Monday July 15, 2024, Christians of All Saints Parish Mutengene had another opportunity to nourish their faith through the catechetical session with the chief catechist Michael Bibi, Bishop of Buea. The Local Ordinary on this day educated faithful on the sanctifying office of the church. Noting that there are three offices in the church which include; the teaching office, the Sanctifying office and the governing office, Bishop Bibi told Christians that to sanctify connotes to make someone Holy and that the Church carries out its sanctifying mission through the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy.
participants at all Saints Parish, Mutengene
He reminded them that the liturgy is the official public worship of the church celebrated according to laid down liturgical norms. The liturgy is celebrated in the name of the church and those celebrating the liturgy must be lawfully approved by the competent ecclesiastical authority, the bishop noted. These persons include the Bishops who are known as the high priests, moderators, promoters and those who cater for the life of the church. It also includes the priests who are coworkers of the bishops and the deacons who assist in divine worship. The members of Christ faithful take part in this mission by actively participating during liturgical celebrations.
Bishop teaches on the sanctifying office of the church
The prelate further noted that the sacraments and other prayers also make Christians to be holy including pilgrimages, and other activities carried out to make them holy. He stated that the seven sacrament of the church are also meant to strengthen Christians in their belief and these are the sacraments of Christian initiation which is made up of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, the sacrament of healing which includes; confession and anointing of the sick, and the sacrament of service which are matrimony and holy orders.
Bishop Bibi highlights the different sacraments of the church
The church he reiterated, should administer these sacraments to Catholics under normal circumstances and that catholic Christians should receive them from the Catholic Church.
