Kourittenga: Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Koupela celebrated Easter on the night of Saturday, April 4, to Sunday, April 5, 2026, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the end of the forty days of Lent. The Catholic faithful celebrated Easter with fervor and hope.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Easter Vigil celebration was presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Koupela, Archbishop Gabriel Sayaogo, in the presence of numerous priests, faithful, and administrative authorities who came together to share in the joy of the Resurrection. The celebration began with the blessing of the new fire, followed by the lighting of the Paschal candle.
The priests then proceeded to light the candles of the faithful. These lights represent the risen Christ, the light of the world, who has come to dispel the darkness of sin and death. Each faithful person, by holding their lit candle, is thus invited to carry this light into their daily life.
The celebration was also punctuated by hymns of praise, expressing the joy and jubilation of the faithful in the face of Christ's victory over death. Biblical readings recounting the history of salvation were proclaimed, allowing participants to meditate on God's work, from creation to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The faithful renewed their baptismal promises, reaffirming their commitment to live according to the teachings of Christ. In his homily, Bishop Gabriel Sayaogo urged the faithful to be living witnesses of the resurrection, performing acts of love, forgiveness, and solidarity in their communities.
The Archbishop conveyed a message of courage and faith, stating, 'The Lord speaks to us and reassures us: 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.' He encouraged the faithful to embrace sacrifices and conversion to become builders of peace in Burkina Faso.
On behalf of the Koupela lay parish council, Vebamba Alain expressed gratitude towards the clergy, acknowledging their guidance during the Lenten season and their role in deepening the faith of the congregation through spiritual activities.