The Local Ordinary of the Diocese of Buea Bishop Michael Bibi, Continued his Monday Catechetical lessons at All Saints Parish, Mutengene this 1st day of July 2024, and dwelled on the Ministry of The Divine Word. The mission to teach the word of God in the whole world he said, is entrusted to the Pope and the Bishop as clearly stated in the Gospel of Matthew 29: 19-20. In every particular church, the resident Bishop has the responsibility to ensure that the missionary mission is carried out properly in his Diocese.
Those involved in teaching the Word include the parish priests who have the responsibly to disseminate the Word to the Christians of his parish and also all ordained priests as well as deacons. The Bishop further noted that the Lay Faithful are also involved in this teaching mission and they have the duty to teach their children , family members and those around them about the Word.
The mandate of teaching the word also lies in the hands of general and specific catechists: those who have been called by God to serve the church as catechists.
The source of the word was another area of focus during the catechetical lessons and the prelate stated that there are three main sources of the Word; Sacred scriptures, Sacred Traditions, and the magisterium.
Talking about the two means of teaching the Word, Bishop Bibi noted that preaching and catechetical formation are the two ways in which the word of God is being communicated to the people. In doing so, he emphasized that in teaching the word, the teacher must hand on the whole and entire truth.
He thereby cautioned participants that anyone who is teaching the word must understand the word and do so without distortion.
These participants at the close of the teachings, posed varied concerns to the Bishop for clarity, and expressed satisfaction with the knowledge they have received.