Written by Nchumbonga George Lekelefac, Wednesday, August 16, 2023 on the Occasion of the 75th Ordinary Meeting of Bishops of The Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference (BAPEC) from 16th to 23rd August 2023 taking place in Kumba Diocese, Cameroon.
“The Mother Diocese in Cameroon, the Diocese of Buea has had a tremendous growth and vibrancy of the local faith and the commitment of the women and men that serve in leadership including their priests justifies why The Mother Diocese of Buea merits to be raised to an Archdiocese.” Nchumbonga George Lekelefac, August 15, 2023.
Dear brother in Christ, Mons. Andrew Fuanya Nkea, Archbishop of Bamenda, B.Phil. (Rome), S.T.B. (Rome), Dip. Eccle. Juris. (Rome), JCL. (Rome), JCD. (Rome), D.D.
Brother in Christ, Mons. Cornelius Esua, Archbishop Emeritus of Bamenda, B.Phil. (Rome), S.T.B. (Rome), S.S.L. (Rome), D.D.
Brother in Christ, Mons. Francis Lysinge, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Mamfe, B.Phil. (Rome), S.T.B. (Rome), S.T.L. (Rome), D.D.
Brother in Christ, Mons. Emmanuel Bushu, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Buea, B.Phil. (Rome), S.T.B. (Rome), LPhil. (Rome), DPhil (Rome), D.D.
Brother in Christ, Mons. George Nkuo, Bishop of Kumbo Diocese, B.Phil. (Rome), S.T.B. (Rome), M. Ed. (Ireland), D.D.
Brother in Christ, Mons. Agapitus Nfon, Bishop of Kumba Diocese, B.Phil. (Rome), S.T.B. (Rome), STL (Rome), D.D.
Brother in Christ, Mons. Michael Bibi, Bishop of Buea Diocese, B.Phil. (Rome), S.T.B. (Rome), MTh. (Birmingham), D.D.
Brother in Christ, Mons. Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, B.Phil. (Rome), S.T.B. (Rome), JCL. (Yaoundé), JCD. (Rome), D.D.
Health and profoundest hearty greetings!
My Brothers in the baptism we commonly share in Christ:
- Key Statement
On the 75th Ordinary Meeting of Bishops of “The Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference (BAPEC)” from 16th to 23rd August 2023 taking place in Kumba Diocese, Cameroon, I write this Memorandum to you, regarding the profoundest inspiration of the creation of a second Ecclesiastical Province in the English-Speaking Cameroon: Archdiocese of Buea, carved from the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda on its forthcoming Diamond Jubilee to be celebrated on Friday, April 18, 2025.
- In what capacity do I write?
I write this memorandum in my humble capacity of a lay man/canon lawyer and Christian faithful because Canon 212 §2 of the Code of Canon Law (CIC83) states that: “The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, and their desires, especially spiritual ones.” (Christifidelibus integrum est, ut necessitates suas, praesertim spirituales, suaque optata Ecclesiae Pastoribus patefaciant).
Besides, “An individual layman, by reason of the knowledge, competence, or outstanding ability which he may enjoy, is permitted, and sometimes even obliged, to express his opinion on things which concern the good of the Church. When occasions arise, let this be done through the agencies set up by the Church for this purpose. Let it always be done in truth, in courage, and in prudence, with reverence and charity towards those who, by reason of their sacred office, represent the person of Christ” (Lumen Gentium, no. 37). It is therefore on this ecclesiological and canonical premise that we address this memorandum by making known this significant spiritual desire which I firmly believe will spiritually impact our English-Speaking part of Cameroon.
- Elevation of a Diocese to an Archdiocese in the Catholic Church
For a Diocese to be elevated to an Archdiocese, Pope Francis through the Holy See has to discerned the need for a new Ecclesiastical Province. This significant recognition to raise a Diocese to an Archdiocese has to be proposed by you, the bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda. The Metropolitan archbishop does not have the final say on this matter because he himself is a diocesan bishop like the other bishops of the suffragan sees, for Canon 381 §1 states that “A diocesan bishop in the diocese entrusted to him has all ordinary, proper, and immediate power which is required for the exercise of his pastoral function except for cases which the law or a decree of the Supreme Pontiff reserves to the supreme authority or to another ecclesiastical authority.” That is why I write this memorandum in order to explicate to you objectively why we firmly believe that Buea Diocese COULD be raised to an Archdiocese on the FORTHCOMING occasion of its 75th anniversary to be celebrated on April 18, 2025.
