Month: September 2006

Br. Singfred Sinior

It was a most spectacular sight, Friday September 8, 2006, Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the grounds of St. Augustine College Nso (SAC) glittered with highly placed dignitaries, both religious and secular, from far and near, to witness the Episcopal ordination of Mgr. George Nkuo as second residential Bishop of Kumbo. Practically every indigene of Bui and Donga Mantung, the two divisions in whose territories the diocese of Kumbo is found joined their Catholic kinsmen and faithful to accord a rousing witness to the historic event.

Here were the rich, the poor, the powerful and the famous whose voices resonated with anxiety and joy as they greeted friends and acquaintances, gathering for an extraordinary event Notable among Church dignitaries were, His Eminence, Christian cardinal Tumi, the Principal Consecrator, Archbishops Cornelius Fontem Esua of Bamenda and Victor Tonye Bakot of Yaounde; as co-consecrators.
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI was represented by the Secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, His Grace Antonio Eliseo Ariotti, who was unavoidably absent. A total of 17 Bishops were present while Bishops who could not come either sent representatives or messages of solidarity.
A large pool of priests and religious were in attendance. Pastors and Imams from also featured among the guest list. Top among a array of political heavyweights were, His Excellency Yang Philemon, personal representative of the President of the Republic, Governor Kumpa Isa of the North West Province and his colleague, Fai Yengho Francis of the Centre Province.
All the SDOs and DOs with members of Parliament from Bui and Donga Mantung Divisions also graced the occasion. The Mayor of Kumbo, Njong Fonyuy Donatus and the Mayor of Buea, Mbella Moki Charles with other mayors took part.
The Chairman of the SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi was seated among former ministers such as Nsahlai, Henry Kibuh, Francis Nkwain etc. The Fon of Nso, HRH Nsehm Binglo I and his Kom counterpart, Fon Yuh Vincent, together with other fons and chiefs were there to showcase their ties with the Catholic Church.
In fact, it was a broad spectrum roll call in Kumbo, noted a visitor. At 9.00am the setting at the ceremonial ground, the same spot where Mgr. Cornelius Fontem Esua, the founding Bishop of Kumbo was ordained more than 23 years ago, was indeed very impressive.
Even nature itself seemed to be smiling at its approval as brilliant sunshine against a backdrop of a crystal-clear sky characterised the weather despite the heavy rains that were literally drowning the other towns in the province.
It should be noted that for the previous days, it has been raining heavily in Kumbo. There was an atmosphere of joy and expectancy in the hushed silence of the gathering in church as they waited anxiously for the historic moment to begin. A large number of people were dressed in the “ashoabi” that was specially designed for the event.
The Kumbo diocesan choir, well rehearsed for the occasion began dishing from their bag of tunes a repertoire of beautiful melodies, composed mainly for the event. The prelates and the concelebrating priests together with the Bishop-elect were led to the Altar in a dancing procession by a group of Franciscan Sisters. People stooped their heads higher than normal to catch a glimpse of Mgr. Nkuo as he appeared in the procession putting on a skull cap.
His arrival at the ceremonial ground sparked deafening applause from the crowd of more than 35,000 people. He was flanked by Fr. Andrew Nkea and Roland Berngeh, chancellor of Buea Diocese and Vicar General of Kumbo respectively.
The Consecration Mass also functioned as a glittering showcase of the Franciscan Sisters’ dancing prowess in Liturgical Chorography as they thrilled the faithful all along. The lectionary procession was in accord with the Oku tradition and songs. After the Proclamation of the Gospel, Fr. Andrew Nkea presented the Bishop-elect to the consecrating prelate that the former be ordained Bishop. The Bull of his election was read in Latin and English.
