Ugandan priest covers holidays in Bavarian parish for 13 years

A priest from Uganda has been travelling 5,000 kilometres to cover holiday services at the Holzkirchen-Warngau Catholic parish association in Bavaria for the past 13 years, BR reported.

Father Placid Tuliganyirwa conducts services and gives sermons during his four-week summer stay. He also officiates at funerals and baptisms. Another Ugandan priest, Father Denis Mukonyezi, is joining him this summer.

Tuliganyirwa first entered St John the Baptist Church in Warngau 13 years ago and was overwhelmed by its Baroque paintings and statues. “It is like heaven,” he recalled. Churches in his home country often look very different, he said, and can sometimes consist only of mud buildings. His own parish now has a church, but still lacks benches. Tuliganyirwa also raises money for them during his time in Upper Bavaria.

He learned German at the seminary in Uganda and is now well known in the local community. Deacon Klaus Mrosczok said the two priests were “a great enrichment” because their friendliness was evident in the way they welcomed and farewelled worshippers.

The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising currently has 66 foreign priests working as holiday replacements. The Diocese of Regensburg has a similar number, while the Diocese of Würzburg has 26. Most come from India, Poland and African countries.

In Munich and Freising, the priests are provided with accommodation, contributions towards food and travel costs, health insurance and an expense allowance. Applicants must provide proof of German-language skills and a police clearance certificate, and should already be personally known to the diocese.

The Diocese of Eichstätt takes a different approach. Its priests cover for one another during the holiday period, while fewer services are held on Sundays and public holidays. Diocese spokesman Bernhard Löhlein said this worked well, particularly in rural communities.

In Warngau, the arrangement has developed into a connection between continents. Parishioner Anni Bichler said it allowed people to look beyond their own surroundings, see how others live around the world and learn more about another culture.

Tuliganyirwa now feels at home in Upper Bavaria, although he misses African music. In consultation with the organist, he incorporates African songs into services. During the Hallelujah, he said, movement comes naturally, raising his hands as he spoke.