National Celebration of The Year of Faith – May 2013
On the 9th May 2013, the Feast of the Ascension, the Dioceses in Sierra Leone held a national celebration of the Year of Faith in the Catholic Diocese of Bo. This is in response to the proposition of Pope Benedict XVI (Emeritus) who had asked that Catholics all over the world should pay particular attention to their faith and its expressions in a visible and tangible way.
The celebrations were led by the Bishops, Priests, Religious and Lay Faithful from all the Dioceses in the country. Highlights of the celebrations were: pilgrimage, spiritual exercises and climaxed with the Holy Eucharist at the Immaculate Heart Cathedral, Bo City.
The ceremonies were designed in order to help Catholics reflect on their faith, to know the faith and to defend it in the light of their contexts and challenges. Thus they were encouraged to participate in the Sacred Liturgy, especially the Holy Eucharist; to reflect on the Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei; the Documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Speaking to pilgrims after the celebrations, they remarked that they are thankful to God for such a grace-filled moment of celebrating their faith at the national level. They are also grateful to the Bishops for organizing the celebrations.
We sincerely thank all those who travelled from far and near to be present at the ceremonies. May God richly bless you.
To our brother and sisters who were unavoidably absent, be assured that we prayed for you, our local Church and country.
