Douala Archbishop, His Grace Samuel Kléda, has said God’s Word nourishes a Christian’s faith. He was speaking at the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral during a Mass celebrated to mark the end of the first year of the Diocesan Synod.
Douala Archbishop Emeritus, His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi, presided at the Mass in which a host of priests and seminarians actively took part. Mgr. Kléda encouraged Christians to use the Word of God like food for their soul by deepening their understanding of the Gospel to better live it. By so doing they will become witnesses of God in society, he said.
He added it does not suffice to recite verses from the Bible but, more importantly, to live it to the fullest. Drawing inspiration from the day’s Gospel drawn from St. Luke, which centred on questions surrounding death, Mgr. Kléda laid emphasis on the importance of the resurrection. He said without the resurrection nothing justifies our union with Christ.
He explained that we have been saved because Christ resurrected from the dead and took away our sins. The resurrection of Christ, Mgr. Kléda explained, is the foundation of our faith. He called on Christians to continue studying and living the Word of God as they have been doing during the synod and to allow it guide all circumstances in their lives.
Addressing the congregation, the synod Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Oscar Eone Eone, thanked God for his benevolence during the synod. He said he was satisfied with the way different zones and parishes carried out synod activities. He reminded Christians of the necessity to live the synod into the New Year.
The closing Mass coincided with the Solemnity of the Memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The liturgy and lectionary procession were beautifully animated.
The synod started on November 19 with activities like prayers, exposés, the practice of Lectio Divina, which is a scriptural meditation, and working sessions on the life and activities of different parishes, among others. Small Christian Communities members, Church associations and the religious actively took part in deliberations which lasted three days.
Christians were told not only to serve as depositories of the Word of God, but to also practice it in all aspects of their lives. This, the Archbishop insisted, should be seen by those around them.
The Synod, which was celebrated under the theme “Receiving and Living the Word of God,” was also expected to help in shaping the pastoral activities of the Church in Douala Archdiocese. The first synod celebration was a success as hundreds of Christians flocked to the premises of St. Peter and Paul Cathedral to learn better ways of living the Word of God.
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