The
World Youth Day is not a festival, social event or party. It is a moment of
prayer or pilgrimage for youths of the particular church. There is a
spiritual cross being carried from Parish to Parish as a sacrifice to be
offered up in union with Christ’s love and suffering for us. This cross is one
year old in Futru Parish and will be leaving on April 13 2014 at the close of
the World Youth Day celebration. How it came to Futru.
After meeting in the St Peter and Paul’s Parish Bamunka Ndop in 2013, the close to 400youths who answered present from St Michael’s Parish Futru Nkwen encouraged the Bishops of the local Church in Bamenda to handover the Cross and hosting batten to the Parish of Piarist Fathers for 2014. The impressed everyone when she took home the highest number of prizes from the Ndop come together. Coming at the time the Parish is celebration the Silver Jubilee, many in the parish have been quick to qualify this as God’s approval of a perfect struggle on the way. At 25 Futru is matured and thus acting as a matured institution is what is expected of the parish. The WYD to run from April 11, 12 and 13 is just the right opportunity to prove this readiness to move forward.
Pilgrims’ hearts need to be open to the grace God is giving. The greatest opportunity on pilgrimage is that God can transform hearts. It is a time to cry out and beg Him to know your mission in life. According to Kerekes, “God reveals pilgrims’ mission to them. Many people are transformed because of World Youth Day.”
Is Futru Prepared?
The WYD is not a walk in the park. It consists of walking and hiking, morning and night. This, the Parish understands reason why for the past months mobilization has been total. From the youths themselves to other parishioners planning has been continuous. Reinforcing the need for physical preparation, The Parish Priest Rev Fr. Obassi Gerald told “hilltop voices” that feeding, accommodation (canopies, chairs,) health care amongst others will constitute areas where assistance is greatly needed. With support expected from the entire Parish, the church mothers that is the Catholic Women’s Association of the Parish has pledge their availability to cook for the youths during the weekend. At the Archdiocesan Youth Council Meeting of Saturday 15th March 2014, committees like Contact/Reception, Secretariat, Communication, Logistics, Health….were created.
What is
more,
The WYD in Futru is different from all other WYDs, because the Parish is
managed by Piarist Fathers ( Calasanzian Fathers) whose focus is the youths. In
fact it is the concern shown by the missionaries to the youths in the Parish
that gave Futru the name “provided for” in the Archdiocese. Futru Parish is
also an urban parish whose accessibility poses no problem to anyone. Knowing Futru
Created as a mission way back in 1919, a parish was born in the hands of Rev Fr Juan Yzeul on the 7 of February 1986. With the support of his fellow brothers in the house Fr Juan formed a youth group for the parish and named it Bo Be Nkah meaning Children of the light. The growth of the youth ministry in this parish has largely been linked to this firm foundation and the continuous support of youths by the Piarists.
You are invited
The weekend ceremony is open to the public, and five thousand youths are expected to attend.
This is another moment to assist your Parish.