PILGRIMAGE; A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT,
In Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus makes her know that “…the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.” (Jn. 4:23).
In Jikijem/Ibal Pastoral Zone situated in Bui Division of the North West Region of Cameroon and found under the Kumbo Catholic Diocese, the most common way of praying is to attend the Holy Eucharist. Otherwise, Christians do other devotions like praying the Holy Rosary, the Divine Mercy chaplet, the Charismatic Renewal prayers or attend Sunday services conducted by catechists in the absence of a priest.
It is normal that when people grow in their spiritual life, they reache a point where they feel that the prayer methods they have been using are monotonous and that the prayer environment has become too familiar. At this point the spiritual master needs to explore other ways that people can pray and suitable environments where their prayers can bring some fulfillment.
It is in this context that in our Pastoral Zone, I introduced the idea of pilgrimages. In 2023, after a meeting with the Christians and eventually with the Chief of one of the villages called Jiyane, where we identified the pilgrimage a site, he authorized us to go ahead with our plan. We negotiated for the pilgrimage site at Etume hill which is just above that village.
In 2024, we had our second pilgrimage, which was as successful as the one in 2023. Many Christians have recounted the spiritual fulfillment that they have gained after participating in these pilgrimages. They have highly approved of them and are happy to attend them frequently.
On Friday the 19th of December 2025, we had our third pilgrimage although with a much smaller group than the last two years. To our surprise, something spectacular happened. After the Holy Eucharist the chief of the village sent us an envoy to come and show us the land that he has granted us for the building of a shrine for our pilgrimages.
What a pleasant and great surprise it was for all the Christians and for me! We could not hold back our joy and burst into to sing and dance for sheer happiness. Since we returned from Etume hill, we are planning to buy cement, sand and some concrete to start by erecting a cross on the site. Following suit will be to raise funds to erect a Shrine where our Christians will be making pilgrimages to every now and then. It is my wish that these pilgrimages should satisfy their spiritual needs and mine too.
By Fr. Ta-ah Cyprian, mhm.
