Elected by the bishops of Cameroon during their April 2022 Plenary Assembly as President of NECC, Archbishop Andrew Fuanya NKEA of Bamenda took over officially from Bishop Abraham KOME on Friday 27 May 2022. The ceremony took place at the Conference Centre at Mvolye Yaounde. The day began with a Holy Mass in the chapel at 11am.

The ceremony took place under the direction of Bishop Christophe ZOA Bishop of Sangmelima and President of Juridical Affairs.

In his handing over speech Bishop Kome thanked all and congratulated the new President and his assistant, Bishop Philippe Allain Mbarga, Bishop of Ebolowa. Bishop Kome then gave a rundown of what happened during his tenure of office.

In his inaugural speech Archbishop NKEA said his duty was to do the will of the bishops of Cameroon. He was grateful to Bishop Kome for his achievement and promise to follow along similar lines even if from an Nkea perspective.

His Grace Archbishop Nkea said he has two main preoccupations – peace in Cameroon and the dignity given to Marienberg. The Catholic Church in Cameroon he furthered must take up her prophetic role and all Christians must work in the spirit of fraternity and solidarity, devoted and love the Church.

Fr Norbert Dudek celebrated the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination on Friday May 20, 2022 at Schwelm Parish.

The Propst of Schwelm and the parish communities, including many Cameroon Catholic Community parishioners in traditional clothing, joined in the celebrations.

Before being the Provost of Ennepetal, Grevenberg and Schwelm Parishes, Propst Dudek was Pastor at the Saint Mariae Rosenkranz in Muelheim until 2013-the reason why members of the Cameroon Catholic Community answered present in Schwelm.

The special Eucharistic Celebration was characterized with an entrance procession and a distinct lectionary procession led by the Catholic Women Association, Queen of Peace branch, Cameroon Catholic Community at the St. Mariae Rosenkranz Muelheim an der Ruhr Germany.

 Whereas this event would have been that of praise showering , show-casing of achievements and perhaps a moment of personal aggrandizement, Propst Dudek  in his natural simplicity used the day to evaluate himself if he has been worthy of his vocational challenges and his relationship to others.

In his homily, he made it clear that he´s just human and called on to be human, despite life´s challenges. To him hope in God doesn´t mean to wait for better things but to have the trust in God irrespective of the outcome – good or bad. He mentioned that in the 25 yrs of vocation he has made numerous experiences with people of different backgrounds and descent, yet he continues to learn. He reiterated the need to think outside the box, to look at something beyond one´s horizon and to be open to new things. A homily that was full of proverbs but one caught the attention of this reporter as it was emphasized – “Mut zurLücke”.

The German phrase Mut zurLücke means, being able to let go. Accepting that things can go wrong, but that there is every reason to believe that the worst will not happen. Here Propst Dudek invites us again to accept the trials of being a Christian and that things may not always be the way we expect them to be.

Propst Dudek is the spiritual founder of the Cameroon Catholic community in Mulheim. He opened the doors to his Parish in October 2009 and this gave birth to the Cameroon Catholic Community.

Immediately after the final blessing, members of the Cameroon Catholic Community surprised him with a symbolic gift.

Revered Father Dudek appreciated immensely the attendees and invited all visitors to the parish hall and garden for refreshment. It was surprisingly plenty.

By Tambe Tanyi in Schwelm

Against the backdrop of escalating violence that has left thousands dead, the newly-ordained bishop of Mamfe, in Cameroon’s troubled South West Region, has sought to give people a sense of hope.

“I come in peace. I come with hope,“ said Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo in comments to the press shortly after his episcopal consecration.

Fondong Abangalo, appointed bishop on Feb. 22, takes over a diocese where government soldiers and separatist fighters have been engaged in running battles since 2017, when the military burnt down several villages in Mamfe in retaliation for separatist attacks on military installations.

English speakers make up about 20 percent of the population of Cameroon and are concentrated in the North West and South West Regions, while the rest of the country is predominantly French speaking.

The Anglophone crisis began when the central government violently suppressed a 2016 protest led by teachers and lawyers claiming the British-based education infrastructure and common law legal system were being taken over by the Francophone majority, the latest case of marginalization and discrimination experienced by the English-speaking minority.