Christian Cardinal Tumi, in a soul-searching sermon, held the congregation in rapt attention for more close to an hour, and very even noticed the passage of the time. An examination and responses in the form of promises of the Bishop-elect immediately followed the homily. The Bishop-elect then prostrated himself while the Litany of Saints was sung.
The Laying on of Hands by the consecrating Bishop and the other Bishops, the Anointing of his head and the Presentation of the Book of the Gospels followed. The Investiture with the Ring, the Mitre or the Pastoral staff was another high point of the ordination rites. The Ring symbolises the Bishop’s fidelity to and nuptial bond with the Church, his spouse.
The Mitre stands for the bishop’s resolve to pursue holiness. It is put on when a bishop is seated; when he gives homily; when he greets the people, when he addresses them or gives the invitation to prayer, when he gives a solemn blessing to the people; when he confers a sacrament; when he is walking in procession.
The pastoral staff or Crosier symbolises the Bishop’s role as Shepherd of the Lord’s flock entrusted to him. The Bishop carries a pastoral staff in his own diocese as a sign of his Pastoral Responsibility. He may use it in another diocese when he celebrates with the consent of the local ordinary.
After the kiss of peace, Bishop Nkuo, now swathed from head to toe in the regalia of his new office, was led through the aisles of the ceremonial ground to greet the anxious congregation for the first time as Bishop. A gold pectoral cross dangled from his neck and sparkled in the light that showered from the brilliant sunshine as he edged slowly through the crowd amidst shouts of joy.
He could be seen fumbling with the Crosier between his two hands as he tried to bless the people on both sides of him. On observing this, an old man whispered to himself; ?Don?t worry My Lord, you?ll get used to it with time.? Holy Mass continued with Bishop Nkuo presiding from the Liturgy of the Eucharist after his Episcopal Ordination.
At the end of the Mass the ordination attestation was read by Rev. Fr. Zephrynus Mbuh chancellor of Kumbo Diocese and signed by all the Bishops and the Chancellor. The Attestation is a document to show that the elected Bishop was ordained in accordance with the Church’s tradition and Rite of Episcopal ordination.
Speeches were presented beginning with the representative of the president of the Kumbo Diocesan Laity Council. Mr Ernest Yubin eulogized the pioneer Bishop of Kumbo, His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua, enumerating his achievements for the more than 23 years he has been the Shepherd of the People of God in the Church that is in Kumbo. He also extended profound and affectionate regards to the Bishop of Buea, who was absent for health reasons, for offering them another Bishop.
Mr. Yubin expressed the unalloyed welcome of the people of Bui and Donga-Mantung Divisions, Christians and non-Christians alike to the new bishop. The president of the Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, His Grace Vitor Tonye Bakot welcomed Bishop Nkuo into the Episcopal College and promised him the collegiality of all the Bishops of Cameroon.
Archbishop Esua introduced a delegation from the Diocese of Limburg in Germany, which has been in partnership with the Diocese of Kumbo for 18 years. Among them was a blind priest who is a parish priest of one of the parishes in Limburg. He told the congregation that it is thanks to the partnership with this diocese that Kumbo has realised most of her projects.
To Bishop Nkuo, Mgr Esua said the flock of Kumbo, which he is handing over to him, is very hardworking and God-fearing and stressed that sometimes this flock can be very demanding. He praised Fr. Peter Watson, a Mill Hill Missionary serving in Kumbo, who was his vicar in Kumbo and as delegate of the Apostolic Administrator.
In response to the speeches, Bishop Nkuo greeted the congregation in the word of his coat of arms, “God is love” which is also the caption of the Pope Benedict XVI’s First Encyclical. He thanked all those present for the sacrifice they made to be there, both in their valuable time and resources, to ensure the success of the event, and finished by pledging his collaboration with all including Muslims and Christians from other denominations.

