Nayala: Christian faithful celebrate Wudizon, a festival of thanksgiving for the harvest. The faithful Christians of the Sacred Heart Parish in Toma, along with local producers and authorities, celebrated the traditional Wudizon Mass this Sunday, a time of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth. The celebration brought together several dignitaries, including His Majesty Emile Pare, Chief of the Toma Canton, and Mr. Honore Frederic Pare, High Commissioner of Nayala, surrounded by administrative and religious authorities.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the gathering saw attendees clutching ears of millet, corn, and peanuts at the Toma Calvary, expressing gratitude for the bountiful harvest. The Mass, presided over by Father Paul Gourou, featured hymns, prayers, and biblical readings centered on themes of gratitude and joy. In his homily, Father Gourou urged the faithful to embrace joy through prayer and gratitude, emphasizing the festival as a moment to thank God not only for the harvest but also for life, peace, and brotherhood. He highlighted the importance of humility and reconciliation, encouraging the congregation to use the festival as an opportunity for spiritual renewal.
Prayers during the celebration focused on peace in Burkina Faso, victims of terrorism, and the fertility of the land. Father Gourou invoked divine blessings for all families, wishing them peace and joy.
High Commissioner Honore Frederic Pare expressed appreciation for the significant rainfall this year, which measured 800 millimeters compared to 600 millimeters the previous year. This increase allowed farmers to cultivate larger areas. He acknowledged governmental and security efforts that enabled peaceful agricultural activities and outlined support actions for farmers, including the distribution of 1,400 tons of fertilizer and new agricultural equipment. He urged the community to manage resources wisely and avoid waste.
Mr. Aime Toe, president of the Christian community, shared parish announcements, including the upcoming All Saints’ Day mass on November 1st and the commemoration of the faithful departed on November 3rd.
Father Paul Gourou concluded the event by thanking all participants for their contributions to the celebration’s success. He noted that this was his first Wudizon in Toma and expressed hopes for even more vibrant and profound celebrations in the future.
The Wudizon festival, a thanksgiving mass for producers, concluded with a spirit of joy, fraternity, and shared faith, marking the onset of a new agricultural year under divine blessing.