The Mother Diocese in Cameroon, the Diocese of Buea has had a tremendous growth and vibrancy of the local faith and the commitment of the women and men that serve in leadership including their priests and bishops justifies why The Mother Diocese of Buea merits to be an Archdiocese.
In the Catholic church, Dioceses and Archdiocese are created by the Holy Father who is the Supreme Pontiff. However, it is the bishop who needs to write to Pope Francis, bishop of Rome, and head of the universal church to inform him of the need to have a diocese carved out of another diocese or raise a diocese to an archdiocese.
The Canon Law of the Catholic Church defines a diocese as “a portion of the people of God which is entrusted to a bishop for him to shepherd with the cooperation of the presbyterium, so that, adhering to its pastor and gathered by him in the Holy Spirit through the gospel and the Eucharist, it constitutes a particular church in which the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church of Christ is truly present and operative.” (1983 Code of Canon Law, 369). Also known as particular churches or local churches, dioceses are under the authority of a bishop. They are described as ecclesiastical districts defined by geographical territory and are often grouped by the Holy See into ecclesiastical provinces for greater cooperation and common action among regional dioceses. Within an ecclesiastical province, one diocese can be designated an “archdiocese” or “metropolitan archdiocese”, establishing centrality within an ecclesiastical province and denoting a higher rank.
Archdioceses are often chosen based on their population and historical significance. The Diocese of Buea has a population of about 1,181,000 (One million, one hundred and eighty-one thousand. If an objective survey is carried out, the number of Catholics in Buea Diocese could reach a million); about 91 diocesan priests; about 15 religious priests making a sum of 106 priests; an approximation of 4,066 Catholic Christians per priest; 37 religious men and 125 religious’ women: a sum of about 162 consecrated persons. Buea has a historical significance in the history of Cameroon.
In addition, it is the first Diocese to be created in Cameroon on April 18, 1950. Below you will find many more reasons why Buea merits to be a diocese. As a mother, Buea has given birth to many successors of the apostles and many other dioceses. (Bamenda, Mamfe, Kumba). Interestingly, the Archdiocese of Las Vegas which was recently raised to an archdiocese on May 30, 2023 by Pope Francis covers 39,088 square miles in Nevada, and has a population of 750,000 Catholics.
- Parishes
The Diocese of Buea currently covers only Fako Division with a surface area of 2093 square kilometres with 39 parishes divided into seven deaneries as seen below:
- i) Buea Deanery
Parishes: 1) St. Anthony of Padua Buea Town; 2) Immaculate Conception Great Soppo; 3) St. Martin de Porres Bokwoango; 4) Regina Pacis Cathedral Small Soppo.
- ii) Bota Deanery
Parishes: 1) Holy Trinity Bota; 2) St. Patrick Ngeme; 3) St. Peter and Paul Batoke; 4) Christ the King Idenau; 5) Mater Christi Limbe.
iii) Molyko Deanery
Parishes: 1) St. Charles Lwanga Molyko; 2) St. Therese Mekongi; 3) Divine Mercy Co- Cathedral Molyko; 4) St. Peter and Paul University Molyko; 5) St Cornelius Parish Bonduma.
- iv) Muea Deanery
Parishes: 1) St. Andrew Muea; 2) Sacred Heart Bomaka; 3) St. Jude Bolifamba; 4) St. John Paul Ekona; 5) St. Jude Thadeus Dibanda.
- v) Muyuka Deanery
Parishes: 1) St. Joseph Parish Muyuka; 2) St. John Paul II Parish Ekona; 3) St. Patrick Parish Bafia; 4) St. Dominic Parish Muyunge; 5) Holy Trinity Parish Malende; 6) St Therese of the child Jesus Parish Muyuka; 7) St James Parish Ikata.
