Religion

30, July 2026

A lasting gesture of solidarity with Bishop Lysinge: Thank You, Governor Peter Obi ⁰

There are moments in history when a single act of generosity quietly shapes the future in ways that few could have imagined. Such acts often transcend politics, nationality including personal interest and it becomes enduring symbols of human solidarity. One such moment occurred when Governor Peter Obi of Nigeria extended a helping hand to the Diocese of Mamfe in Cameroon through the late Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge.

During the African Synod on the Family in Enugu, Bishop Francis Lysinge had the opportunity to meet Governor Peter Obi. In their brief audience, the Bishop shared the immense challenges facing the Diocese of Mamfe, particularly the struggle to complete the Cathedral and the Bishop’s House projects. The Diocese was young, resources were scarce and the dreams of the faithful depended greatly on the goodwill of friends.

Governor Peter Obi did not merely listen; he acted. He generously contributed ten thousand US dollars to support these important projects. It was a remarkable gesture not because of the amount alone, but because it reflected a profound belief that the Church’s mission deserves support wherever it serves humanity. Governor Peter Obi’s generosity crossed national borders, demonstrating that compassion recognizes no artificial boundaries.

History would later reveal an extraordinary irony. The Bishop’s House in Mamfe, whose construction benefited from Governor Peter Obi’s contribution, became the venue where Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar was received during a discreet visit to Mamfe in connection with discussions surrounding the implementation of the Bakassi Agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon. What began as an act of kindness toward a struggling diocese ultimately contributed to creating a space that would later host an event of diplomatic significance between two neighbouring nations.

More importantly, Governor Peter Obi’s gift strengthened the pastoral mission of the Diocese of Mamfe. The Cathedral and the Bishop’s House were not simply buildings of brick and mortar. They became centers of prayer, administration, pastoral care and service to thousands of Catholics and members of the wider community. They stand today as reminders that generosity invested in faith communities produces dividends that extend far beyond the original intention.

As we remember the late Bishop Francis Lysinge, whose vision and perseverance laid the foundations of the Diocese of Mamfe, it is fitting also to acknowledge those who stood with him during moments of difficulty. Governor Peter Obi was one of those friends. His support came at a time when it was needed most and it remains part of the living history of the Diocese.

In a world often divided by politics, ethnicity and national borders, Governor Peter Obi demonstrated that authentic leadership is measured not only by governance but also by compassion. His willingness to support a Cameroonian diocese reflected the shared values that unite Africans: brotherhood, faith, mutual respect and the conviction that we rise by lifting one another.

The clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Mamfe have every reason to remember this gesture with gratitude. Acts of generosity may fade from newspaper and television headlines, but they remain etched in the memories of those whose lives they transform.

To Governor Peter Obi, we say thank you. Thank you for believing in the mission of the Church beyond your own country. Thank you for standing beside Bishop Francis Lysinge during a crucial chapter in the history of the Diocese of Mamfe. Thank you for demonstrating that true leadership leaves behind not only policies and speeches but also enduring legacies of hope, generosity and service.

May this noble act continue to inspire leaders across Africa to build bridges of friendship, support institutions that serve humanity and recognize that the greatest investments are often those made in people, faith and the common good.

To this I put my name

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Chairman/Editor-In-Chief

Cameroon Concord News Group

29, July 2026

Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge: The Priest Who Showed Us How to Be a Priest ⁰

Today, I received with a heavy heart the news of the passing of His Lordship Francis Teke Lysinge, Bishop Emeritus of Mamfe. Even though we had long understood that this day would come, given his age and declining health, nothing truly prepares the heart for the death of someone we know, respect, and love. Across the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda, priests and lay faithful will remember Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge for countless reasons. He touched lives in ways that cannot be measured, leaving an imprint that will endure far beyond his years among us. For me personally, he was my spiritual director in the Major Seminary for eight years. While this tribute reflects my own experience of him (and my contemporaries will certainly highlight their own encounters), I believe the overwhelming majority of my generation will agree on one thing: Bishop Lysinge’s greatest legacy was not merely what he taught us, but how he lived among us. That is the deepest motivation behind this tribute to a true man of God whom I loved and admired from the moment I met him.

Perhaps I should begin with that: loving and admiring him. One of the recurring criticisms of seminary formation in Africa, voiced by ex seminarians and priests who desire seminary genuine reform, is the culture of fear that often permeates our seminaries. Too often, rectors and formators are perceived not as elder brothers guiding us through discernment, but as investigators searching for weaknesses to justify dismissal. Instead of drawing close to them and opening ourselves to formation, seminarians hide their struggles, avoid formators, and “lie low” until ordination.

While some formators spent their time playing FBI – planting peers to spy and report – Fr. Lysinge never engaged in any of that. He was the father and friend to whom we could go and vent our frustrations about a rector’s decision we found unfair or a formator’s threat of dismissal. He was the one we trusted. He was the one we loved. And that cannot be said of many formators.

