Cameroon’s Eséka Catholic Diocese Unveils Three Pillars to Guide New Pastoral Year

Placing the new pastoral phase under a strong biblical theme, the Bishop quotes Deuteronomy 31:6, saying, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

He emphasizes that this promise “is not a mere formula; it is a call to radical trust in God.”

Acknowledging the challenges the people of God in the Diocese face, Bishop Eyabi speaks of realities such as “endemic poverty, youth unemployment, intra-family conflicts, corruption, environmental degradation, injustices, and lack of access to healthcare,” and observes that that in such a context, “God will never abandon us!”

He calls on Christians to become “living witnesses of His hope, builders of development, peace, and reconciliation.”

Explaining the first pillar, Communion – Radiance of Solidarity, the Catholic Bishop says, “The Church is by her very nature communion. She is the Body of Christ, and each of us is an essential member of it.”

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Parishes, he says, should become places where everyone feels “welcomed, valued, and loved,” and solemnly exhorts the people of God “to uproot from our hearts all resentment and all bitterness” in order to promote reconciliation, peace, and justice.

On the second pillar, Development Sought for All, Bishop Eyabi says that “the Gospel is not limited to the spiritual sphere; it embraces the whole human person and the whole of society.”

He recalls that “development is the new name for peace,” and calls for concrete efforts in education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and environmental protection.

“Education is the key to the future,” he says, and urges investment in children and young people, while also calling for greater access to healthcare and responsible care for creation.

“As stewards of God’s creation, we have the responsibility to take care of our environment,” the Cameroonian Catholic Bishop says.

Turning to the third pillar, Living Faith – Witness and Evangelization, he notes that all pastoral and social efforts must be rooted in deep faith.

“Faith is the engine of our hope, the source of our charity, and the foundation of our courage,” Bishop Eyabi says, and goes on to describe Christian faith as “a living relationship with the risen Jesus Christ.”

He insists that a living faith must be missionary, adding, “Whoever has truly encountered Christ cannot keep this joy to himself.”

Bishop Eyabi encourages renewed catechesis, sacramental life, and bold witness, reminding the people of God that “our best preaching is the way we live.”

Addressing young people, he calls for a rethinking of evangelization methods, saying, “If we want to speak to our young people, we must go where they are. And today, that is on screens.”

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Bishop Eyabi reiterates that his Episcopal See is not abandoning its past achievements. “We are abandoning nothing of what we have built over the past five years,” he says, emphasizing that the new pillars form “three dimensions of the same reality: the Church as a missionary communion at the service of humanity.”

“Let us get to work! The future begins today,” Bishop Eyabi says in his Jnauary 24 pastoral letter.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.