- vi) Tiko Deanery
Parishes: 1) St. Joseph Parish Tiko; 2) St. Martin de Porres Likomba; 3) Christ the King Movange; 4) Saint Laetitia Movange; 5) St. Francis Mutengene; 6) All Saints Parish Mutengene; 7) St. Peter Mudeka.
vii) Limbe Deanery
Parishes: 1) St. John of God Bonadikombo; 2) Holy Family Limbe; 3) Our of Lourdes Gardens- Limbe; 4) Regina Angelorum Bonjongo; 5) Queen of the Holy rosary, Mile 2; 6) Holy Trinity Parish new Town limbe. The Square Kilometers of the Diocese of Buea is 2,093 (808 Square Miles) (Cf. Catholic hierarchy).
All dioceses and archdioceses, and their respective Bishops or Archbishops, are distinct and autonomous. An archdiocese has limited responsibilities within the same ecclesiastical province assigned to it by the Holy See. (CCCB, Ecclesiastical Circumscriptions: Dioceses, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, August 12, 2020). As of October 5, 2021, the Catholic Church in its entirety comprises 3,171 ecclesiastical jurisdictions, including over 652 archdioceses and 2,248 dioceses, as well as apostolic vicariates, apostolic exarchates, apostolic administrations, apostolic prefectures, military ordinariates, personal ordinariates, personal prelatures, territorial prelatures, territorial abbacies and mission’s sui juris around the world.
In addition to these jurisdictions, there are 2,100 titular sees (bishoprics, archbishoprics and metropolitanates). This is a structural list to show the relationships of each diocese to one another, grouped by ecclesiastical province, within each episcopal conference, within each continent or other geographical area.
In the Catholic Church, an ecclesiastical province is a territory consisting of at least one archdiocese and several smaller dioceses known as “suffragan sees.” The Diocese of Las Vegas in the USA is the most recent diocese that has been raised to an archdiocese. It was created in 1995 (just 28 years old 1995-2023) when Pope John Paul II divided the Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas into the two separate dioceses of Reno and Las Vegas.
Dioceses served by an archbishop are commonly referred to as archdioceses; most are metropolitan sees, being placed at the head of an ecclesiastical province. In the Catholic Church, some are suffragans of a metropolitan see or are directly subject to the Holy See. The term “archdiocese” is not found in Catholic canon law, with the terms “diocese” and “episcopal see” being applicable to the area under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of any bishop. (Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). ‘Archdiocese’. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.) If the title of archbishop is granted on personal grounds to a diocesan bishop, his diocese does not thereby become an archdiocese.
In an Open Missive to you, Bishops of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province (BAPEC) on the Occasion of the Ruby Jubilee Celebration of the Canonical Creation of Kumbo Diocese, Cameroon, Africa, which I wrote on Thursday, December 8, 2022, I humbly urged to apply to the Holy See to raise the Mother Diocese of Buea into an Archdiocese.
In that open missive, I reckoned in the following words: “has my brother in Christ, Archbishop Nkea, who is himself a fruit of Buea Diocese not taught about this, and the other bishops of the Suffragan Sees of Kumbo, Mamfe, Kumba? Buea is the first diocese in Cameroon and has remained productive, luxuriant, utterly fecund and outstandingly fertile. It has produced countless bishops, archbishops and even a cardinal. The faith of the people of the Diocese of Buea has ground increasingly. Why can it not be raised to an archdiocese? And who should apply? It is you, the bishops who have to do it. If you do not do it, nothing will happen. It is not the Holy See to remind you. It is you who have to write to the Holy See as the Europeans are doing and apply for Buea to be an archdiocese. The Europeans know how to apply for archdioceses and the creation of new dioceses more than us, but we have to learn from them. Some of you have studied in Rome, so, you could understand what I am talking about.”
Further, in that open missive, I underscored: “The French speaking bishops have learnt it very well. Take for example, the Ecclesiastical Province of Yaoundé which has 6 Suffragan Dioceses: Bafia, Ebolowa, Kribi, Mbalmayo, Obala, Sangmélima. The distance from most of them is not more than one hour, from Mbalmayo, where my umbilical cord lies buried to Yaoundé is just 30 minutes’ drive, and you are there in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda driving for long distances from one diocese to another, within the Province, thereby overtiring yourselves, when it could have been easier for you to apply for an archdiocese like Bamenda to be split into 3 dioceses and the creation of another Ecclesiastical Province of Buea which will make evangelization more productive thereby wining souls to heaven.”
