By Willibroad Nformi
The Diocese of Kumbo in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda, Saturday, December 8, celebrated its 25 years of existence.
The occasion also included the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the Diocese’s pioneer residential Bishop, Mgr. Cornelius Fontem Esua, now Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bamenda.
Late Pope John Paul II carved out the Diocese of Kumbo from the then Diocese of Bamenda on March 18, 1982.That same year on December 8, Donato Squicciavini, Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, ordained Fr. Cornelius Esua as the pioneer residential Bishop of the new Diocese of Kumbo.
Saturday’s occasion was thus a double ceremony to thank God for the Diocese and its first shepherd.The ceremony also coincided with the feast of Mary Immaculate Conception and Patroness of the Kumbo Diocese.
Drawing inspiration from Scriptures, the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Antonio Eliseo Ariotti, told Christian faithful that they are pacesetters in faith and ‘others will have to follow your good example’.
The Papal ambassador said Cameroon needs hope to encourage the younger generation. He said His Holiness, Pope Benedict XXI, recently sent a Christmas present to Cameroon’s President, H.E. Paul Biya, on the issue of hope.
“Everything in the Bible was written so that we should have hope,” Ariotti said.He said in Mary Immaculate Conception, God presents a glimpse of what he wants humanity to be. He called on Christian faithful of the Kumbo Diocese to be courageous, for as he puts it, ‘at 25, you are still young’.
The Papal ambassador also presented congratulatory messages from the Holy See to Laureate Archbishop Cornelius Esua and his successor Mgr. George Nkuo.
Achievements & Challenges
Kumbo Diocesan Laity Council Chairman, John Kuhvinyu, told Christians that much had been achieved in 25 years.”A demographic survey conducted in 2003 revealed that the Diocese has grown from 392,500 to 734,052 people, while parishes have grown from nine to 25. Also, the number of priests has grown from 27 to 80,” Kuhvinyu declared.
The Laity Council Chairperson also enumerated positive achievements in the domain of education and health. He, however, regretted that the Diocese still relies on foreign support and the abandonment of Catholic schools for State-run schools.
Apologies
Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua told Christians that 25 years ago during his Episcopal ordination, he renewed his vows to remain faithful to the church.He apologised to all those he had wronged for the years he served in Kumbo.
“I’m very sorry for the times I’ve been so demanding or overbearing because of my enthusiasm,” Esua said.The Bishops of Buea, Immanuel Bushu, Francis Lysinge of Mamfe and Rev. Dr. Franz Kasper representing the Diocese of Limburg, Germany, amongst others witnessed the ceremony.Bui SDO Daniel Panjouono, the Fons of Nso, Oku, Nseh and Kurt in Nwa were also present.
Source: http://www.postnewsline.com