The next year, a separatist rebellion broke out, with militants declaring they wanted to set up a new country called Ambazonia.

Mamfe continues to be a center of the conflict.

In February, the dormitory of Rosary College Okoyong – a renowned Catholic girls’ school in Mamfe – was torched by gunmen who accused the school of preparing to celebrate a national event organized by the central government in Yaoundé.

“I have been appointed Bishop of Mamfe during a very difficult moment in the history of Cameroon,” Fondong Abangalo said on May 5.

“Many would have loved to be part of this celebration, but because of the fear of the unknown, they prefer to stay back. There is no doubt that the territory of the diocese of Mamfe has experienced the worst casualties in what has come to be known as the Anglophone crisis. A cross section of the diocese has been shut down and many of our Christians and our brothers and sisters constitute a greater part of Internally Displaced Persons, with many more seeking refugee status outside the country,” he said.

The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Cameroon, Archbishop Andrew Nkea of Bamenda, noted the devastation the war has caused.

“Bishop Aloysius, you are called to be the Bishop of this great Diocese of Mamfe – the One Family Diocese – at a time when this diocese has known very dark days with war that has rocked the North West and the South West Regions for the past five years,” Nkea said.

“Many of your Christians are either Internally Displaced Persons in other towns of Cameroon or refugees in Nigeria. Farms have been abandoned. Businesses have been closed down and some schools have grown into forests and become hunting grounds for cane rats and antelopes, snakes and monkeys,” the archbishop said.

“You are inheriting a Christian people who have been haggard and battered by the sufferings of the past years, and yet they are yearning for a bright future. You have come to Mamfe as an apostle of hope to the people of this diocese,” he said. “This war started in Mamfe and I am convinced that the end of this war will come from Mamfe.”

Fondong Abangalo said he recognized the daunting task in front of him. The bishop said he was coming to Mamfe “ready to support in any way possible the initiatives taken so far to put an end to this war. War is never a solution to any problem. In fact, war always leaves a people worse off than it met them.”

Referencing Pope Francis’s efforts to restore peace in South Sudan, particularly when he kissed the feet of the warring South Sudan leaders during a meeting at the Vatican, the bishop said, “I know it is not possible for me to kiss the feet of those who have kept the steam of this war. However, as your brother, I stand here today and I beg each of you from my heart: Please, let’s do whatever it takes to put an end to this war. Let us look at the misery of our brothers and sisters and give peace a chance.”

Nkea reiterated the Catholic Church’s commitment to peace and gave a warning to those who promoted violence.

“An apostle of peace is a promoter of justice without violence…for all who live by the sword shall die by the sword,” the archbishop said.

He also emphasized the importance of hope.

“Where hope is absent, faith itself is called into question. Love too is weakened by the loss of this virtue,” Nkea said.

Source: Crux

PRESENTATION OF A SPECIAL GIFT TO THE   THE RT REV DR ALOYSIUS ABANGALO FONDONG ON THE OCCASION OF HIS EPISOCOPAL  ORDINATION AS THE THIRD RESIDENTIAL BISHOP AND HIS CANONICAL POSSESSION OF THE DIOCESE OF MAMFE 

–              MAMFE DIOCESE, ONE FAMILY! MAMFE DIOCESE, ONE FAMILY! MAMFE DIOCESE, ONE FAMILY!

–              Your Excellency BETI ASSOMO Joseph, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense, Personal Representative of the Head of State,

–              Your Excellency, Julio MURAT, Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea,

–              Your Grace Andrew Fuanya NKEA, Archbishop of Bamenda, President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon and President of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference, (BAPEC),

–              Your Graces Archbishops and Your Lordships Bishops,

–              The Rt. Rev. FONKI Samuel Forba, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon,

–              Your Excellencies members of Government,

–              The Governor of the South West Region,

–              Honourable Vice President of the Senate,

–              The Senior Divisional Officer for Manyu

–              Honourable members of Parliament,

–              The Divisional Officer for Mamfe,

–              The Mayor of Mamfe,

–              The Paramount Chief of Mamfe,

–              All other  judicial, civil, traditional and military authorities,

–              Priests and Religious,

–              Christ’s lay faithful of the Mamfe Diocese,

–              Distinguished guests,  ladies and gentlemen.

