittering gold and silver articles around the interior.  The clergy and congregants adopt a humble posture as the main celebrant greeted the congregation and led the service. This filled our hearts with exuberance and a sense of God’s presence.

During the Homily, the main celebrant emphasized the benefits of having the Martyrs whose examples can be used as lessons to steadily keep on the path to God’s glory. The Bishop showed us examples of how the Martyrs remained faithful to God despite all the pressures to give up. He concluded by exhorting all of us to “grow in faith,” and “not to be afraid.” This was the Gospel’s message as well. In ending his Homily, the Bishop instructed all of us to emulate Christ who is the way, the truth and life (John 14:6). Jesus is the clear path to God, he concluded. The imagery is like that riverbed we were introduced to earlier.  Jesus leads us to eternity if we make him our companion. He is the bread of life (John 6:35) and love turning into the currents and renewing in us the vitality to march forward together into heaven's eternity. After the blessing and dismissal, we had photo opportunities with the celebrants, sacristans, the ones who represented the martyrs and other members of the congregation.  

A reception followed which was fused with Afro-music, dance, drama, poetry and music recitals, children-themed activities and recognizing those who continue to make such events solidly part of the routine in the DMV. I walked through the tables during the reception. Guests were engaged in conversation on many topics and I noticed almost all people had put away their phones. Physical meetings like these where God is part of our actions promote a culture of getting along. Connection and affection thrive in a space like this. Buddies and pals were catching up on a number of things. Acquaintances were renewed. I met a Ugandan from Sweden who visits his relatives here in the DMV around Summer time. He remarked that they have similar activities in Sweden too. This space is like a whetstone upon which we revitalize our individual and social manners like turn-taking, listening, recognizing others and living in the present moment.  There is magic in re-making our social spaces into catalysts for living in the present where God is a key participant too. It is a faith-filled space where self-care moves side by side with community sensibilities.  Children continue running around later to be called by their parents on the way back home. The MC speaks over the conversations guiding the guests through the rest of the activities of the day.

The Gospel is a source of information describing how Jesus normalized the transcendental nature humans adopt when they center God in their life's agenda. God, through grace has made it possible for all humans to be heiresses and heirs of the Kingdom. Jesus guides us on how to dream about heaven. The Martyrs through their actions gave us a roadmap on how to make it to heaven. This is a folklorist bucolic narrative that can easily become an urban story.  The Martyrs, from Kizito, Ngondwe, Ssebugwaawo, Balikuddembe, Sserunkuuma to Lwanga have shown us that everyone of us has a role, responsibility and status to play.  The repertoire of talents, artisanship and gifts each Martyr had and used to contribute to the grandeur of Buganda Kingdom in the 1800s can be one's first stop to understanding who the Martyrs were. Scholars who study Buganda Kingdom argue it depended on regular workers in Palace courtyards, the clans and families. So in order for people to stay motivated, the Kingdom was resplendent with recognition rites, rigorous on fairness and promoted leadership. However, this came with acceptance of a workload most times way above one's weight.  The Martyrs were child prodigies, were trained and could punch way above their weight. The biggest motivation was recognition.

I said my farewells and left to return to D.C.

The Martyrs are remarkable and walked the talk: Fear not!

Fr. Linus with his back to the camera was talking to a group while Bishop Roy and Dr. Muyunga-Mukasa had another snapshot. This photo was taken by Josephat Katundabwile, a Graduate Engineering student at the Catholic University of America.

The author of this blog, Dr. Muyunga-Mukasa is passionate about health promotion and education. In this picture he is telling Bishop Roy that he chronicles events of the Africa diaspora communities in the Americas and that one day he hopes to write a book that will be used as a text. This photo was taken by Josephat Katundabwile, a Graduate Engineering student at the Catholic University of America.

The space that accommodates intergenerational activities. The Uganda Martyrs were brought up in such spaces. We not only celebrate the Martyrs but we emulate their examples and turn them into instruction. We can never be so busy as a community to never find time for God, our own self-care needs, our loved ones and our children. This photo was taken by Josephat Katundabwile, a Graduate Engineering student at the Catholic University of America.

Rev. Fr. Linus and the rest of the priests led by example.  From a Biblical point of view Jesus said, let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these ( Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; and Luke 18:16).  From a medical-psychological point of view children gain developmental and social benefits when they are guided to engage in shared, intergenerational, or what are termed as adult environments. These events become age-appropriate spaces too. Children are able to relate with real-world social cues which in turn improve their cognitive flexibility and enhance a sense of belonging. This photo was taken byJosephat Katundabwile, a Graduate Engineering student at the Catholic University of America.

Recognizing effort! When communities spare time to say thank you and have a culture promoting saying sorry and please, a critical mass of motivated people thrive in such a setting. Thank you to the team behind the Uganda Martyrs' Day celebrations. This photo was taken by Josephat Katundabwile, a Graduate Engineering student at the Catholic University of America.

It was the moment for children to shine through their songs. This photo was taken by the author. 

Reception time! A communal meal reduces effects of isolation, enhances social cohesion, promotes stress reduction through what is termed as nature immersion, and improves emotional health driven by the act of communal conversations around shared themes, eating and feeling of being part of something bigger. People are able to fill in gaps and catch up on new things.  This photo was taken by the author.

Recitals by adolescents and younger adults.  There is an association between civic engagement in adolescence and outcomes during adulthood among youth. Civic engagement has an effect on youth development over time. Positive and socially agreeable events promote better civic, social, and behavioral outcomes. Events such as the Uganda Martyrs' Day celebration are critical social cues modelling adolescence and young adults to acquire knowledge and skills leading to responsible adulthood portraits. This photo was taken by the author.

Liturgy of the Eucharist. This photo was taken by the author.

                                       The main poster was shared by Mr. Kawunde Deogratius.

The "Martyrs" attended the Holy Mass. A close look at the team which represented the Martyrs. One can note the murram-brown sashes! This This photo was taken by the author.

 

Rev. Fr. Linus on the right of the author of this blog posing with the Most Rev. Roy Edward Campbell, Jr. Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington. This photo was taken by Ivan Omagor, a Graduate Engineering student at the Catholic University of America.

Dr. Muyunga-Mukasa and Bishop Roy.  This photo was taken byJosephat Katundabwile, a Graduate Engineering student at the Catholic University of America.