from: Rev Fr Peter Foleng, SD.
On Wednesday 5th April 2006, the entire Christian community and clergy of the Diocese of Kumbo converged at the St. Theresia’s Cathedral to celebrate the Chrism Mass. The Mass, which is traditionally celebrated in the morning of Holy Thursday, had to take place a bit earlier on account of the fact that Kumbo has no bishop yet. The Archbishop of Bamenda, Mgr. Cornelius F. Esua, who is also the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Kumbo, could only create time for Kumbo during the fifth week of Lent.
Over 60 clergy of the Presbyterium of Kumbo concelebrated at the Mass. In the last few years, the Presbyteral Council of the diocese decided that the animation of the Chrism be taken over by the deaneries.
This was to increase the participation of the lay faithful, who hitherto received very few of them, mostly from the parishes around Kumbo urban area. Since that decision, deanery after deanery has taken up the animation of the Mass. The enthusiasm with which the deaneries have participated in the Mass has been highly encouraging.
The animation this year was done by the Tatum deanery. The Diocese of Kumbo is made up of six deaneries; Kumbo, Nkar, Tabenken, Djottin, Tatum and Nkambe. Highlights of the Mass included the renewal of the commitment to the Priestly Ministry by the priests and blessings of the Oil of Catechumen and the Oil of the Sick, and the consecration of the Oil of Chrism.
The oils were symbolically carried to the altar by a catechist with the oil of the catechumens he usually prepares for Baptism, a nurse with the oil of the sick she cares for physically and a priest carrying the oil of Chrism with which he is anointed.
During the homily the Archbishop, amongst the many issues explained, gave a brief report of what happened during their Ad Limina Apostolorum (to the threshold of the tombs of the Apostles Peter & Paul) visit which ran from 12th to 21st March 2006).
After transmitting the greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, to the Christians of Kumbo, he informed the faithful of his prayers for the People of Kumbo and the prayer of the Bishops of Cameroon for the People of Cameroon: “I prayed for all of you in a special way on the tombs of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, and particularly on the tomb of Pope John Paul II, the first anniversary of whose death was celebrated on Sunday 2nd April 2006.
I will like to inform you that the tomb of Pope John Paul II has become a place of pilgrimage. Thousands of people flock there everyday. There is no doubt that he loved Cameroon and on that tomb the Bishops of Cameroon made a special prayer to thank God for him and to ask him to intercede for all our Christians.”
Explaining the significance of the Chrism Mass, he said: “This celebration which is traditionally know as the Chrism Mass, centred on the priesthood and on the priestly ministry, which are the expression of God’s love for us. During this celebration we shall bless and consecrate the oils used for the administration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Sacred Order through which we share in various degrees the one priesthood of Christ?.
We shall equally bless the oil for the administration of the Sacrament of the Sick. It is recommended that all the priests of a given diocese concelebrate with their bishop in order to express their communion as one priestly family i.e. as a presbyterium. We are celebrating our communion with Christ and with one another.”
After the Mass, the priests moved to Bishop’s House to collect the new oil back to their respective parishes and institutions.
April 15, 2006
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