Catholic Men to Coordinate Year of St. Joseph Initiatives in Cameroon’s Diocese of Kumba

In the Apostolic Letter titled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes St. Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.

In the February 23 interview with ACI Africa, Bishop Nfon called on the Catholic men under his pastoral care to “have a protective role in the society, in the family and everywhere such that if people are in difficulty, in crisis the men should be at the forefront to protect the faith.”

“Rather than always being in the background and the women and youths taking the forefront in Church activities, this year we want to see the men part and parcel of the life of the Church,” the 57-year-old Cameroonian Bishop told ACI Africa.

He highlighted some of the activities to mark the year of St. Joseph in Kumba Diocese saying the Diocesan celebration will take place on the Solemnity of him who is the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, March 19.

“We shall have educative talks, seminars highlighting the virtues and qualities of St. Joseph,” Bishop Nfon said, and added, “We shall also make pilgrimages to Parishes and mission stations that bear the name of St. Joseph.”

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He further said that “our Christians who bear the name Joseph will have their own day of celebration.”

“I have also instructed my Priests to reserve a minute dedicated to St. Joseph in all liturgical celebrations,” Bishop Nfon told ACI Africa, adding, “There is a lot to be said about St. Joseph and this can only be exhausted if Priests regularly talk about him during Eucharistic celebrations.”

“St. Joseph was such a faithful man in marriage; he was a responsible man in marriage; he was such a caring man in marriage and was ready to make all the sacrifices for the family,” he said.

He further described St. Joseph as having been “such an example to all the men that if you look at him, I think most of our men will be transformed in society; if we only look at some aspects of his life and try to put (them) into practice.”

“There will be peace and joy in the family if men follow the example of St. Joseph,” the Local Ordinary of Kumba Diocese in Cameroon told ACI Africa February 23.