"Why is a community of faith so important to the Christian life? Why is it that so many Christian writers stress the vital nature of communities of faith to the spiritual life?
After reflecting on my experience, I realized that this community, this Children's Rosary was an ideal example of the Christian community.
The Christian is a person in need of Divine and human connection, vertical and horizontal relationships, so to speak. He must have a personal relationship with God and thus seek communion with his Creator through prayer and contemplation, study and work. However, he must also have deeply caring and loving relationships with those around him, with his family and community.
The combination of these two is the basis for a fundamentally Catholic idea, that we reach Heaven not as individuals alone with God but as a community of faith, each acting as one, such as at the liturgy of the Mass or in community prayer.
Wednesday, I visited the Children's Rosary at the Mulajje Parish in the Kasana-Luwero diocese of Uganda. I was given a very warm reception with flowers, a procession, and a High Mass decorated and celebrated as though for Easter morning.
The children danced and sang after the Mass in a performance of cultural tradition that was delightful and highly skilled. The frank, glowing welcome on everyone's face was quite moving to me. 
I want to thank all those who made it possible, including Henry Bukenya(shown above), national coordinator, who is hosting me and bringing me to various parishes in Uganda where Children's Rosary groups exist. I want to thank Fr. Gerald, who has done so much to nurture the Children's Rosary at the parish of Mulajje, and I want to thank Fr. Ambrose (shown above) who helped to run the events, celebrated Mass, and was very kind. I also want to thank Madame Betty and Sr. Vincenzia, who do much to organize and help operate the Children's Rosary groups. Additionally, Andrew Lubega, head of laity for the parish, gave an address and helped put together activities yesterday in addition to his many parochial duties. Finally, thanks to the coordinators at all of the 20 subparishes, the 110 animators who give so much to the children, and to the 12,300 children who participate in the Children's Rosary at Mulajje parish. 
As I spoke to people who have been part of a group of the Children's Rosary, and as I observed the young altar servers at Mass and the singers in the choir, I saw that the members of this parish indeed had deep personal relationships with God. One young man told me how his participation in the Children's Rosary helped to orient his life toward a vocation to the priesthood.
I also saw that this parish had deep connections in common to each other. As the children sang and danced, as they played soccer with the new balls they were given, I could see these people were happy together and valued each other.
Finally, they were clearly united by their faith. First and foremost for them was their life of prayer and their common connection to God. One animator told me how the children's witness helped to change their parents' attitude toward the Church and the faith. And after the opening procession at Mass, the children broke out into applause out of sheer delight for and worship of the presence of God in their midst. It was a sublime moment.
I came away from Mulajje parish knowing what I had seen was a model, a tiny taste of what we believers will experience in Heaven."
To see all of Asher's dispatches from his journey click HERE
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