Mass for Atlas High School's Senior 4 Candidates Facing UNEB Exams.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, September 27th, 2025, the Atlas High School Gayaza community came together for something truly special. Parents, teachers, and students gathered at 2pm for a heartfelt mass dedicated to the Senior 4 candidates who will soon be facing their UNEB examinations. The atmosphere was filled with both nervous anticipation and hope as families filled the seats, coming together to lift up their children in prayer.

The service was led by the school's Chaplain, Omubulizi Ssali Moses, with the distinguished Archdeacon of Gayaza, Venerable Captain Elly Wasswa Mwanje, as the guest of honor. When the Archdeacon rose to speak, you could feel the attention in the room sharpen as every student leaned in to hear his words of wisdom.

He painted a vivid picture for the students, reminding them of the story of the ten lepers from the Gospel of Luke. Just as those lepers stepped out in faith, already believing in their healing before they even reached the Jesus, so too must these students walk into their examination rooms with confidence and readiness. His message was both comforting and challenging. He assured the anxious faces before him that their teachers had already equipped them with everything they needed to excel. The knowledge wasn't something they still had to find; it was already inside them, waiting to be remembered and applied. But he didn't sugarcoat the reality either. He spoke honestly about the need for perseverance and discipline, especially during those tough moments when exhaustion sets in and the material feels overwhelming. Most powerfully, he urged them to believe in themselves, explaining that self-confidence isn't arrogance but rather the solid ground on which all their hard work can finally bear fruit. His voice grew warmer as he encouraged them to replace their anxiety with assurance, their fear with faith, reminding them that they were more prepared than they realized.

When the Rector took her turn to speak, her gratitude was genuine and touching. She thanked the Archdeacon for taking time from his busy schedule, acknowledged the Chaplain's guidance, and gave special recognition to the parents who had rearranged their Saturday afternoon to be there. She spoke movingly about what it means to a child when they look up and see their parent in the audience, how that simple presence communicates, "We're in this together. Your success matters to us." She gently reminded the students that while exam time can feel isolating, they shouldn't hesitate to reach out to their teachers with questions during these final days of preparation. Echoing the Archdeacon's reassurance, she emphasized that their teachers had poured everything into preparing them, and they were ready for what lay ahead. After introducing the dedicated staff members who had worked tirelessly with these students, she welcomed the School Director to share his thoughts.

The Director added his voice to the chorus of encouragement, first expressing his appreciation to the Archdeacon for honoring their invitation. His words to the students were warm and hopeful, building on what had already been shared. Then, with the practicality that administrative responsibility requires, he turned briefly to address the parents, gently reminding them about the importance of settling any outstanding school fees. His tone wasn't harsh but understanding, explaining that financial worries could distract their children during these crucial final days, and that peace of mind would help them focus fully on their preparations.

Throughout the three-hour gathering, gospel music wove through the program like a golden thread. The school choir's voices rose in harmony, individual students stepped forward bravely to share solo performances, and remarkably, some parents even offered their own musical contributions, turning the event into a true community celebration. By the time everything wrapped up around 5pm, the formal program gave way to something even more precious: unhurried time for parents to sit with their children, to offer private words of encouragement, to hold their hands, and to reinforce in quiet, personal moments all the love and support that had filled the gathering that afternoon.