The gathering at St. Peter the Apostle Parish Mudeka on Sunday, March 10th, 2024, was filled with jubilation as Bishop Michael Bibi concluded his four-day pastoral visit to the parish. The Chief Shepherd of the Diocese of Buea expressed his gratitude to the Christians for their steadfast faith and massive turnout during his visits to the different mission stations in small Mokutta, Misselele and now the main Mission
During his homily, Bishop Michael Bibi emphasized the significance of pastoral visits, highlighting that they provide an opportunity for the Bishop to be closer to the people, understand their challenges, and pray and commune with them. He urged the Christians to remain faithful to the works of God, emphasizing that the teachings of the church are meant to draw them closer to God through conversion rather than condemnation.
The Bishop used the Lenten visit to remind the congregation of Christ’s abundant love for them, emphasizing that Christ came to earth in human form to demonstrate his love for each individual. He expressed his appreciation for the love and care shown by the Christians to their parish priests, noting that there is no greater love for a Bishop than when Christians appreciate and work with their parish priests for the glory of God.
Furthermore, Bishop Michael Bibi extended his gratitude for the spirit of sacrifice and generosity displayed by the Christians during the four different days of his pastoral visit. He also acknowledged the presence of the traditional ruler of Mudeka at the Mass, thanking him for his support to the church and praying for the Wisdom of Solomon to guide him in leading the people under his Chiefdom.
On his part, the Parish priest expressed his thanks to the Bishop for visiting their parish four times in the current year, emphasizing that the people feel their Bishop’s presence and know him well. The representative of the chairperson of the parish pastoral council also expressed gratitude for the Bishop’s visits to different mission stations, stating that it has significantly improved the faith of the parishioners.
However, during the address, some concerns about the parish were raised, and the Bishop assured the Christians that he would work collaboratively with their parish priests to find solutions to the problems and make necessary corrections and improvements