Ireneaus Chia Chongwain

The new Bishop of Kumbo, Mgr George Nkuo, was Friday September 8 consecrated during a High Mass that was said in Kumbo, precisely on the campus of the St Augustine’s College by His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi. The consecration marked the end of festivities that followed the appointment last July 8, 2006 of Mgr. George Nkuo as the Bishop of Kumbo by Pope Benedict XVI. After the consecration, it is now time for the new Bishop to settle down to tackle the daunting task that awaits him. But what exactly are some of the challenges the new Bishop will be called upon to address?

Daunting may be too hard a word to use because the task ahead of each and every one of us is not always as great as the power behind us.
And talking about power, we are sure the new Bishop is endowed with it, as this has been seen in the manner in which he has served the Church in various portfolios over the years. Besides, the will of God never takes one where the Grace of God will not protect him or her.
The first task that awaits the new bishop, as expressed by some Catholic faithful in Yaounde, will be to maintain the high moral and administrative standards that were set by the former Bishop of Kumbo, His Grace Cornelius Esua. It is not always easy to step into the shoes of competent predecessors because people almost always have the tendency to measure using the yardsticks left behind by predecessors.
For close to a century, the lives of the people of Kumbo have been shaped and continue to be shaped variously by the Catholic Dogma. Bishop Nkuo will have the responsibility to maintain a healthy balance between the traditional Catholic doctrine and local realities, belief systems and exigencies, while remaining faithful to the main doctrinal tenets of the Catholic Church. Creating this balance is not always easy as perceptions are sometimes so disparagingly wide that finding common ground is not always evident.
Overcoming this hurdle will require charisma and tact, and even more in terms of interpersonal skills and religious diplomacy. The population of Kumbo is predominantly Catholic, but this enviable position is being threatened by an “aggressive” invasion from the new, or what others have chosen to describe euphemistically as the “Pentecostal” churches.
While this “invasion” may not be limited to Kumbo, as the presence of these churches have equally been signalled in every nook and cranny of the country, there is the pressing need to reinforce the Catholic belief system everywhere, especially so as recent reports indicate that Catholics are providing single, largest, fertile nurseries from which these churches are transplanting their seedlings.
While safeguarding the Catholic doctrine in Kumbo, Bishop Nkuo will have to explore ways of fostering interfaith dialogue especially in Kumbo where the Moslem religion is equally indisputably forging strong.
Religious rivalry has resulted in unhealthy religious practices and disloyal competition as different religious denominations address doctrinal issues in a manner that stultify the views held by other religions, sowing confusion more than anything else, in the minds of their different followers.
Cultivating a consistent and clear Catholic vision with regards to contemporary issues and problems may help indicate the right path for Christians groping about in the haze and confusion of the present day religious public space. There are reports of dwindling Christianity worldwide especially amongst the youth on whom the future of the church depends.
These youths, who constituted a privilege segment for Pope John Paul II, are turning to a new kind of religion- the religion of materialism. Getting the Kumbo Catholic youth involved and interested in Church affairs, is just one area that the new bishop cannot afford to ignore. The Kumbo Diocese has produced the highest number the Catholic priests, sisters and brothers in the whole of the Northwest Province.
The challenge remains not only ensuring that this tradition is maintained, but that those who have the vocation be given the chance to meet their lives’ dreams. Festivities are over; the time for work has come.
As Christian Cardinal Tumi said last week in Kumbo during the consecration mass, Bishop Nkuo was neither chosen because he was the most religious, nor the most qualified amongst the rest of his fellow brethren, but simply because it was God’s will.
And God does not necessary call only the most qualified, but qualifies those called and endows them with the vision to forge ahead; consequently there is no task too daunting for the chosen to surmount.

Sylvanus S. Binla

When one meditates and contemplates the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one discovers that at least twenty of the forty six qualities of Holy Mary that it contains, portray her as the Mother of Christ the Saviour of the universe-from conception through birth to his upbringing.

It is from this angel that, one believes that the Diocese of Kumbo has signed a bond with the Blessed Virgin Mary in her capacity as the Mother of Christ – the Redeemer.
This is so, from the fact that two very important events in the history of the Diocese of Kumbo have taken place either on the feast of the commemoration of the feast of the Immaculate Conception or on that of the Birth of Christ – Feast of the Nativity.
The 8th of the months of September and December have come to mark how Mary as the Seat of Wisdom has been given to the Diocese of Kumbo first by Pope John Paul II(of blessed memory) when he elected Mgr. Cornelius Esua as pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Kumbo and chose December 8, 1982 as the day for his consecration (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), and then by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, who in his first appointment in Cameroon elected Mgr. George Nkuo on July 8, 2006 as the second residential Bishop of the Diocese of Kumbo and scheduled his consecration for September 8, 2006 (the Feast of the Nativity).
The question that comes to mind is whether it is a mere coincidence or divine providence that the 8th day of the above mentioned months(September and December) has been chosen by two different Popes for the consecration of the bishops of the Diocese of Kumbo?
As if it is not enough, the two dates are connected to the conception and birth of Christ by the Blessed Virgin Mary; two very important feasts in the life of the Church. Does it mean that the Church through the various Popes want to use the Diocese of Kumbo to remind us that the conception and birth of Christ is the conception and birth of the Christianity?
Is it because Christians in the Diocese of Kumbo have unconditionally accepted the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of Christ? Or is it because the two successors of Saint Peter, the Rock on which Christ built his Church have seen the Diocese of Kumbo to be the bosom of Christianity in Cameroon?
However, when one looks into the Christian life of Mgr. Georges Nkuo, one discovers that the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the Mother of Christ, had long been with him. Some forty years back on December 8, he received the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time in his home village – Njinikom and on September 8, 2006 he has joined his brothers of the Episcopal Conference of Cameroon with his consecration as the Second Residential Bishop – the Shepherd of souls of the Diocese of Kumbo. One finds him in communion with the pioneer bishop of the diocese – His Grace Cornelius Esua Archbishop of Bamenda, and whenever the Diocese of Kumbo will be celebrating its feast day – the Immaculate Conception on December 8th every year together with the anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of Archbishop Cornelius Esua.
Hence a vivid sign that the Diocese of Kumbo has signed a bond with the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of Christ the Saviour with regards to these important dates of the 8th of September and December of each year.

