Today’s Readings – Saint Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs

Note: In Ireland, because of the feast of St Kevin, this June 3 memorial for St Charles Lwanga and companions is celebrated on June 4.

Charles Lwanga at a very early age was sent to Buddu in the south west of Uganda to be brought up by Kaddu, whom some believe to be his biological father, but who may have been an uncle. Charles was a Ganda who belonged to the Bush-Buck clan. Members of this clan were traditionally banned from the royal court, so when Lwanga took service at court he passed as a member of the Colobus Monkey clan, to which his former master and patron belonged.

In 1878, Kaddu placed Lwanga (then aged about eighteen) in the service of Mawulugungu, the chief of Kirwanyi, mentioned by the explorer HM Stanley. The following year the chief was transferred to Ssingo County, … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Saint Kevin, Abbot

Kevin (Coemghen or Caoimhin meaning ‘Fair-begotten’) is the Principal Patron of Dublin Archdiocese and is said to have been born in 498 into a family which belonged to the Dál Messe Corb, a noble Leinster people who lived in what is now West Wicklow. The story of his life is not felt … Continue