The faithful at Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine joined Catholics around the world in celebrating
Holy Childhood Missionary Sunday on 12 th July 2026, with children taking centre stage in the
liturgy and parish celebrations.
The children animated the different Masses by leading the singing, conducting Sunday
School, participating in the offertory procession, and carrying out various other liturgical
ministries, demonstrating their important role in the life and mission of the Church.
In his homily during the 11:00 a.m. Mass, Fr. Mpiima, reflecting on the Gospel of the day,
reminded the congregation that God is the generous and extravagant Sower who never
stops believing in His people.
"The first thing that stands out in the Gospel is not the soil but the Sower," he said. "While
human logic would sow only on fertile ground, Jesus scatters the seed everywhere, on the
path, among rocks, and even into thorns."
Fr. Mpiima explained that this illustrates God's unconditional love for humanity. "God never
gives up on anyone. His Word is offered to saints and sinners alike. As the prophet Isaiah
reminds us, 'My word shall not return to me empty' (Isaiah 55:10–11). Every Mass, every
page of Scripture, and every inspiration is another seed. God keeps sowing because He sees
not only who we are, but who we can become."
He emphasised that the real challenge is not simply hearing God's Word but allowing it to
take root in our hearts. "All four kinds of soil receive the same seed. The difference is not
the quality of the seed but the condition of the heart," he said.
Drawing inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi, Fr. Mpiima encouraged the faithful to move
beyond merely acquiring biblical knowledge and instead allow the Word of God to
transform their lives. He recalled that St. Francis would spend long hours meditating on a
single passage of Scripture until it became the pattern of his life.
"The seed is meant to bear fruit, not simply to be admired, discussed, or remembered," he
said. "Jesus speaks of a harvest yielding thirty, sixty, and even a hundredfold. God does not
expect perfection overnight; He asks us to bear fruit according to the grace He gives."
Fr. Mpiima noted that the fruits of a life transformed by God's Word are those identified in
the Letter to the Galatians: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. He reminded the faithful that the true measure of prayer is not
how much Scripture one knows, but how closely one's life reflects Christ.
He encouraged everyone to reflect daily on the fruits of God's Word in their lives.
"Every day, God plants a seed of His Word in our hearts. Do not ask first, 'What did I hear
today?' Instead ask, 'What fruit will this Word produce in me today?' That is the question
Jesus leaves with us when He says, 'Whoever has ears ought to hear.'"

The celebration concluded with a joyful cake-cutting ceremony, bringing together children
and making Holy Childhood Missionary Sunday a memorable occasion for the little souls.