{"id":2818,"date":"2013-10-22T16:31:00","date_gmt":"2013-10-22T14:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/padrimariani.org\/en\/2018\/03\/14\/antonio-dos-reis-fernandes-mic-passed-awayheartbreak-leads-to-heavenly-calling-copy-copy-152\/"},"modified":"2019-12-17T21:27:49","modified_gmt":"2019-12-17T20:27:49","slug":"act-of-entrustment-to-mary-diocese-doume-cameroon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/padrimariani.org\/en\/2013\/10\/22\/act-of-entrustment-to-mary-diocese-doume-cameroon\/","title":{"rendered":"Act of Entrustment to Mary in the Diocese of Doume in Cameroon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cameroon<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\u00a0Oct. 22, 2013<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Act of Entrustment to Mary in the Diocese of Doume in Cameroon<\/h1><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

I serve as a missionary in Cameroon. In early October\u00a02013, I\u00a0began to prepare the parishioners in the Diocese of Doum\u00e9-Abong Mbang for consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the diocesan shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. In\u00a02008, our bishop, the Most\u00a0Rev.\u00a0Jan Ozga, had brought a big statue of Our Lady of Fatima from Poland. He arranged for its pilgrimage through all the parishes and larger villages to introduce devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. The pilgrimage took more than a\u00a0year and a\u00a0half. Then the statue was placed in a newly established parish in the city of Abong Mbang. The bishop designated Our Lady of Fatima as the patroness of the parish and made it a\u00a0diocesan shrine.<\/p>\n

We wanted to join Pope Francis\u2019s consecration of the world to Mary on Oct.\u00a013,\u00a02013, and entrust the entire diocese to the Mother of God. I\u00a0went to the shrine with my Divine Mercy Animation Crew, a group of catechists who bring Divine Mercy to life through presentations and song.\u2028 During a\u00a0three-day retreat, we evangelized, gave presentations about the apparitions, and shared the message of Our Lady of Fatima. Our heavenly Mother\u2019s invitation to consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart ignited in us a\u00a0desire to immerse ourselves in the goodness and love through which we can conquer evil and Satan. About 500\u00a0people attended the retreat. It was a\u00a0time of prayer, adoration, and celebration of the Eucharist.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Oct.\u00a011, we prepared for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the diocese, there are many tribes that need unity and reconciliation. There is also a\u00a0growing involvement in superstitions, including witchcraft and pagan rites, which are contrary to our Catholic beliefs. Therefore, there is a\u00a0big need for conversion. The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance attracted many people, who fully took advantage of God\u2019s mercy.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Oct.\u00a012, we organized a three-hour procession around the city with the shrine\u2019s statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Around 700\u00a0people processed, prayed the Rosary, and sang songs to Mary between the mysteries. Afterwards, a\u00a0vigil Mass was celebrated, followed by silent adoration as part of the preparation for the act of consecration. We explained why the consecration is so important. After discussing the traditions of the Church, we emphasized the example of Blessed Pope John Paul\u00a0II. During his apostolic visits, he entrusted each and every nation to the protection of the Mother of God. For us, the consecration meant loving and trusting God by entrusting our lives to Him through Mary.<\/p>\n

The bishop, as well as many priests and nuns of the diocese, came to the Fatima Shrine for the Sunday celebrations to entrust the diocese to the Mother of God. More than 1,000\u00a0people attended the Sunday celebration, which lasted for three hours and included a\u00a0procession, dances, and a\u00a0performance of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima to the visionaries. Cameroonian children played the visionaries. A\u00a0member of the Legion of Mary performed the voice of Our Lady. The act of consecration took place before the statue of Our Lady. Everyone was kneeling and repeating the prayer of consecration after the bishop, who then gave thanks and asked for future blessings.<\/p>\n

On the same day, the bishop also visited the convent of the Poor Clares where he blessed a\u00a0statue of Our Lady of Fatima, located in the grotto behind the convent\u2019s walls. The Sisters provided pineapple juice made from fruit from their own garden. After the consecration, the Franciscan Friars, who are in charge of the shrine, held a\u00a0party and potluck.<\/p>\n

Francis Filipiec, MIC<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Other news<\/h2><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>