Cameroonian youths celebrate a week of festivities, prayer and catechetical formation
After six days of prayer, formation, fraternity, and testimonies, the sixth National Youth Days of Cameroon concluded last Sunday in the Diocese of Bertoua. The Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Archbishop José Avelino Bettencourt, who presided over the closing Mass, delivered a message of hope to the youth, inviting them to discover Jesus, the hidden treasure.
Paule Valérie Mendogo – Bertoua
The closing Mass gathered a large assembly of young people accompanied by bishops, priests, religious men and women, civil leaders and regional administrative authorities.
Be artisans of peace and joy
Speaking to the thousands of young people, Archbishop Joseph Atanga of the Archdiocese of Bertoua reflected on the extraordinary week’s gathering. He emphasised that the assembly of young people in Bertoua was a true moment of encounter with Christ, spiritual renewal, catechetical formation, cultural sharing, sports, and fraternity. He urged young people to remain courageous, steadfast, dynamic, and to become, wherever they live, artisans of peace, joy, love, and reconciliation.
In his homily, Archbishop José Avelino Bettencourt revisited the theme of the week-long gathering, taken from the 16th chapter of the Gospel of John: “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). This is also the theme for the World Youth Day 2027 to be held in Seoul, South Korea.
The treasure of Jesus Christ is you
Archbishop José Avelino told young people to consider their faith as the most precious of treasures, a wealth that no difficulty should cause them to abandon. Illustrating with the example of young King Solomon, he encouraged Cameroonian youth to emulate the search for r wisdom, which can only come from God. Many young people, he said, unfortunately seek only material success. The Apostolic Nuncio called upon young people to build on a future anchored in the Christian faith.
Archbishop Jose A. Bettencourt, Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea
“The treasure of Jesus Christ is you, dear young person. You are precious in His eyes,” declared the Apostolic Nuncio, before inviting each young person to entrust God with their academic, university, professional, family, or health-related difficulties. Just as the man who sells everything to acquire the field containing the treasure, young people are called to stake everything on Christ, the only one capable of truly fulfilling their lives, he exhorted.
A week of grace
The intervention of Bishop Philippe Alain Mbarga marked the end of the gathering.
Bishop Mbarga of the Diocese of Ebolowa is the Vice-President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon. On behalf of the bishops of the country, he praised the quality of the youth-organised national week. He thanked the leadership of young people, as well as individuals and organisations who contributed generously to the success of the event.
The performance of the official World Youth Day theme song, followed by the apostolic blessing given by the Nuncio and other bishops, marked the final moment of this great national gathering.
Credit: Source link