Every genuine seminarian enters formation with some idea of what a priest should be. I certainly had mine. Mola Lysinge did not disappoint. The first time I noticed him was when he rode his bicycle to the rectory for meals. I had only seen priests driving cars, not riding bicycles. Later, I learned it was part of his exercise routine. Today, cycling is more common, but the bicycles are not as humble as Mola’s.

Then I noticed the poor of Bambui sitting at his door, waiting for him to help them with their most basic needs – food, clothing, comfort. Watching him interact with them, one thing was clear: he wasn’t simply giving them things; he was giving them himself. He joked with them, laughed with them, respected them as “the least” brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ (cf. Matthew 25:40). That was the kind of priest I wanted to be – close to people in need, a friend to those who suffer injustice and poverty. Not just someone who gives them things, but someone who understands them, empathizes with them, and loves them for the sake of Christ.

And nothing about him was fake. What you saw was who Mola truly was. A sincere man – a Man With No Wax. Priests of my generation remember many incidents that revealed his character. I will mention two because they show his spontaneity, his authenticity, his being, as we say, “a man with no wax.” On one occasion, a friend’s wife came to visit. Mola was so excited that he ran up and embraced her in typical Bakweri fashion. Then he turned and noticed seminarians watching. Without embarrassment, he simply said, “She’s my friend’s wife,” as if to prevent any misunderstanding.

Another time, he joined us for dinner, as he often did. We had “achu”, served with jollof rice for those who didn’t eat achu. Some students who didn’t eat achu took the achu soup and cow skin, then covered it with jollof rice so that those who wanted achu had no cow skin, including Fr. Lysinge. When he discovered what had happened, he made a statement I have never forgotten. He called the act stealing and said, “We are training thieves here. I am sorry for the future of the Church.”

At a time when some of his peers were doing everything possible to make money, including engaging in agriculture and business, he was caring for the poor and destitute. When other formators were frightening seminarians and threatening dismissal, when they were playing secret service and trying to “catch” seminarians doing wrong, Mola was the one we ran to, the shoulder we cried on. His humility, generosity, spontaneity, and deep prayer life made him my model priest. He was the one I aspired to be like if I ever became a priest. Whether I have succeeded in emulating him is another story. What matters today, as we celebrate his life, is that he showed us how to be priests.

Mola taught me Spiritual Theology and supervised my theology dissertation. But he was never an academic in the strict sense and I didn’t consider him a great teacher. Of course, he knew his material. Like most seminaries of our generation, we used Jordan Aumann’s Spiritual Theology. But Mola never allowed us to get lost in fine details or technical questions. It was enough for him that we understood the major themes: the universal call to holiness and how to live holy lives.

It has taken me 35 years of priesthood to learn that God is not so much interested in what we know as in how we live out the universal call to holiness. My father and mother never went to school and knew nothing close to what I know about God and the Church. But they knew God – and their personal knowledge of God – sometimes made me look like an apprentice.

From where I stand, I am not happy that Mola ever became Bishop of Mamfe. It seems to me that many people, including some priests, took advantage of his humility, his holiness, and his tendency to trust. He trusted many who ultimately betrayed him: priests seeking power who fabricated stories to destroy others, priests who siphoned diocesan finances, priests who mismanaged projects. He was as gentle as the biblical dove, but not as wise as the biblical serpent. He trusted. He believed that if a priest told him something, it was true. He had forgotten the prophecy he proclaimed in the seminary refectory many years earlier: “We are training thieves in this place.”

In my tradition, we do not mourn people who die at Mola’s age (88). We believe they have completed the tasks God assigned them, and mourning blocks their path home. As a Catholic, I believe he has done much of his purgatory here on earth, and his journey to heaven will be short. Above all, I thank God that He gave us Mola in the seminary to show us how to be priests. May his life and example inspire every priest in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda. May God purify us of our weaknesses until we, too, can show others how to be priests. And may Mola hear the voice of the Lord Jesus say: “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:21)

By Rev Dr Joseph Awoh

29, July 2026

Mola Lysinge: a perfect example of how to be true ⁰

Pastores dabo vobis, iuxtacor meum, the Lord says to the Prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 3:15) – I will give you shepherds after my own heart! Bishops are primarily, pastors, successors of the apostles. That is how the Catholic tradition understands them. And this process of self-understanding, of ecclesial maturation, has unfolded in the Church’s long history. At the First Vatican Council (1869-1870), in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Pastor Aeternus, the Council taught the infallibility of the Bishop of Rome. It taught that the Bishop of Rome as Supreme Pontiff, when he teaches ex cathedra, that is, from the chair, meaning in his capacity as Pope, Successor to the Apostle Peter, what he teaches, pertaining to faith and morals, is solemnly binding on the universal church and Catholics are expected to give an assent of mind and heart to such a proclamation. The outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) interrupted the Council and prematurely ended it. That left Catholicism with an unbridled monarchical papacy, in which the Bishop of Rome was left hanging alone, as it where, above the Church.