It is important for you dear brothers in Christ to take initiatives by making the work of evangelization more fruitful easily reachable, for it was St. John XXIII who said: “The priest? From the day I was born, I thought of nothing else than to become a priest. Thus, was a humble son of the people installed in the admirable office which redounds to the benefit of the people. The priest is there for the comfort and enlightenment of souls. As you look at your patriarch, look for the priest, the minister of grace, and look for naught else.” (Bill Adler and Sayre Ross, The Pope John Album, New York, 1966, 64).
Pope John XXIII also added: “In the wild forest of news, each wants the world to be organized according to his own view. Thus, there has been the talk of a political pope, of a scholarly pope, of a diplomatic Pope, when the Pope is just the Pope. He is the good shepherd who seeks to reach souls and to look upon the truth. Truth and goodness are like two wings.” (Ibid., 73).
As you could see, as priests, and as successors of the apostles, you could take initiatives that could help you to easily seek to reach out to souls through the creation of the Archdiocese of Buea and more Suffragan Sees. You have the competences to apply for Buea to be raised to an archdiocese, for we have to grow and give birth to another Ecclesiastical Province in the English-speaking part of Cameroon. Must we only have Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province after almost 75 years of the existence of the first diocese in Cameroon: Buea? Must things be ‘As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end amen?’
- Brief History of the Diocese of Buea, Cameroon
The Diocese of Buea (Latin: “Dioecesis Bueaensis”) is a Latin Church diocese located in the city of Buea in the Ecclesiastical province of Bamenda in Cameroon. Buea Diocese will be celebrating its 75th anniversary as a Diocese on April 18, 2025, in barely 2 years. It would be important for the bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Bamenda to begin reflecting on the importance of applying to the Holy See so that Buea could be raised an archdiocese. Interestingly, three of the diocesan bishops of the Ecclesiastical province of Bamenda were incardinated under Buea Diocese: Archbishop Nkea, Bishop George Nkuo, and Bishop Aloysius Abangalo Fondong.
On June 12, 1923, Buea was established as Apostolic Prefecture of Buea from Apostolic Vicariate of Cameroun. On March 15, 1939, Buea was raised as Apostolic Vicariate of Buea. On April 18, 1950, Buea was raised to a Diocese.
- Spiritual Leadership
Apostolic Prefects: 1). Father John William Campling, M.H.M. (August 6, 1923 – May 13, 1925); 2) Father Peter Rogan, M.H.M. (June 26, 1925 – March 15, 1939).
Apostolic Vicars: Bishop Peter Rogan, M.H.M. (March 15, 1939 – April 18, 1950).
Former Diocesan Bishops
- i) Bishop Peter Rogan, M.H.M. (April 18, 1950 – August 18, 1961); first bishop of Buea
On April 18, 1950, Pope Puis XII raised Buea to a Diocese with Mgr. Peter Rogan as its first Bishop. From that time up to October 1, 1961, the date of West Cameroon Political Independence, Buea was a suffragan See of Onithsha Archdiocese in Nigeria. With the independence and the reunification of Cameroon, Buea Diocese became a suffragan See of Yaounde Archdiocese till Bamenda was erected as a Diocese in August 13, 1970 from the Diocese of Buéa and in March 18, 1982, it was raised as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bamenda.
- ii) Bishop Julius Joseph Willem Peeters, M.H.M. (June 4, 1962 – January 29, 1973): second bishop of Buea
Mgr. Jules Peeters took over from Bishop Rogan on August 24, 1962 when he was consecrated as the second Bishop of Buea. He made outstanding contribution to the advancement of Pastoral Work – the idea of the Conventions beginning with the first one in 1967 in Fiango, the formation of Parish Councils. He founded the Diocesan indigenous religious congregation, Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in 1963. He paved the way for the creation of the Diocese of Bamenda with territory detached from the Diocese of Buea.
iii) Bishop Pius Suh Awa (January 29, 1973 – November 30, 2006): Third bishop of Buea
Mgr. Pius Suh Awa who was consecrated Co-Adjutor Bishop of Buea on May 30, 1971 with the right of succession took over from Bishop Jules Peeters as the first indigenous Bishop of Buea on January 29, 1973. He founded the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Martin De Porres of Buea in 1985. In 1999, at the request of Bishop Awa, Mamfe Diocese was created with territory detached from Buea and Mgr. Francis Teke Lysinge became the first Bishop.
