Focus on your goals not titles, Bishop tells leaders

Bishop Nathan Ahimbisibwe of South Ankole Diocese has urged political and church leaders to remain focused on their goals, despite the titles and recognition they receive.

Speaking during the ordination and priesting of 20 priests at St Mathew Cathedral in Kyamate, Bishop Ahimbisibwe cautioned that getting swept up in titles and public recognition can lead to a loss of focus and direction.

"Focus, if you are after anything, us God's servants and these politicians, they give you a lot of titles and respect, if you are swept by those you lose the track and fail," Bishop Ahimbisibwe said. "There are even those who abuse you, when you give ear, you fail to reach your target. People will call you Honorable, Right, Lord and many, if you don't focus it will be a disaster."

Bishop Ahimbisibwe noted that many respectable people have fallen from grace due to their inability to remain focused on their goals. He emphasized the importance of humility and recognizing one's limitations, despite the titles and recognition one receives.

Earlier in the service, Diocesan Chancellor Stephen Tashobya, who is also an Electoral Commission commissioner, urged Christians not to engage in bad politics that may harm the peace and economy of the country.

Bishop Ahimbisibwe also addressed the issue of priests making mistakes that hurt the church and conflict with Christians. He emphasized the importance of counseling and conflict resolution, rather than simply transferring priests to new parishes.

"There are those who sin, we die, I die, brothers there are times when I feel like dying like in an hour, but I call them and counsel them and tell them to stop and God forgives them and they are saved, they fail to fight Christians," Bishop Ahimbisibwe said. "Counseling is much needed. The issue of transferring that whoever makes a mistake we transfer and he transfers the habit to a different parish, that will not happen anymore, we are getting a new measure."

The priesting and ordination of new priests in a diocese is typically the last event on the diocesan calendar. However, this year, the diocese did not make any new transfers, instead choosing to focus on conflict resolution and counseling.

"If there are those with issues as the diocesan team we shall come and meet them for conflict resolution," Bishop Ahimbisibwe said.

The South Ankole Diocese, which has been in existence for 13 years, has been ordaining new priests annually. Bishop Ahimbisibwe attributed this to the expanding church and the need for more churches and priests to serve the growing population.

"Every year we add deacons and priests, but we have also increased parishes from 37 now we are 65, from 7 archdeaconries now 13, other churches began," Bishop Ahimbisibwe said. "If the way bars start is how churches also begin, this world would be good, but bars are more than churches which increases sinners. We want to increase churches, reach services nearer to the people and get sacraments easily that we can preach the gospel in body and in spirit."