With the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), the Bishops gathered in Council, as Successors of the Apostles, sought to do an ecclesial balancing act of the unfinished business of the First Vatican Council. In the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, and in the Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church, Christus Dominus, the Bishops taught that as Successors of the Apostles, Bishops were not mere emissaries or ambassadors of the Pope. Pertaining to their local churches, they are proper pastors who, certainly, together with the Pope, sub et cum Petro, constitute an apostolic college charged with the governance of the universal Church. In this way, Vatican II enfleshed the monarchical character of governance of the Petrine ministry, with a collegial character of the Episcopate.

This is the body, the Episcopate, into which on April 21, 1999, Francis Teke Lysinge was called into, by the Grace of God and the Apostolic See. Born in Bokwango on December 28, 1938, to Albert Lysinge and Juliana JofiMbua, Francis Teke Lysinge is the second son in a family of four boys and three girls. His father was from Bokwango Village while his mother was from Buea Town. His father was a teacher in the Native Authority (NA) School of Muea and so eventually moved from Bokwango to Muea. His parents were Protestants, and so originally Bishop Lysinge was baptized in the Basel Mission Church Bimbia-Victoria where he started his Primary School in 1945 as Godwill Teke Lysinge (Agbaw-Ebai, 2013: Bishop Francis T. Lysinge, A Retrospective Legacy).

As a young man, Godwill Teke Lysinge, as he was then known, had gone to Sasse College, the Premier Secondary School in the then West Cameroon, to pursue the dreams of a brighter future, the aspiration of every young person. He studied in Sasse from 1953-1958. Bishop Lysinge did not go to Sasse to become a priest! It was in 1955, while in Sasse, that the young Lysinge felt that the Lord, whom he had always loved and knew, might have other plans for him. Living with Bishop Lysinge as his private secretary, he repeatedly told me that priesthood was never in his mind when he entered Sasse. He will later on say YES to the Lord, proceeding to Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Nigeria, for Major Seminary Studies in Philosophy and Theology. On April 17^th, 1966, together with his lifelong friend, Christian Cardinal Tumi, and others, Godwill Teke Lysinge who, upon “converting” to Catholicism had taken the name Francis after St. Francis Xavier, said ad sum to the Lord’s call, and was ordained a priest of God, secundum ordine Melchizedek. His service as Spiritual Director in St. Thomas Aquinas’ Major Seminary is legendary.

Geographic Reference

Now is not the time to offer an assessment of the rich episcopacy of Francis Teke Lysinge. I will offer two indications that are pointers to what I consider to be the most enduring legacy of our beloved Bishop Lysinge. And all are derived from the choices he made from the Word of God, first, at his ordination as priest, and second, at his episcopal appointment.

At his ordination as a priest, the young Fr. Francis Lysinge chose as his ordination motto, the self-effacing words of St. Paul: I am what I am, by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10). To Aquinas, no being can act beyond the limits of its specific nature since the cause must always be of a higher potency than its effect. The gift of grace therefore surpasses every capacity of created nature, since it is nothing other than a certain participation in the divine nature, which surpasses every other nature. For just as it is impossible for anything to make fiery but fire alone, so it is necessary that God alone should make Godlike, by communicating a share in his divine nature by participation and assimilation – Summa Theologica, I, II, Q. 112, 1.Anyone who has ever encountered Bishop Lysinge knows that it is never about Francis Lysinge. Meeting Bishop Lysinge, it is always about God. His instinctual temperament could best be described with the words of John the Baptist vis-à-vis Our Lord: He must increase, I must decrease (Jn. 3:30).As a teacher and spiritual director, Bishop Lysinge often repeated the classical maxim on grace: grace before, grace during, grace after, all is grace.

And this is what grace essentially does to nature, it brings nature to its fullest potential, which is, the Christification of nature. Human freedom is not God leaving me alone to get on with things. True freedom means my actions are caused by God without me ceasing to be free – gratia operans and gratis cooperans – as Aquinas teaches, Summa Theologica, I, II, q. 111, 2. Grace is the result of God’s action in me that draws me to God’s self. Grace is not just some help to my acting on my own. Hence, only God is the cause of grace, for only what is divine can impart divine life.As Karl Rahner explains, in receiving God, the human being does not cease to be human. Rather, God’s ontological, total, self-communication actualizes humanity’s deepest potential. We are spirit-in-the-world in that we are radically conditioned by matter and history, on the one hand, and radically opened to the absolute holy Mystery, on the other hand. That explains why Rahner describes the human being as das übernatürlicheExistenzial, the supernatural existential. We are supernatural existential because we are intrinsically oriented to intimacy with the Absolute Mystery, God. Supernatural existential is the longing for God’s presence, longing to be with God, a longing that exists in us because God freely planted it there. (Foundationsof Christian Faith). In effect, the more we become like God through the gift of Grace, the more human we become. Our humanization takes place in direct, not inverse, proportion to our divinization. And this is the beauty of the witness of Bishop Lysinge that has attracted so many: with the grace of God, he has consistently chosen to live for God, and by so doing, live for all persons placed on his path by God. For to live for God is to live for our brothers and sisters.

