Feast of
St. Joseph
the Worker
2026
What was meant to be observed on 1 May found its fullest expression on 24 May 2026, when the faithful of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Bonendale-Bonaberi, gathered under open skies to honour their patron — and to bid a bittersweet farewell to a beloved shepherd.
The feast weekend opened on Saturday, 23 May, with an energising programme of sporting activities led by Brother Gilbert. Parishioners were guided through exercises designed to promote mobility and wholesome health — a fitting tribute to the spirit of St. Joseph the Worker, who embodied the dignity of the human body in service and labour.
On the feast day itself, the parish grounds came alive in colour. Many parishioners dressed in the vibrant 25th Anniversary uniform — a fabric commissioned in 2022 to mark a quarter-century of community, faith, and growth. Choirs and various Basic Christian Communities (BCCs) added further colour by parading in their distinctive group uniforms, turning the opening procession into a vivid tapestry of parish life.
The solemn entrance procession, with clergy and ministers in Pentecost red
The liturgical celebration was led by the Parish Priest, Dr. Rev. Fr. Agi Livinus (MSP), concelebrated by the Assistant Priest, Rev. Fr. Festus Ezeagu (MSP Superior). The Mass, celebrated outdoors before the entire parish assembly of all 29 BCCs, was a moment of profound communal prayer — heightened all the more by the feast's coincidence with Pentecost Sunday, fifty days after the Resurrection of the Lord.
The homily by Fr. Agi Livinus became the emotional heart of the day. In a message woven around the themes of service, peace, and the indispensability of no one person, the Parish Priest gently announced what many had feared and few had expected to hear so soon: that this feast day would be his last in the parish, as a transfer awaited him — likely beyond Cameroon. His words carried the weight of a pastoral farewell delivered with grace, courage, and unmistakable peace of soul.
No one is indispensable — not even the one who loves most deeply. What matters is not the length of the mission, but the peace with which it is surrendered. "Peace be with you" were the first words of the Risen Christ. Let them be our last as well.
— Rev. Fr. Agi Livinus (MSP) · Homily, 24 May 2026
The homily also gave special recognition to HRM Fon Ndecham Maxwell for his generous, unassuming contributions to the growth of the parish. Fr. Livinus reflected on the parish's journey — from its origins connected to St. Louis Parish to its present flourishing site, now affectionately called the new Jerusalem of Bonaberi.
Peace as a vocation. The Risen Christ's first word to the Apostles was "Peace." Fr. Agi called every parishioner to live and leave in that same peace, whatever their station.
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit. Celebrating on Pentecost Sunday, the homily reflected on the gifts of the Spirit received at Baptism and Confirmation — gifts that animate genuine Christian service.
Service without self-interest. True service asks for no earthly reward. A clear conscience is the only trophy worth carrying when the time comes to depart.
No one is indispensable. Even Christ departed so that the Spirit could come. The parish will endure beyond any individual — and that is cause for joy, not sorrow.
Following the Mass, the grounds transformed into a joyful feast. All 29 BCCs gathered under their allocated canopies for communal dining, fellowship, and celebration. Musicians, drummers, and choristers filled the air with praise; dancers and cultural performers brought the tradition and heritage of the parish to life. What had begun in solemn liturgy ended in joyful thanksgiving — a pattern as old as the Church itself.
Fr. Agi Livinus blesses the assembly at the close of the outdoor Mass
Between the prayers and the feasting, we sat with some of the day's key figures — the Parish Priest, the Assistant Priest, and the vice-Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council — to capture their reflections on a deeply memorable celebration.
Interview
Dr. Rev. Fr. Agi Livinus (MSP) — Parish Priest
Interview
Rev. Fr. Festus Ezeagu (MSP Superior) — Assistant Priest
Interview
Mr. Ebung Chrysantus — Vice-Chairman, Parish Pastoral Council
Video
Feast Day Highlights — Homily & Celebrations