I stand here in my humble capacity as a member of Christ’s lay faithful of the One Family, Mamfe Diocese who was called upon on March 24th, 2022, by His Grace Andrew NKEA, the Archbishop of Bamenda, then Apostolic Administrator of the Mamfe Diocese, to accompany the Diocese in the organization of the Episcopal Ordination of the new Bishop of Mamfe.

Judging the mammoth crowd in front of us, one can deduce that we have registered a huge success. In as much as we would have loved to take credit for the success of this event, we can’t, because this was much of a team effort.

The effort of an Organizing Committee comprising a Steering Committee and thematic Sub-committees made up of dynamic and able men and women, Priests, religious and Christ’s lay faithful, all working under the visionary and astute leadership of Archbishop NKEA. His Grace Andrew NKEA has in fact been Chair of the Organizing Committee as well as the Steering Committee, although he would rather have me wear that crown.

The role that was bequeathed me was that of General Coordinator of the Sub-committees, assisted by two able sons of the Diocese, lay faithful like myself, and who I would like to call upon to join me on this rostrum:

Mr TASONG Paul Njukang – Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Economy, Plan and Regional Development, who is the vice-Coordinator in charge of Finance and Logistics and representing the LEBIALEM Deanery.

Mr OKIE Johnson Ndoh, – Director General of the Hydrocarbons Price Stabilization Fund, better known by its French acronym CSPH. Mr OKIE Johnson who is the vice Coordinator in charge of Material Organization, representing the NGUTI Deanery, is also the President of the Association of Men of Honour, the Catholic Men’s Association (CMA).

Saint Joseph, Man of Honour pray for us!

Saint Joseph, Man of Honour pray for us!

Saint Joseph, Man of Honour pray for us!

It is worth mentioning here that within the Coordination I represent the three Deaneries of Manyu Division viz: AKWAYA, EYUMOJOCK and MAMFE.

Of course we are not forgetting our Rapporteurs in the persons of Mr TANJU Charles, Etchu Daniel OJONG and AJEH Nicholas and our focal points in Yaoundé, Douala, Buea, Limbe, Kumba, Bamenda, the USA /Canada and Europe /Germany. They all did a marvelous job towards the success we are celebrating today. To them I say Kudos!

Your Excellency the Personal Representative of the Head of State,

Your Excellencies, Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

The mission of the Coordination was to sensitize, mobilize and galvanize the sons and daughters of Lebialem Division, Manyu Division and Nguti Sub-division and their friends, at home and in the Diaspora, for them to adhere to this initiative and participate physically, materially, financially and otherwise, towards the successful organization of this ceremony and the acquisition of a befitting gift for the Chief Shepherd of the Mamfe Diocese.

After five grueling weeks, we have been able to cajol our brothers, sisters and our friends of the Catholic Church, of other Christian denominations as well as some Moslem faithful, to accompany us on this journey. We are pleased to report here that your response to the our fundraising appeal towards the financing of the above twin objectives has been overwhelming.

We want to thank and congratulate the laity, the Priests and religious who live locally within the Diocese for their sustained efforts and multifaceted sacrifices – in kind, in labour, in cash and who toiled night and day to make this ceremony beautiful.

At this juncture, it is our distinguished honour and singular privilege to announce to this august assembly that the SPECIAL FRIENDS OF THE  DIOCESE AND OF THE BISHOP OF MAMFE have through their selfless donations have made it possible for the purchase of a Brand New Four Wheel Drive TOYOTA PRADO VX Full options – leather interior, alloy wheels and what have you? as a special gift for His Lordship Aloysius Abangalo FONDONG, the third residential BISHOP of the Mamfe Diocese; an appropriate car to enable him undertake his pastoral duties of evangelization and the promotion of social peace and living together within the Mamfe Diocese and beyond.

