Towards A Contemporary Understanding Of The Evangelical Vow of Poverty in The Life Of the Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga
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Date
2002-02
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
We must all pay tribute to our "role models," the elderly Brothers, for living what
they believed. They teach us to understand the value of evangelical poverty and to live
under Divine Providence by following the footsteps of Christ. We are to take to heart the
gospel saying, " 1 am telling you not to wort), about your life and what you are to eat ...
your heavenly Father knows you need them all" (A4t6: 31). The first Brothers planted in
the Institute a spirit of using the necessary things, orienting them to the goal for which they
are given to us and which they can serve. "Indeed this involves a dispossession, a generous
gift of all that we have and is entrusted to us." For the younger Brothers, there lies the
challenge! The older Brothers have been an affirmation in our vocation, and their physical
presence continues to be a consistent part of our ongoing formation. the four pioneers2 in the Congregation when it was founded in 1927. He was born in
Uganda, central Buganda, Mawokota County, October 1884.3
The Charles Lwanga Brothers revere the memory of all the pioneers, but Matia
Tibarindeka holds a special place in their hearts because of his outstanding love for the
Congregation. In his profile we read that he loved his Congregation wholeheartedly. This
is confirmed by the Brothers who lived and worked with him, namely Brothers Adolfu
Ludigo, Dennis Ssegamwenge, Heraclio Ssenfuma, Ludovico Ssenfuma, Emiliano
Nsubuga. These Brothers agree that Bro. Matia Tibarindeka was an exemplary religious
and leader, very upright and honest, and above all a man who lived up to what he believed
and to his word.
He had a special love for the youth in his ministry as a teacher, and loved the
Brothers without discrimination. Sad to say, other than what is remembered by those who
knew him, no written documents survived the Uganda Tanzania war of 1979, when the
Congregation's archives, along with a lot of other property, were either destroyed or looted.
These qualities were widely recognized, for Bra Matia Tibarindeka served as the
first African Superior General of the Institute, 1946-1951. He died in a road accident on 22
April 1958 at the age of 74 years. Although he was taken from us suddenly and
unexpectedly, his memory lives on and continues to motivate all those who aspire to the
holiness he modeled.
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Keywords
Vow of Poverty