Douala, Cameroon. The months of December and January in the Delegation of Cameroon have always been dedicated to the celebration of the Word of God with Christ Faithful through the Bible Festivals. Within this period, six Bible Festivals were organised in Douala and Yaounde.
It all began in the Archdiocese of Douala, on the 15th of December, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul of Douala was filled with many Christian, lay and religious. Christians gathered for the traditional and yearly Christmas Bible Festival organized by Claretian Missionaries. They were honoured by the presence of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Douala, Mgr Samuel Kleda. The Bible Festival aims to make the word of God known and loved. It is also a golden opportunity to make our activities and products known to the people of God.
New this year, was the procession and enthronement of the Bible led by the Major Superior of Cameroon Fr. Michel Archange Tigui, CMF. This was followed by the Public Reading of the Word of God in French and English by the Prefect of the Bible Apostolate, Fr Jude Thaddeus Langeh CMF from John 1:1-14. Hinging on the verse “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”. John 1:14, the Major Superior then called on Christians to remain faithful to the word of God.
In Douala, there was a huge media coverage of the Festival by Veritas TV, Radio Veritas that is the official Radio and Television of Archdiocese of Douala, LTM Radio and TV and other local News Papers. The success of this Festival was thanks to the highly level of preparation through the printing of banners, flyers and invitation cards. There were also many television and radio programs to make a wide publicity of the event.
On the other hand, in the Archdiocese of Yaounde, the Bible Festivals were organised in the Following parishes: Mary Queen of the Apostles Basilica, Mvolye, Holy Spirit Francophone Parish, Mvolye, St Joseph Anglophone Parish, Mvog-Ada, SS Peter and Paul Anglophone Parish, Simbock, St Ann Parish, Obili. In these parishes we had the opportunity of celebrating the mass and presenting the Claretian Bible Pastoral Ministry.
The theme “Proclaim the Good News” has been chosen for our Bible Pastoral Ministry. We celebrate the Word of God and we spread it by all possible means particularly through the social media: whatsapp, facebook etc. The Bible Festival gives us the occasion to celebrate, preach the Good News to the whole world and encourage people to live and practice this Word in their daily lives. Through the Bible Festival, we also profit to present the new edition of the Evangelium Bible Diary and other publications done by claretians. There were many Claretian Missionaries, lay Claretian and collaborators present.
Report by: Valery Ngam (Volunteer in the Claretian Bible Ministry, Douala, Cameroon)