For obvious reasons attributable due to the contextual challenges imposed on us by the persistent health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant economic crisis, this brand new car could not be handed to the Bishop today, but we want to assure you that it has been ordered and paid for. Consequently we will now proceed to symbolically hand it to him  through this list of the Donors who made this possible.

May I once more express our heartfelt appreciation to the sons and daughters of Lebialem Division, Manyu Division and Nguti Sub-division at home and abroad and their friends for their largesse in making the financial resources available to enable us achieve our twin objectives of footing the bill of the material organization of this ceremony and the acquisition of a befitting gift for our Chief Shepherd.

May the seed you have sown in the Lord’s vineyard multiply a million fold and May the Almighty and Merciful God bless you abundantly.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda, the newly-elected president of the Bishops’ Conference of Cameroon, says Cameroonians must “look to themselves” when dealing with the various crises facing the country.

Cameroon is facing a separatist war in the west, Boko Haram attacks in the north, a refugee crisis in the east, as well as rising insecurity across all parts of the country.

Speaking on April 30 at the end of the bishops’ conference’s 47th plenary assembly, Nkea said the crises in Cameroon are not caused by some foreigners, but by Cameroonians. He invited his countrymen to own up to their responsibilities.

Nkea’s archdiocese is in the heart of the country’s English-speaking North West Region, where separatists are seeking independence, citing discrimination by a central government dominated by the French-speaking majority.

“We pray as hard as all depends on God, and we work as hard as all depends on us. Peace will come at God’s time. Our role is to pray and remain open to the will of God and to work doubly hard to make sure that peace reigns amongst us,’ Nkea told Crux.

“That is why I say that everyone is supposed to look at themselves personally, not to look at the community, not to look at others. Each person needs to ask himself/herself: What is my responsibility in fostering this crisis situation in our country, and how can I work doubly hard to restore peace? This is a matter of individual responsibility, and at the same time a collective responsibility. It’s not people from outside who have come to take away our peace. It is we who have taken away our own peace. We can bring that peace back to the peace,” he said.

The archbishop spoke to journalists alongside Bishop Philippe Alain Mbarga of Ebolowa, the newly elected vice president of the bishops’ conference.

“Our mandate is to work and seek peace in Cameroon,” Nkea said.

Mbarga emphasized the bishops’ commitment to service.

“We are just but humble servants to the Church and the people of God in Cameroon. We are at the disposal of the bishops of Cameroon and the population of our country,” the bishop said.

Although the country is facing several problems, the most challenging remains the separatist war in the North West and South West regions.

People from the two regions have long complained about decades of marginalization by the predominantly Francophone administration in Yaoundé.

The simmering tensions exploded in 2016 when teachers and lawyers in the two regions held protests over what they considered government efforts to assimilate the British-based education and common law systems practiced in the areas.

Government soldiers responded with lethal force, leading to an armed uprising. The fighting has dragged on now for six years, leaving over 4,000 people dead, and more than a million displaced.

In addition, thousands of children have gone without an education due to a schools boycott enforced by the separatists.

“If our children don’t go to school, then we don’t know the kind of future we are preparing for them,” said Susan Neh, a member of the Catholic Women’s Association.

“We can’t possibly stand by and watch the future of our children being mortgaged this way. We hope Mother Mary, to whom our country has been re-consecrated, will help restore peace to our country,” she told Crux.

Archbishop Jean Mbarga of Yaoundé said any sustainable solution to the problem hinges on a return to peace.

“Without peace, no solution can be found,” he told Crux.

“That is why the Church has decided to pray non-stop for peace to return to the North West and South West regions. The Church has been participating in dialogues to search for solutions, but only prayer can bring about sustainable peace,” the archbishop said.

Adolph Lele L’Afrique, a Catholic and governor of the North West region, told Crux all human endeavors without God’s blessing will come to naught.

“We are all turning to God our creator. It’s obvious that without Him, we labor in vain. Whatever we are doing, we are doing under His control, under His supervision. … We hope that a new page in the history of this country will be open, and as Christians, we must be endeavoring to be agents of peace wherever we go. Whatever God authorizes, is the way to solve the problem,” he said.

Culled from Crux