Activities relating to the opening of the Diocesan Synod were launched 1 January at the Marian shrine of Yaoundé Nsimalen.

It is on this subject that the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Yaoundé, Bishop Jean Mbarga, launched activities at the opening of the Diocesan Synod, Thursday, January 1, 2015.

Martin Belinga Eboutou, representative of the Head of State and several other members of the Government were present at this ceremony. This major event of giving and receiving, that mobilized thousands of Catholics and the laity, was an opportunity for the Catholic Church to open up to a new Sunshine.

It will be for the faithful to look in the mirror in order to advance on the path of faith throughout the year 2015. "This is a big party that will give the floor not only to Catholics but to all our friends. It is meant to open up to muslims, protestants, and others for example, to invite the views on what they think of our Church or even what they expect of us," said Bishop Jean Mbarga.

Therefore, this Synod will take place in four stages on a quarterly basis. From January to March, seminars will be organised. All the faithful of the parish and services will be required to fill a questionnaire.

After that, from April to June, a symposium will be held which will consist of the work of synthesis at the level of the zones, clusters and services. Then from July to September, a meeting of the Instrumentum Laboris (tool) which will allow us to identify the findings to a synthesis that will lead to resolutions and to close from October to December, a Synod.

To carry out this Synodal year, metropolitan archbishop in "the call of the Synod" Invited all the Catholic faithful and men of good will, to spend this year with Christ our Lord and our God in peace and reconciliation by doing good and fighting evil with good.

"Lay persons and faithful were entreated to engage in the Gospel in the Church and be fruitful in their unique gifting's," recommended Bishop Jean Mbarga in his decree on the convocation and opening of the Diocesan Synod. A prayer has been prepared to go with the activities by the faithful during the Synod