+George Nkuo
Bishop of Kumbo

His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi,
His Excellency the Personal Representative of the Head of State of the Republic of Cameroon,
His Excellency Most Rev. Elisio Antonio Ariotti, Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
His Excellencies the Archbishops and Bishops of Cameroon, Honourable members of government,
Distinguished civil and traditional leaders,
Reverend Fathers, Brothers and Sisters,
Leaders of our Sister Churches and Ecclesiastical Communities here present,
My dear brothers and sister in Christ,

God is love (1 Jn. 4: 16) God is alive. With these words I greet with great joy and gratitude all of you gathered here from all corners of our nation and beyond to celebrate with us.

I salute all my brother Bishops and sincerely thank them for coming to welcome me to the Episcopal family of Cameroon. I greet my brother priests you men and women religious church workers and catechists. I greet you members of the lay faithful all immersed in the great task of building the kingdom of God in every area of life. I salute in a very special way the family of Catholic Education, especially all the Catholic education secretaries coming from all over Cameroon.
They have been for many years my very close companions in championing the course of education in Cameroon. With great affection I greet the personal representative of the Head of State and all the civil and traditional personalities of our nation here present.
With respect and deference, I wish to express acknowledgement to the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya, represented here by the Assistant Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic. I greet all the administrative, traditional, military and judicial authorities as well as all you who have come from far and near, even from out of Cameroon.
Your presence speaks volumes. I am sincerely grateful for your massive presence and for the assistance that your services contributed in the success of this event.
At a recent Episcopal Ordination of an Irish Bishop in Enniscorsthy, the new Bishop quoted an African proverb which says “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” In a sense he was saying that it takes a whole nation to raise a Bishop.
So today it is not just about me alone but about the Church in Cameroon. It is about all of us, it is about that which binds us together in our common faith in God. Today is about the Diocese of Kumbo, today is about the Diocese of Buea where I have served as a priest for 25 years. Today is about the Kom people where I was born and introduced into the Catholic Faith. Today is about the Church in the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province where I belong.
A vocation does not come flat packed. It grows out of a context of faith and worship. Today is about the Shisong Convent from where I walked out with my zinc box on my head on the 4th of September 1967 to Bishop Rogan College. Little did I know that providence would bring me back to where I started off the journey to the priesthood to become today the Shepard of the Church that is in Kumbo. Today I invite you to join me to thank God for the marvel?s he has done for us.
I wish to sincerely thank the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI through his personal representative, His Excellency most Reverend Elisio Antonio Ariotti, Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, for choosing me unworthy as I am, to become the second Local Ordinary of this Diocese of Kumbo.
Today is about the founding Father of this diocese, His Grace Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua, with great vision, insight and energy with which he gave his heart to Kumbo Diocese and has built up a flourishing and vibrant church he has worked so indefatigably to put in place formidable structures to help carry out in a modern way the work of evangelisation in Kumbo. He has left me with a very special legacy for which we thank him.
I, too, that I start in this service that is proper to the successor of the apostles I wish to with force affirm my commitment to follow in his footsteps. The greatest compliment we can pay him is to continue his work of building and transforming the hearts of the people of God in this diocese.
Today is about the people of this diocese all of them from the banks of the river Bui to the River beds of the Donga-Mantung. It is about our journey in the faith, where we have come from and where we will go in the future. Today is about the priests of this diocese, most of them young and determined, who together with me will be at the frontline of the great challenges of the new evangelisation, in this third millennium.
Today is about the religious the generous hearted consecrated men and women who have who have made huge contributions to the diocese and who are still quietly bearing witness to Jesus through their various charisms Today on this birthday of our lady, principal patroness of the diocese of Kumbo, I wish to remember in a special way all the women of the catholic women association in Cameroon.
For many years I have journeyed with them as their chaplain. They too are part of my Catholic heritage and I thank God for them too. Through Mary, to Jesus!
Truly today is a great day for the young people of this Church in Kumbo who have received great care and attention. You are the Church of the future I know what young people can do as I have worked with them in the diocese of Buea in the last twenty five years as a priest. You are the greatest asset and treasure that we have.
I have great belief and confidence that in handing over the baton of faith to you, that it will be in good hands. I invite you to join me to use your natural exuberance, energy, and enthusiasm to enliven our church your faith is a gift like pure gold and will enrich your life with a sense of purpose and direction. My hope and prayer is that it will lead you to a deep and life giving relationship with God.
Today is about people who for what ever reason have continued to work with us here in Kumbo we remember all our missionaries, our many benefactors, especially the diocese of Limburg in Germany which is very powerfully represented here today on this great feast. Through their generosity and kindness they challenge us to be more credible witnesses of the Gospel and they too are part of this great church, which is family.
Today truly is the spirit of the ?Ecclesia in Africa?, the church as Gods family is very concretely celebrating our gift of faith. Here we render thanks to God for the family apostolate in the diocese of Kumbo, which has truly come of age. We thank all those who devote so much to build the church as family.
All these people are part of what we celebrate today, part of our journey and part of our story- our past our present and our future, – Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and for ever. Today on the ecumenical platform, it is about all Christians of our sister churches, the Presbyterians the Baptist, and the other ecclesia communities present in the diocese of Kumbo.
Together we will continue the project of translating the word of God as well as other meaning ventures of spreading the Good news of Jesus Christ. It is about believers in the one God, our Muslim brothers with whom we shall collaborate to foster the good of all the people of the Kumbo diocese irrespective of their faith.
Today, I have only one ambition, to work with you dear Gods people of Kumbo, to journey with you the priests and religious of this diocese in your joys and in your sorrows. Sometimes I may be able to help you; some time I may need you to help me because as St Augustine says ?for you I am a Bishop and with you I am a Christian.?
These are the sentiments that inspire us, dear brothers and sisters here present at St Augustine?s college this city. I greet you and thank all of you from my heart.
Once more on this birthday of Mary our mother I ask God to bless and protect each and all of you who have sacrificed so much to make today such a beautiful feast.
May Mary guide you and lead you all back home safely God bless and love you all.