If the date of one’s birth can have a significance for one’s life, then the birth of Francis Teke Lysinge on December 28, 1938, could very well be read as prophetically symbolic. December 28 is still within the Octave of Christmas, which is a time when the Church recalls in her liturgical and spiritual life, that at the fullness of time, God sent his Son into the world (Gal. 4:4). At the heart of Christmas is the basic, essential truth: God has entered the world. God is close to us. God is near us. We are not alone. I am not alone. God is hidden in the world, to reference Rahner once more. I am what I am, by the grace of God! Isn’t this essentially what the Christmas message causes to happen? Because God has entered history, I am! I am! I have being. I am someone. I am being, to cite Heidegger. I am not nothingness. I have a name. God knows my name. Even if the powerful of the world do not know me, do not acknowledge me, do not recognize me, I am, by God’s grace. In this priestly ordination motto of the young Lysinge, one encounters a deeper theological metaphysics. It is an affirmation that my life is grounded on the firmer ground of the Lord: “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:25).

Fiat VoluntasTua – Thy Will be Done!On April 21,1999, Francis Teke Lysinge who all along had always seen himself as a being, thanks to grace of God, -I am what I am by the grace of God,- entered into a new consciousness of what it means to live by the grace of God. For his episcopal motto, he chose, Fiat VoluntasTua(Matthew 6:10). This is taken from the prayer of Jesus to the Father. The Our Father mirrors the relationship of intimacy between the Father and the Son. With this choice, Francis Teke Lysinge, in his unassuming way, manifested the core of his rich spiritual life: God is the center. My responsibility is to follow God. But what does it mean to follow God? Essentially, and Bishop Lysinge’s life is a testimony to this, it is not a calculatedness in which I fashion God into my own image and likeness. To follow God is to place my life in the hands of God, knowing that it will ultimately end well, for even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for your shepherd rod and staff protects me (Ps. 23:4). Bishop Lysinge often repeated to me, “God will vindicate the innocent man.” And again, “every priest has his own unique calling. If priests were to realize that each one has his own unique calling, there won’t be wrangling amongst priests.” As if to drive home his point, he surprised me with a gift, a book by Jesuit, Herbert Alphonso, The Personal Vocation. He repeatedly stressed to me, Maurice, discover your personal calling, find out why the Lord called you to the priesthood. In many ways, these words of Bishop Lysinge have never left me. As I mature in the priesthood, it is increasingly becoming clear to me that every priest has three vocations: the vocation of a being a Christian; the vocation of the priesthood; and the specific vocation that God assigns to that priest within the priestly vocation. How I love these words of John Henry Cardinal Newman: God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I have a part in a great work. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught (…) Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, where ever I am, I can never be thrown away. I firmly believe that once a priest finds out the specific mission the Lord has assigned to him in the priesthood, he becomes truly happy. All else ceases to matter. And that is how Boethius defines happiness in the Consolation of Philosophy, an understanding of happiness that I continue to find most beautiful and compelling.

I am what I am by the grace of God! Thy Will Be Done!In these two texts from Scripture, and the consistent and admirable way in which Bishop Lysinge is living them, we can be sure, that in Bishop Lysinge, the Diocese of Mamfe and the Church in Africa, is offering the universal Church a sign of God’s presence, a mark of lowliness and humility, a presence of translucent holiness. I grew in my appreciation of the holiness and saintliness of Bishop Lysinge. I remember one particular incident that has stayed with me ever since. Shortly after he ordained me priest, we were sitting in the chapel one Friday morning, when he turned to me and asked me to hear his confession. I spontaneously protested: Domine, non sum Dignus. I am not worthy to hear your confession, My Lord, I told him. He won’t take no for an answer! He insisted. He said to me: I ordained you a priest. You were validly ordained. And before I realized it, he imposed a purple stole over my shoulders, and began his confession! And that started a Friday rendezvous that became mutual. Living with Bishop Lysinge, I increasingly became convinced that I was living with a living saint. If sainthood is found in the little things that are really the big things, then God has blessed us with a saintly witness in Bishop Lysinge. I have always felt it one of the greatest blessings of my life, to have begun my priesthood with Bishop Lysinge in the same house. He put up with my failures, weaknesses and youthfulness, with a graciousness that could only be the mark of a saint. I never for once doubted that his father love. And the remarkable thing about Bishop Lysinge is that everyone that encounters him, can say the same thing. He has this capacity for loving everyone, of supporting everyone, that left all those who met him feeling cared for. After he retired and his sight began deteriorating faster, his successor, now Archbishop Andrew Nkea, sent him to Rome, Italy, for medical attention. I left next door Germany to visit him. I can never forget one of the statements he made to me:Fr Maurice, though I am retired, I am not retired from prayers. I pray for you daily. The only work I do now for Mamfe is to pray for Mamfe and for my successor, so that Mamfe diocese will continue to grow. It was a deeply emotional moment for me, listening to him utter those words. I am not retired from the work of prayer. So Ratzingerian a choice of words! Only saints like Lysinge and Ratzinger speak with such spiritual succinctness and depthness.