- iv) Bishop Emmanuel Bushu (November 30, 2006 – December 28, 2019): Fourth Bishop of Buea
With the retirement of Bishop Awa on November 30, 2006, Bishop Immanuel Bushu was installed on January 30, 2007. He consecrated the Diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Divine Mercy. On March 15, 2016, Buea Diocese gave birth to another diocese, the Diocese of Kumba.
- v) Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi (January 5, 2021 – present). Fifth Diocesan Bishop
On December 28, 2019, the Auxiliary Bishop of Bamenda, Mgr. Michael Bibi was appointed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis to look after the Diocese of Buea as Bishop Immanuel Bushu attained the retirement age for bishops. Bishop Bibi arrived Buea on January 2, 2020 and after taking care of the Diocese for over a year, he was on January 5, 2021 appointed the same Pope as the 5th Residential/ Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Buea. He had been the Apostolic Administrator of Buea Diocese since December 28, 2019. History was made on Thursday, February 25, 2021, with his installation and canonical possession as the fifth Diocesan Bishop of Buea.
- The Pioneer Diocesan Fathers of Buea Diocese
The pioneer Diocesan Fathers of Buea Diocese were Fr. Aloysius Wankuy ordained in 1949, Fr. Lucas Atang 1956, Fr. James Toba, Fr. Ivo Ndichia and Fr. Henry Mesue ordained in 1958. Fr. Clement Ndze who is still alive was ordained in 1960 and many others were ordained after him for Buea Diocese before Bamenda was carved out of Buea Diocese.
- Why Buea Diocese merits to be an Archdiocese
- i) Religious Institutions
The number of religious institutes in the Mother Diocese of Buea has increased in accordance with the Church’s admonition that ‘…particular attention should be paid to the promotion and cultivation of forms of religious life which consider the character and way of life of the inhabitants, and the local customs and conditions’ (Perfectae Caritatis, no. 19). In the Diocese of Buea, there are 17 institutes of consecrated life.
- ii) Pastoral Plan
In view of the implementing the provincial pastoral plan, the Diocese of Buea has distinguished itself practically because Small Christian Communities and Gospel Sharing groups have experienced a steady growth. The commissions at deanery and parochial levels have grown steadily. Diocesan councils too are functioning well and active participation of the laity in these councils has been great. Some of these include the Finance council, the celebration council, etc.
As regards Diocesan Commissions, the following are functioning well – the justice and peace, communications, finance, youth, pastoral, education, religious, presbyterial, project, lay, celebrations, health and land commission. Prayer and action groups in the church are for most Christians a source of encouragement and strength to leading better Christian lives. These have equally increased in the Diocese and their effect in building the spiritual lives of Christians is enormous. The Neo-catechumenal Movement is gaining ground in some parishes which is aimed at strengthening Christians especially doctrinally.
iii) Caritas
The Diocese of Buea has a vibrant Caritas Buea Diocese which has served as a social pastoral tool and to promote social justice, solidarity and love. Caritas in the Diocese of Buea has humanized the living conditions of prisoners in the Buea central prison which involves medical intervention, sanitation, computer studies, education, counseling, feeding of prisoners and gardening. The prisoners a have been introduced to embroidery, metallurgy, shoe mending and tailoring.
In addition, Caritas Buea Diocese has offered judiciary assistance to the inmates. Furthermore, it has sustainable agriculture and rural development project whose objective has been to promote development in rural areas through sustainable agricultural approaches and self-promotion. Moreover, a vocational computer training has fostered youth empowerment and enhanced their participation towards the development of the whole society. This has been specifically directed at the rural areas and Computer laboratories have been established in some of the five deaneries in the Diocese.
