Fr. Jerome Pistoni, SX
With joy and great participation, in the diocese of Makeni, too, the Year of Mercy has been inaugurated with the solemn opening of the DOOR of the Cathedral which is dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. This important event has not been celebrated earlier because of the pressing pastoral commitments of the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese, Mons. Natale Paganelli, who was consecrated Bishop on 31st October 2015.
In the morning of Saturday, January 9th, 2016, the representatives of the 25 parishes that constitute the Diocese left from their respective places and went to the spiritual and administrative centre of Bombali District, the city of Makeni, to take part in the solemn opening of the Holy Door and the inauguration of the extraordinary Jubilee of theYear of Mercy, proposed by Pope Francis.
All the "pilgrims" assembled in the pastoral centre. Subsequently in the nearby cathedral they had the opportunity to approach one of the several priests who were available to welcome anybody willing to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
For all of us these are moments not only for prayer, but also for ioy and cheerfulness as many of us have the opportunity to meet dear old friends whom we have met and with whom we have worked in previous parishes.
At 11.00 A.M., the time arranged, we all met in the square at the entrance of the Pastoral Centre, under the fatherly look of the statue of Bishop Azzolini, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Makeni, which was erected in 1961.
During the introductory rites, the Bull of Indiction of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy was read. Then the procession towards the cathedral, guided by Bishop Natale, took place. It stopped at the door of the cathedral, in silence under a burning sun. The Bishop proclaimed: "Open the doors of justice: we shall enter and give thanks to the Lord!" The DOOR was opened: the Bishop entered, all the priests and all the people of God followed.
After the sprinkling of the holy water, symbol of purification, the Holy Mass continued with the liturgy of the Word and the homily of the Bishop. He underlined some important points for the growth of the Diocese. He stressed the meaning of the DOOR that allows us to approach to God. We are not forced to go to him, he is waiting for us, we have to make the decision to return to him. The Bishop continued by saying that when we experience God's mercy, we too become more merciful towards one another. We cannot be true disciples of Christ, if we are not ready to forgive those who have offended us; if we are not ready to share with those who have little; if we are corrupt; if we are looking only for our own interest, and not the common good... The Bishop announced also that his priority is to reorganise the life of the Diocese. He began by appointing the Vicar of the diocese: Fr Bob Hassan Koroma, the present Parish priest of Magburaka.
In the first part of this year the Bishop will take time to reorganise the life and activities of priests, religious and laity. In the second part he will go for pastoral visitation to each parish in order to acquire a deeper knowledge of their reality, of their assets, of their needs and to animate their pastoral activities.
He also announced that TWO Deacons will be ordained priests on 6th February 2016: Peter Alusine Fornah, from Masongbo, at St. Conforti's, Makeni, and George Karimu Conteh, from Yele, at St. Michael's, Yele.
After the renewal of the baptismal promises on the part of the whole congregation, the eucharistic celebration continued as usual.
After the final blessing and the conclusion of the Mass, all the "pilgrims" were invited to a simple "banquet" in the hall of the pastoral centre, before returning to their respective parishes.
With joy and great participation, in the diocese of Makeni, too, the Year of Mercy has been inaugurated with the solemn opening of the DOOR of the Cathedral which is dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. This important event has not been celebrated earlier because of the pressing pastoral commitments of the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese, Mons. Natale Paganelli, who was consecrated Bishop on 31st October 2015.
In the morning of Saturday, January 9th, 2016, the representatives of the 25 parishes that constitute the Diocese left from their respective places and went to the spiritual and administrative centre of Bombali District, the city of Makeni, to take part in the solemn opening of the Holy Door and the inauguration of the extraordinary Jubilee of theYear of Mercy, proposed by Pope Francis.
All the "pilgrims" assembled in the pastoral centre. Subsequently in the nearby cathedral they had the opportunity to approach one of the several priests who were available to welcome anybody willing to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
For all of us these are moments not only for prayer, but also for ioy and cheerfulness as many of us have the opportunity to meet dear old friends whom we have met and with whom we have worked in previous parishes.
At 11.00 A.M., the time arranged, we all met in the square at the entrance of the Pastoral Centre, under the fatherly look of the statue of Bishop Azzolini, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Makeni, which was erected in 1961.
During the introductory rites, the Bull of Indiction of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy was read. Then the procession towards the cathedral, guided by Bishop Natale, took place. It stopped at the door of the cathedral, in silence under a burning sun. The Bishop proclaimed: "Open the doors of justice: we shall enter and give thanks to the Lord!" The DOOR was opened: the Bishop entered, all the priests and all the people of God followed.
After the sprinkling of the holy water, symbol of purification, the Holy Mass continued with the liturgy of the Word and the homily of the Bishop. He underlined some important points for the growth of the Diocese. He stressed the meaning of the DOOR that allows us to approach to God. We are not forced to go to him, he is waiting for us, we have to make the decision to return to him. The Bishop continued by saying that when we experience God's mercy, we too become more merciful towards one another. We cannot be true disciples of Christ, if we are not ready to forgive those who have offended us; if we are not ready to share with those who have little; if we are corrupt; if we are looking only for our own interest, and not the common good... The Bishop announced also that his priority is to reorganise the life of the Diocese. He began by appointing the Vicar of the diocese: Fr Bob Hassan Koroma, the present Parish priest of Magburaka.
In the first part of this year the Bishop will take time to reorganise the life and activities of priests, religious and laity. In the second part he will go for pastoral visitation to each parish in order to acquire a deeper knowledge of their reality, of their assets, of their needs and to animate their pastoral activities.
He also announced that TWO Deacons will be ordained priests on 6th February 2016: Peter Alusine Fornah, from Masongbo, at St. Conforti's, Makeni, and George Karimu Conteh, from Yele, at St. Michael's, Yele.
After the renewal of the baptismal promises on the part of the whole congregation, the eucharistic celebration continued as usual.
After the final blessing and the conclusion of the Mass, all the "pilgrims" were invited to a simple "banquet" in the hall of the pastoral centre, before returning to their respective parishes.