We can be sure, that now that his sight has failed him, Bishop Lysinge is seeing much more now with the heart, like Blessed John Henry Newman – Cor ad cor loquitur – Heart speaks to heart. The one who throughout his life has spent countless hours before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, gazing at the Lord, looking at him, listening to him, falling in love with the Lord, speaking with the Lord, now has those biological eyes that give him physical sight, taken away. Bishop Lysinge, like the saints before him, has entered into his own via Crucis. And like most of the saints, has accepted the crosses that come with aging:

“O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize.
The lot marked out for me is my delight: welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me! I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart. I keep the Lord ever in my sight:since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm. And so, my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;even my body shall rest in safety.For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right-hand happiness forever” (Ps 16:5-11).

Thank you, God, for the gift of your priest, holy Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge. May your grace sustain him during this Nunc Dimittis period of his life. And may his prayers for Mamfe, for his successor, for Church, and for the world, continue to keep the window of the world open to the life-giving breath of God, saving us from a suffocating despairing nihilism! As your servant, Benedict XVI reminded us in his Bundestag Address, a world without God is a life in a bunker with no widows! Thank you that Bishop Lysinge is such a window of you, God. Thank you for giving him to us as a gift, and may his prayers continue to sustain us, transforming our world into something beautiful for you, Trice Holy God, Amen.

Concluding Unscientific Post-Script

When the very dear Fr Christopher Eboka of the Communications Office of Mamfe Diocese contacted me to write a few words to mark the 25^th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Bishop Lysinge, I immediately protested. I told him I was in the middle of a conference on Ratzinger and the Philosophical Tradition at the Panamericana University, Mexico City, Mexico, and that, given time constraints, I did not think I could do justice to the task he was assigning me, especially if he has to go to Press by Monday, April 22, 2024. If you find the words above insufficient and inadequate, I crave your indulgence and I understand your feelings. And I ask to be forgiven, trusting that Providence will give me another opportunity to write a more substantial tribute to this future saint of the Church.

Rev. Maurice Agbaw-Ebai

Sunday, April 21, 2024.

29, July 2026

Bishop Lysinge: The Peoples Bishop, the Cameroon Concord Man of The Year 2014 ⁰

In December 31st following the vote counts of the short listed candidates for the prestigious Cameroon Concord Man of the Year Award, Cameroon Concord Team in Europe announced Emeritus Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge, pioneer Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mamfe as winner. CamCord US Bureau chief took an introspective profile and in-depth analysis of the Retired Bishop. Looking at a transforming life and legacy of Bishop Lysinge from the period as a seminarian leading to its ordination as Priest and nominated by Pope John Paul II as the pioneer Bishop of Mamfe put together is the miraculous workings of God to a living Saint passing from great to greatness.

Born on December 28th 1938 in Bokwango-Buea from a protestant family as Godwill Lysinge Teke and later changed to Francis Teke Lysinge was the first Bakweri ordained Priest in April 17, 1966 by His Lordship Bishop Julius Peteer together with the outspoken Cardinal Christian Tumi. The genesis of its priestly formation started in St. Joseph College Sasse [first catholic secondary school] where the Holy Family Junior seminary was opened and attached to Sasse College at the time [1953-1958]. In 1960-1966 Bishop Lysinge enrolled at the Brigard Memorial Seminary Enugu and studied Philosophy and Theology. He returned to Buea and was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood an epochal ceremony described by the then Cameroon Information Bulletin as “rare and unforgettable” as the ordination recorded in attendance the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, John Ngu Foncha, Prime Minister of West Cameroon Augustine Ngom Jua, Leader of the West Cameroon Legislature Dr. E.M.L Endeley and other top dignitaries.

After his ordination as Priest his first Pastoral work took him to Mamfe to become the first historic black Priest for the population and the Catholic faithful in Mamfe from January 1966 to April 1967. From Mamfe, he further worked in the following areas Mankon, Sacred Heart Parish Fiango as Curate, Akwaya before going to Rome for further studies in Spiritual Theology. When he returned from Rome he was immediately sent to St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary Bambui as Spiritual Director from 1975-1979 and from 1990-1999 respectively.

On February 22, 1999, as a historical coincidence, the Apostolic Nuncio Mgr, Felix Del Blanco announced the creation of the Diocese of Mamfe, and its first residential Bishop Mgr. Francis Teke Lysinge who was the first black Priest to have worked in Mamfe. On Wednesday, April 21, 1999, all roads were leading to Mamfe for the Episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect. Fourteen other Bishops including one from Nigeria, personal representative of the Head of State, Prof. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, the then Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic with over 20.000 faithful and onlookers who had come to witness the event.

