Ouagadougou: The Saint Joseph parish of Pabre celebrated its patronal feast on Sunday under the sign of the jubilee of the 125 years of the evangelization of the archdiocese of Ouagadougou, an opportunity for the faithful to deepen their faith and to reflect on the current challenges of the proclamation of the Gospel, according to Vicar General Jacques Emilien Sidibe.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Vicar General, Father Jacques Emilien Sidibe, indicated that this celebration is part of the dynamic of the jubilee which opened on February 8, 2026, in Yagma and is scheduled to end on February 7, 2027, in the same place. "We wanted each parish festival to be an opportunity to mark this jubilee, so that the faithful become aware of the graces received during these 125 years and the demands linked to the proclamation of the Gospel," he stated.

He specified that this awareness implies the acceptance of the cross, stressing that "the proclamation of the Gospel passes through the cross", but also through concrete development actions in favor of communities. Father Sidibe also highlighted the figure of Saint Joseph, patron saint of the parish, presented as "a just, humble and unassuming man", whose virtues should inspire Christian families.

Drawing on the Gospel reading of the day which recounted the resurrection of Lazarus, the Vicar General recalled the Christian meaning of death, affirming that "Christ is the resurrection and the life" and that he calls the faithful to be witnesses of his victory over death. For his part, the parish priest, Father Jean-Baptiste Ouiya, stressed the need for the faithful to "remain rooted in Jesus Christ and united in faith" in order to continue the mission of evangelization.

He praised the efforts made since the creation of the parish, while inviting the faithful to abandon certain practices incompatible with the Christian faith in order to fully follow Christ. The celebration was marked by a thanksgiving mass, followed by a fair organized to promote fraternity among the faithful, in a spirit of communion and sharing.

Created 103 years ago, the Saint Joseph parish of Pabre intends to combine memory, faith and community commitment, while also participating in the jubilee dynamic of the Church, the family of God in Burkina Faso.