Bishop Francis Lysinge laid to rest today ⁰

The late Bishop of Mamfe, Francis Teke Lysinge, will be laid to rest today (Thursday) following a requiem Mass at the Cathedral led by the Papal Nuncio to Cameroon His Grace Archbishop Avelino Bettencourt and burial afterwards in the church grounds.

Bishop Lysinge, who was 87 was in poor health and died on Wednesday, July 29, at 11:30 a.m. at St. John of God Health Centre in Mamfe.

The late Bishop Emeritus spent long hours before the Blessed Sacrament discerning God’s will and embraced it with fidelity, courage, simplicity, and joy.

His ministry was marked throughout by great compassion for the most vulnerable.

In his fourteen years as Bishop, he travelled with his secretary twice to the Federal Republic of Germany, where he was hands-on labouring to build the Cameroon Catholic Community in Mulheim.

The late Bishop undertook a walk across all parishes of the diocese at the tail end of his ministry assuring Christians that there is no hope without Christ.

He marked his 87th birthday with a mass at his home in Bachuo-Ntai and a surprise gathering was thrown for him by the current Bishop of Mamfe, Rev Dr Abangalo.

Originally from Fako Division in the South West, he was ordained Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, which stretches from Kupe Muaneneguba Division via Lebialem to Manyu on the 21st of April 1999 and remained in the position until December 28, 2013.

Bishop Lysinge was described by several priests of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province as the most gentle of men and a steady and consoling presence for the people of the diocese of Mamfe, particularly those experiencing any kind of struggle or sadness.

Archbishop Andrew Nkea said there is profound sadness at news of the death, describing Bishop Lysinge as dearly loved by the many whose lives he touched in his extraordinary pastoral ministry.

His Episcopal motto was Annunciation, Fiat voluntas tua (“Thy will be done”) and his ministry radiated that in his care for the poor, anyone who was in trouble and anyone struggling in life.

By Kingsley Betek in Mamfe with additional reporting and photos from Soter Agbaw-Ebai