After 14 years as Bishop with a nick name “The Peoples Bishop” who officially met his Christians every Friday at the Cathedral for counselling, Prayers and Confessions, the Diocese of Mamfe had witnessed a spiral and unprecedented transformation in the clergy, Catholic population, Parishes & Deaneries, Quasi-parishes, Education, Health, Communication and infrastructure. His administrative and pro-developmental prowess have left an infrastructural-landmark in the Diocese of Mamfe exceptional in Cameroon.

Described by the Bishop of the Diocese of Essen-Germany, his Lordshop Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck as a “Man of God”, Bishop Lysinge retired from his exalted position after reaching the canonical age[75] for the retirement of bishops speaks of an uncommon humility and true leadership not only in the spiritual world but equally in the secular. A prelate widely believed to be simple with a magnanimous disposition, promoter of justice, champion for the poor and inspiration to many who met him is a man of demonstrable spirituality, strong moral stamina after carrying this great responsibility for 14 years as Bishop and 47 years as a Priest. Bishop Lysinge thinks that he deserves some rest from active pastoral mission.

For a Bishop who has no bank accounts, never bought a pair of shoes or trousers but lived on the good will of Christians state that the Ministry of a Bishop is not measured in terms of achievements or successes but is understood only in the language of faith, hope and love. Steadfast in faith, inspired by hope and motivated by love, Bishop Lysinge employed personal charisma to an evangelising message that transformed Mamfe Diocese bringing mercy to faithful and non-believers. Bishop Lysinge read the signs that after 51 years in the service of the Lord, he is entitled to a well-deserved rest from active episcopalism. This personifies the leader Cameroon, Africa and the world needs.

Congratulations my Lord for winning Cameroon Concord Man Of the Year 2014 Award. May the good God continue to bless and guide you in all your endeavours as you continue to be a role model for Christians and clergy.Africans & Diaspora.

By Bertrand Etukeni Agbaw-Ebai

29, July 2026

Bishop Emeritus Lysinge: May he enter with joy, into the house of the Father ⁰

With profound sorrow but unwavering faith in the promise of the Resurrection, we join the Catholic faithful, the people of Mamfe Diocese, and the entire Christian community in mourning the passing into eternal glory of His Lordship Bishop Emeritus Francis Teke Lysinge, the pioneer Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mamfe.

Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge was more than a shepherd of souls; he was a visionary, a builder of faith, and a father to generations of priests, religious and lay faithful. Appointed by Pope Saint John Paul II as the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Mamfe in 1999, he accepted the enormous responsibility of laying the foundations of a young diocese with remarkable courage, wisdom and unwavering trust in God.

During his episcopal ministry from 1999 to 2014, Bishop Lysinge dedicated himself tirelessly to evangelization, the formation of clergy, the promotion of Catholic education and the strengthening of healthcare and pastoral structures across the diocese. Under his fatherly leadership, the Diocese of Mamfe experienced remarkable growth in parishes, vocations and Catholic institutions, leaving behind a vibrant local Church that continues to flourish today.

A humble servant of Christ, Bishop Lysinge lived by his episcopal motto, “Fiat Voluntas Tua” — “Thy Will Be Done.” His life reflected deep humility, simplicity, compassion, and steadfast fidelity to the Gospel. Whether celebrating the Eucharist in remote communities, encouraging catechists, mentoring young priests or comforting the suffering, he embodied the loving presence of the Good Shepherd.

His legacy extends far beyond buildings and institutions. He inspired hope where there was despair, nurtured unity among God’s people, and planted seeds of faith that continue to bear fruit throughout the Diocese of Mamfe and beyond. His pioneering work laid the firm foundation upon which his successors have continued to build.

Today, as Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo announces his passing into eternity, the Church gives thanks for a life generously offered in the service of God and humanity. Though our hearts are heavy with grief, we rejoice in the certainty that Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge has gone to meet the Lord whom he faithfully served for decades as priest, bishop, teacher, and shepherd.

May the angels lead him into paradise. May the saints welcome him into the heavenly kingdom. May Christ, the Eternal High Priest, reward His faithful servant with the crown of everlasting life.

Farewell, Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge.

Your faith inspired us.

Your leadership strengthened us.

Your humility touched us.

Your legacy will endure for generations.

May you enter with joy, into the house of the Father Amen.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

22, July 2026

Yaoundé begins preparations for Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit ⁰

The Government of Cameroon has begun preparations for the official visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Head of the Anglican Communion, the Right Honourable Sarah Mullally, scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 4, 2026.

Preparations gathered momentum on July 20 when the Minister of External Relations, Mbella Mbella, chaired a high-level coordination meeting with a British delegation led by the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to review logistical and protocol arrangements for the visit.