Motto: Deus Caritas Eest (1 Jn. 4: 16)
Coat of Arms: The Heart, The Cross and Ave Maria

Meaning of the Motto:
It has a dual significance. First the good news about the love of God is at the heart of the Gospel. The real content of Jesus? message of the Kingdom consists in God?s love. God loves every human being with unconditionally. The love of God underlies the whole teaching of the Old and New Testaments. It tells us that God will always be there, that we can count on his presence at all times. All that counts is love, only love can redeem the world, a love that not all of man?s weakness, sinfulness and stubbornness can destroy. His love never wavers, never ceases. God will never give us up. The constancy of his love depends on what He is and not on what we are or on how we behave.

God?s love transforms us; it engenders hope in our life. God?s love conquers all fear and evil. God?s love makes impossible things possible. I want God?s love to be the main drive of our mission of evangelisation in Kumbo.
Secondly, ?Deus Caritas Est”, is significant as the very First Encyclical Letter of the Pope Benedict XVI. Being the first Bishop appointed by him in Cameroon, I wish to associate and unite the entire pastoral ministry with the blessings, guidance and solicitude of the Holy Father.
All my pastoral engagements will be inspired by the love of God and with total allegiance to the successor of Peter.

Symbol of the Coat of Arms
Heart:
The heart is the traditional symbol of love. It is the pierced heart of Jesus and stands out to show how much God loves us.

Cross:
True love is incomplete without the cross. Love conquers all because Jesus, out of love, died on the cross to redeem us. To truly love we must die on our own daily crosses so that new life may be born in each human heart.

Ave Maria:
Love was born into the world through Mary. She remains our model of what it truly means to be loved and to love. My ministry of the love of God will be entrusted to her maternal care and protection.