Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ouahigouya (Agenzia Fides) - A jubilee year to celebrate the 50 years of the diocese of Ouahigouya, in Burkina Faso, will close in November on the Feast of Christ the King with a triduum of celebrations including the priestly ordination of 7 deacons and the consecration of the new Cathedral (23 November). The three days of celebrations to close the Jubilee year will begin on 21 November with a Penitential Liturgy and individual confessions, a special Mass for the repose of the souls of deceased pastoral workers and for members of the diocese who are sick and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
The diocese of Ouahigouya was created on 23 June 1958. It has a population of 995,000 of whom about 95,000 are Catholics. There are 10 parishes, 41 diocesan priests and 1 religious priest, 11 Brothers and 93 Sisters, 27 major seminarians. The diocese runs 14 institutes of education and 5 centres for social and charity work (Church's year Book 2008).
In an interview with the diocesan magazine Echo du Yatenga, Bishop Philippe Ouedraogo, Bishop of Ouahigouya since 23 November 1996, recalled that “the Jubilee year was opened on 2 December 2007, First Sunday of Advent, at Bam, the first parish of the diocese for date of foundation (1923). It was from Bam that the first missionaries, the White Fathers or Missionaries of Africa, began evangelisation. This parish led to the opening of another ten parishes and a diocese, the diocese of Kaya. The fact that the Jubilee Year was opened at Bam was an act of homage and offered a vibrant sign of hope for an ever more fruitful future”.
The Jubilee motto chosen by the diocese “We give thanks and put out into the deep”, intends to show how the recurrence should be lived: “We thank God for the 50 years of our diocese of Ouahigouya - Bishop Ouedraogo explains - , and strengthened by his gifts and filled with a spirit of family, we put out into the deep to proclaim the Good News ”.
For the construction of a new cathedral Bishop Ouedraogo called on the sons and daughters of the diocese of Ouahigouya, wherever they are, and all the friends and men and women of goodwill to make a contribution, each according to his means, to build God's house. Bishop Ouedraogo concludes the interview with Echo du Yatenga thanking everyone for the interest shown in the life of the Church-Family-of-God in Ouahigouya and for the support offered in many different ways to enable evangelisation started 50 years ago to continue. “Continue to pray for us and accompany is with generosity and friendship - the Bishop concluded -. Pray that our Christian communities may be ever more united, ever holier and ever more missionary!”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 4/4/2008; righe 33, parole 445)