The official programme of the Archbishop’s visit is expected to include meetings with state authorities, religious leaders and members of the Anglican community, alongside other activities aimed at strengthening partnerships and fostering mutual understanding.

The preparatory session brought together Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, senior officials of the Ministry of External Relations, the High Commissioner of Cameroon to the United Kingdom, and representatives from several government institutions involved in the organisation of the visit.

Discussions focused on ensuring the smooth conduct of the Archbishop’s stay in Cameroon, including diplomatic protocol, security, logistics and coordination among the various institutions concerned.

The visit by the Right Honourable Sarah Mullally is expected to further deepen the longstanding relations between Cameroon and the Anglican Communion while reinforcing cooperation between Cameroon and the United Kingdom in areas of shared interest. The visit also carries significant religious importance, providing an opportunity for engagement with Anglican faithful and church leaders in Cameroon, while promoting dialogue on peace, reconciliation and social development.

Government authorities expressed their commitment to ensuring the success of the visit, as the visit is widely seen as another step in consolidating Cameroon’s diplomatic engagement with international partners while highlighting the important role of faith-based institutions in promoting peace, unity and sustainable development.

Culled from Pan African Visions

10, July 2026

Nigeria: Benin Catholic archbishop Akubeze dies at 69 ⁰

The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City has announced the death of its Archbishop, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze.

Akubeze died on Thursday at the age of 69, according to a statement issued by the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh, on behalf of the Consultors of the diocese.

The statement described the late archbishop as a humble and committed servant of God who touched many lives through his ministry.

It read, “On behalf of the Consultors of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, we announce, with profound sorrow, yet with a firm hope in the resurrection, the passing of our dearly beloved father and Archbishop, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, who was called home to the Lord on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

“Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze lived a very simple and humble life in faith and obedience to the will of God. He impacted the lives of so many people. He was a complete gentleman and a father to us all.”

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria also confirmed his death in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo.

The secretariat described Akubeze as a “unique shepherd” whose leadership combined spiritual growth with the development of the church and the welfare of its members.

The statement read, “Archbishop Akubeze was a unique shepherd who understood that the true development of the church embraces both spiritual renewal and the holistic growth of God’s people.

“Under his care, the Archdiocese of Benin City has witnessed significant developmental strides. He was deeply committed to the welfare of his priests with the conviction that the future of the church depended on well-formed shepherds.”

The Catholic Secretariat also recalled his contributions as a former President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, describing him as a defender of the church’s teachings.

“As an erstwhile President of the Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, he firmly stood as a pillar of orthodox truth. His voice did not tickle ears but fed souls, bringing to light his episcopal motto: ‘Ut Testimonium perhibeam veritati’ (That I may bear witness to the Truth),” the statement added.

The secretariat praised his leadership style, noting that he demonstrated humility and service throughout his episcopal ministry.

“His patient listening and selfless generosity embodied a compassionate shepherd who knew the smell of his flock.

“He demonstrated always by his gentleness and quiet disposition that genuine authority in the church is not measured by power but by service,” it stated.

Born in 1956, Akubeze was ordained a Catholic priest on October 3, 1987.

He was appointed the pioneer Bishop of Uromi Diocese on December 14, 2005, and consecrated on February 25, 2006.

Source: The Punch

3, July 2026

Diocese of Nkongsamba announces release of Priest, 2 Franciscan Brothers ⁰

The Catholic Diocese of Nkongsamba has announced the safe release of a Priest and two members of the Fraternity of Franciscans of Emmanuel (FFE) who were reportedly abducted in the country’s North-West Region.

In the letter that the Diocesan Chancellor, Abbé Luc Roger Dodo issued on Wednesday, July 1, the Diocese gives thanks to God for the release of Fr. John Bosco Bihkong and Brothers Sylvester Sewong and Marie Rodrigue, who were kidnapped during the night of Saturday, June 27.

“Thank you to everyone for your prayers and expressions of support, which have borne fruit,” Fr. Dodo says in the letter quoting the psalmist, “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.”

In a Tuesday, June 30 statement, the Vicar General of the Cameroonian Episcopal See announced the kidnapping of the three.

According to Mons. Joseph Tchinda Dountio, Fr. Bihkong had traveled to his native village of Melim, near Ndop in the North-West Region of Cameroon, to celebrate his first Mass on Friday, June 26.

He was accompanied by Br. Sylvester Sewong, Guardian of the FFE convent in Kékem, and Br. Marie Rodrigue Sop, who is preparing for a perpetual profession. The three were abducted the following night.

No details were provided regarding the identity of the kidnappers, their motives, or whether contact had been established with the abductors.

Cameroon’s North-West Region is one of the two English-speaking regions that have experienced years of insecurity linked to the country’s Anglophone crisis.

Clergy, women and men Religious, and other civilians have periodically been targeted in abductions as violence has persisted in the region.

