Throughout our history, Church of the Holy Cross has been privileged to welcome students from a number of African nations into the fellowship of our congregation. Among them, we have welcomed several students from Uganda. These relationships have been a very special blessing for us.

In early 2004, through two Ugandan members of our church, we learned of the struggles of St. Matthew's parish in the rural village of Barahiija, Uganda. For some twenty years, they had been laboring to complete the construction of their church building. Members of Holy Cross were touched by this need, and we received a special offering at our Spring Gospel Evening sufficient to enable major advancement in their project.

In October 2005, John Gibson and Frank Shell, representing the Holy Cross congregation, had the opportunity to visit St. Matthew's and to see the completed work our gift had enabled, including the installation of a new roof. Father John and Frank were told that they were the first Americans ever to visit this village. They both were overwhelmed by the extraordinary welcome extended to them. Church of the Holy Cross rejoices at the connection this project has given us to our brothers and sisters in Barahiija.

It seemed to us providential that, when we made application to the Anglican Communion Network for alternative oversight early in 2005, they guided us to the Anglican Province of Uganda. In our view, the Church of Uganda and the North Kigezi Diocese have exercised enormous spiritual generosity in taking us under their jurisdiction. During the same October 2005 trip to Uganda, John Gibson and Frank Shell had the opportunity to visit the North Kigezi Diocese, attend a meeting of the Diocesan Council, and visit with our Bishop, Dr. Edward Muhima. Both Father John and Frank found it profoundly inspiring to see firsthand the spiritual vitality and missionary zeal of the Anglican Church in Uganda.