175 years of Evangelization in Gabon, A Moment of Thanksgiving

In his recollection, the celebration “has brought together Gabonese ... to take a look at the works of our first missionaries and reflect on the future of the church in the country.”

Situated along the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, Gabon was the first country to open the door to Christianity in Equatorial Black Africa, south of the Sahara.

“Let us receive this joy brought by the jubilee, let us all promote justice and peace, the common good, unity and solidarity,” Fr. Edou noted and invited Catholics to take the path of personal, community and national construction during this jubilee that will conclude Sunday, September 29.

The event coordinator who is also the Parish Priest of Saint Christopher Okala described the 175^th anniversary after 150 years in 1994 as a mid-way to the future celebration of bicentenary in 2044.

He acknowledged the jubilee as a season “of joy and happiness, which unites us as a family of God.”

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“It is a moment for the church in Gabon to do its own balance sheet and for the faithful to evaluate themselves with God and the church,” Fr. Edou said.

Archbishop Basile Mvé Engone of Libreville will preside over the solemn thanksgiving Mass to end the jubilee celebrations at the multipurpose sports complex in Gabon during which 16 deacons will be ordained priests.

The history of the Church in Gabon is chronologically articulated around two main periods: that of the history of the Missionary Church (1844-1958); and that of the history of the local or diocesan Churches (Since 1958).