In this powerful homily for the feast of St. Charles Lwanga and the Ugandan Martyrs (June 3), Fr. Greg Heille, OP, reflects on Acts 20, where St. Paul bids farewell to the Christians of Ephesus—facing suffering with a clean conscience, knowing he has faithfully witnessed to Christ.
Fr. Heille draws parallels to the 22 Catholic martyrs of Uganda (canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964), who were burned to death in 1886 for refusing to renounce their faith. He also connects their sacrifice to modern struggles for justice, including:
* Mass incarceration of African Americans
* The legacy of chattel slavery (12.5 million kidnapped over 500 years)
* The ongoing witness of Black Catholics in the Church
This homily challenges us to confront unjust systems while standing firm in faith, just as the martyrs did. "We too are baptized," Fr. Heille reminds us. "We too testify to the power of the cross—and the promise of resurrection."
🔔 Subscribe for more Catholic homilies and teachings from Fr. Greg Heille, OP.
#CharlesLwanga
#UgandanMartyrs
#CatholicHomily
#BlackCatholic
#CatholicSocialJustice
#DominicanPreaching
#FrGregHeille
#Acts20
#Martyrdom