Pope Francis declared the holy year of consecrated life in 2015. The lunch in Cameroon was effective on November 30, 2015 at the cathedral in Douala during a mass celebrated by the Arch Bishop of Douala who is also the President of the National Episcopal Conference, Mgr. Samuel Kleda. The year of consecrated life was supposed to run till February 2, 2016. It is in this light that a press conference was organised in Yaounde on Tuesday February 2, 2016.

Speaking to journalists, the President of the Episcopal Commission for Consecrated Life, Mgr. Faustin Ambassa Ndjodo revealed that activities to mark the end of the year of consecrated life in Cameroon will be in three phases.

They include an annual general assembly of superiors, a colloquium on the Theme “Consecrated Life: Gospel, prophesy, hope in the Church in Cameroon today” from February 3 – 5, 2016 a spiritual walk followed by an all night prayer vigil from the Mvolyé Basilica to the Our Lady of Victories Cathedral as from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and a pontifical closing mass at 10:00 a.m. at the Mary Queen of Apostles Basilica in Mvolyé to be presided over by Mgr. Piero Pioppo, Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

By declaring a year of consecrated Life, Pope Francis intends to invite all consecrated people to awaken the world. In his letter to the Christians on the occasion of the inauguration, Pope Francis proposed three major objectives: “look at the past with gratitude”, “live the present with passion”, and “embrace the future with hope”.

Throughout the year, the Catholic Church in Cameroon celebrated the consecrated life in different ways to enable Christians give thanks to God for gift of consecrated life, to live in this particular time with consecrated people in the different dioceses. The year of Consecrated Life will end in Cameroon on Saturday February 6, 2016. Over 1,000 people are engaged in consecrated Life.