Preaching during the morning Mass on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) Headquarters in Mvolyé, Yaoundé, on the third day of the 51st Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Bishops of Cameroon, the Bishop of Mamfe, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, reflected on the Feast of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions and challenged Christians to embrace the spirit of authentic Christian martyrdom.
Drawing from the teachings of Pope Francis, Bishop Abangalo highlighted three qualities of a mature Christian: a deep relationship with God, fidelity to the truth, and the courage to bear witness to the faith regardless of the cost.
Cross section of Bishops during morning Mass
Reflecting on the life of St. Charles Lwanga, the Bishop recounted how the young catechist boldly professed his faith in Christ despite fierce opposition from the King of Uganda. He described the cruel and painful manner in which Charles Lwanga was put to death and noted that even in his final moments, the saint called on his executioners to repent.
“The flames that consumed Charles Lwanga became flames of faith,” Bishop Abangalo said, adding that the remarkable growth of Christianity in Africa owes much to the witness and sacrifice of the Uganda Martyrs.
Cross section of Bishops during morning Mass
He stressed that a renewed society requires a solid moral foundation and urged Christians to work towards building a society that is fair, just, and rooted in truth. St. Charles Lwanga, he noted, remained faithful to moral truth at a decisive crossroads in his life and continues to inspire believers today.
“One of the ways of bearing witness to the faith is by speaking the truth boldly,” the Bishop emphasized. “When it comes to speaking the truth, there is no indirect speech. Indirect speech does not exist in the Gospel of Christ.”
Monsignor John Berinyuy Tata
The Bishop further observed that, like Charles Lwanga, many people across the world continue to face persecution for standing up for truth and justice. He therefore encouraged his brother Bishops and all Christians to embrace the spirit of martyrdom, even when it entails sacrifice and suffering.
He concluded by invoking the intercession of St. Charles Lwanga and his companions, praying that the Bishops and all the faithful may receive the courage to remain steadfast witnesses of Christ in today’s world.