Source: aciAfrica

1, July 2026

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Priest, 2 Franciscan Brothers Kidnapped in Ndop ⁰

The Catholic Diocese of Nkongsamba has appealed for prayers for the safe release of a Priest and two members of the Fraternity of Franciscans of Emmanuel (FFE) who were abducted in the country’s North-West Region.

In a Tuesday, June 30 statement, the Vicar General of the Cameroonian Episcopal See announced that Fr. John Bosco Bihkong, a Priest serving in the Diocese of Nkongsamba, and two FFE members were kidnapped during the night of June 27.

According to Mons. Joseph Tchinda Dountio, Fr. Bihkong had traveled to his native village of Melim, near Ndop in the North-West Region of Cameroon, to celebrate his first Mass on Friday, June 26.

He was accompanied by Br. Sylvester Sewong, Guardian of the FFE convent in Kékem, and Br. Marie Rodrigue Sop, who is preparing for perpetual profession. The three were abducted the following night.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way,” Mons. Dountio said.

He said the Local Ordinary, Bishop Dieudonné Espoir Atangana is appealing for prayers for their safe release.

“Bishop Dieudonné invites the People of God, as well as all people of goodwill, to pray and support the Franciscan Brothers of Emmanuel for the release of these servants of God,” he said.

No details were provided regarding the identity of the kidnappers, their motives, or whether contact had been established with the abductors.

Cameroon’s North-West Region is one of the two English-speaking regions that have experienced years of insecurity linked to the country’s Anglophone crisis.

Clergy, women and men Religious, and other civilians have periodically been targeted in abductions as violence has persisted in the region.

Source: aciAfrica

25, June 2026

“Do not be afraid”: Apostolic Nuncio to Diocese of Edea ⁰

The representative of the Holy Father in Cameroon has urged the people of God in the Catholic Diocese of Edéa not to be afraid as the local Church enters a period of leadership transition following the retirement of its Bishop.

In his homily during the Welcome Mass of the Apostolic Administrator of Edéa Diocese appointed on June 4, following the retirement of Bishop Jean-Bosco Ntep, Archbishop José Avelino Bettencourt urged the faithful to embrace unity, prayer, and fidelity.

“Do not be afraid, because our Heavenly Father knows us intimately and protects us,” the Nuncio said during the June 21 Eucharistic celebration that was held at Sacred Heart Cathedral of Edéa Diocese.

He acknowledged that moments of transition in the life of the Church can bring concern, but insisted that Christian hope is anchored in God’s providence rather than human circumstances.

The Vatican diplomat reminded the faithful that Christ repeatedly encourages believers not to succumb to fear.

At the same time, he distinguished between fear rooted in anxiety and what he described as “holy fear,” a reverent awareness of God that leads to deeper faith and vigilance.

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Evil has no power over us unless we give it to it,” he said.

Archbishop Bettencourt urged the faithful to cultivate trust in God as the strongest defense against fear, temptation, and despair, especially in a world marked by instability and moral challenges.

“The best remedy is a deep trust in God,” he said.

The Apostolic Nuncio in Cameroon, since his appointment in August 2023, further emphasized that Christian life is built on two inseparable dimensions: discipleship and mission, noting that all baptized believers are called to be both followers of Christ and witnesses to the Gospel.

“As baptized, you and I are called to be both disciples and apostles. Eternal life begins here and now,” he said.

The Apostolic Nuncio cautioned against attempts to privatize the faith, insisting that the Gospel must be proclaimed openly and courageously.

“The world tries to convince us that proclaiming the Gospel is not for everyone. But Jesus tells us: What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light,” he said.

The member of the Clergy of Canada’s Ottawa-Cornwall Catholic Archdiocese warned that Christians may face misunderstanding or suffering for living and proclaiming their faith, but encouraged them not to be discouraged.

“If we preach the Gospel, we will suffer, yes, like those who preceded us. But Jesus says: do not be afraid,” he said.

Turning specifically to the Diocese of Edea, the Apostolic Nuncio called for unity among the faithful as they welcome Mons. Paul Nyaga.

“We must be one Church, one diocese, one body of believers,” he said.

Archbishop Bettencourt also paid tribute to Bishop Ntep, who led the Diocese of Edéa for over 20 years, describing his retirement as a normal and prayerful transition in the life of the Church.

“This does not mean that he loves you less. On the contrary, it means he loves you more, because he understood it was time for someone else to take over,” the Nuncio said.

Commending Mons. Nyaga’s experience and service, he called on the faithful to support him with prayer and openness during this period of transition.

“We invite you all to pray with the Holy Father for your new Bishop,” he said.

The Nuncio invited the people of God in the Diocese to deepen their listening to the Word of God and to remain anchored in the Eucharist as the foundation of their unity and mission.

“We begin to listen to the Word of God—not the word of one another, but the Word of God,” he said.

Mons. Nyaga is expected to govern the Diocese of Edéa until a Local Ordinary is appointed.

Source: aciAfrica