Wouri I Pastoral Zone launches Year for Priests

  By Grace Ongey

Christians of Wouri I came out in their numbers on February 26, 2010, at Holy Trinity Parish, Congo, to pray, reflect, and rightly give honour to their priests. This was at the solemn opening of the Year for Priests in the Wouri I Pastoral Zone, which the Episcopal Vicar, Rev. Fr. Oscar Eone Eone, presided.

Rev. Fr. Eone Eone laid emphasis on the importance of the priestly mission inherited from Christ. He said just as Christ came to announce the Good News of the Kingdom of God to Mankind, so too is the priest commissioned to minister to the flock placed in his care.

He said Pope Benedict XVI is calling on all priests in the world to reflect on the life of the Parish Priest of Ars, St. John Mary Vianney, who is seen as the model for priests. The Pope has declared St. John Vianney as the Universal Patron of Priests.  

Rev. Fr. Eone Eone explained that it is not a question of imitating the life of this great priest, but of copying the love he had for God, especially in drawing people closer to God. He was a priest who oscillated between discouragement and hope, Fr. Eone said.

He explained the powers vested on a priest and added it is through him, at baptism, that those baptised become children of God. Each time a person sins, it is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation a priest mediates in the name of Jesus Christ that the sin is absolved. A priest only, can say Mass thus changing bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

He exhorted Christians to ponder on who a priest is and what their existence would have become, if a priest did not exist to bridge the gap between them and God. He referred to St. John Mary Vianney who used to say, “Oh, how great is a priest! The priest will not understand the greatness of his office till he is in Heaven. If he understood it on earth, he would die, not of fear, but of love”, to put emphasis on the graces of priesthood. Fr. Eone Eone reminded his colleagues that their calling is a gift from God as they have not worked to merit it.

The Episcopal Vicar advised his colleagues to distinguish themselves by upholding priestly values and witnessing for Christ in today’s world, as Saint Curé of Ars often said, “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus”.

Fr. Eone asked Christians to pray for priests and for those aspiring to become priests, to support the work they do and respect them. He told the Faithful to pray that the Master should call more labourers to his vineyard for the harvest is great, but the labourers are few.  

The chief celebrant told Christians that while praying for priests, they should participate in Christ’s saving mission by transforming their families into domestic churches where love, faith and prayers reign. He encouraged parents to pray for more priestly vocations, for ensuing graces from the practice are immeasurable.

The solemn opening of the Year for Priest in different pastoral zones in Douala Archdiocese follows a call from Archbishop Samuel Kléda, who in one of his recent pastoral letters, said that the relationship between priests and those entrusted in their pastoral care should be strengthened.
The theme of the Year for Priests is, “Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests”. It will be officially closed in the Archdiocese of Douala on June 19, 2010, at the SS Peter and Paul Cathedral.