- iv) Health and BEPHA
From the viewpoint of health, the Diocese of Buea has about five health units namely: Mount Mary Hospital in Buea, Regina Pacis Health Centre in Mutengene, Catholic Health Centre in Fiango, St. Michael’s Health Centre in Baseng and Associated Rehabilitation Centre for the Handicapped (ARCH) Dibanda (Mile 14). These have been and continue to be very essential for proper assistance of the ailing.
On November 21, 2022, Bishop Michael Bibi informed that a Mortuary for Mount Mary Hospital in Buea would be blessed in a letter with Protocol number DB/B – BOC – 43/ 2022/7. In the letter, Bishop Bibi (the moving Catechism of the Catholic Church) cited the Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 2300 which states that: “The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy; it honors the children of God, who are temples of the Holy Spirit.” The Mortuary was blessed by Bishop Bibi on Friday November 25, 2022 at 10 am. In addition, the BEPHA scheme has been very successful too but only with regard to the schools. The families are a new point of concern at present and there has been much success with regard to the incorporation of families into the BEPHA health program.
- v) Social Communication
The Mother Diocese of Buea has one of the best social communications in the entire Cameroon. The inauguration of the Divine Mercy Television of the Diocese of Buea nursed by Bishop Immanuel Bushu and concretized by Bishop Michael Bibi has played a lasting and enduring impact not only to Cameroonians at home but also abroad. The Divine Mercy Television has now become the eye of the catholic church in Cameroon. Of course, being the Mother Diocese of Cameroon, the Divine Mercy Television has been a Mother (Mater), a teacher (Magister) and “Light of the Nations” (Lumen gentium). Bishop Michael Bibi has committedly dedicated every Monday to teach the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is his area of specialization.
“Communication is a means of expressing the missionary vocation of the entire Church; today the social networks are one way to experience this call to discover the beauty of faith, the beauty of encountering Christ. In the area of communications too, we need a Church capable of bringing warmth and of stirring hearts” (Pope Francis’ Message for the 48th World Communications Day [WCD], 2014). Social media is fundamentally changing how people communicate. Our Church cannot ignore it; in fact, it is our responsibility as Catholics to bring the Church’s teachings into what Pope Benedict XVI called the “digital continent.”
As Pope Francis wrote in the 48th World Communications Day message, “The revolution taking place in communications media and in information technologies represents a great and thrilling challenge; may we respond to that challenge with fresh energy and imagination as we seek to share with others the beauty of God.” The Church can use social media to encourage respect, dialogue, and honest relationships—in other words, ‘true friendship’ (Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for the 43rd World Communications Day, 2009). To do so requires us to approach social media as a powerful means of evangelization and to consider the Church’s role in providing a Christian perspective on digital literacy. Social media offer both opportunities of Visibility, Community, Accountability. Finally, online social media of the Diocese of Buea has grown at a rapid pace. It has a very active Facebook account; u tube channels and the Divine Mercy Television has offered excellent forums for the Church’s visibility and evangelization.
- vi) Education: a) Schools – Nursery to Secondary
Buea Diocese has an impressive educational structure. The administration of schools has been shifted from Parish priests to lay superintendents. Educational administration is in the hands of professionally-trained persons. The catholic Education Secretariat has put in a better financial policy and teachers are regularly paid. Court cases that teachers had with the Diocese were amicably settled out of court. Teachers have been provided with better facilities and their lifestyles have improved. The net result has been an improvement in output of schools in the Diocese of Buea. Schools are regularly supervised and teachers have sat up to their responsibilities. More Schools have been created added to the existing ones such as the Molyko, Limbe and Kumba Nursery Schools; the Kumba, Tiko and Buea evening Schools, St Anne Girls School Limbe, and Our Lady of Grace Secondary School, Muyuka, Regina Coeli Comprehensive High School, Tombel. These reforms were carried out without the consultation or approval of the other Dioceses in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda because the rapid urbanization with its inherent economic and social problems in the Diocese called for unique solutions in its educational framework. The purpose of these reforms by Bishop Bushu were meant to address the social, economic, and religious needs of Buea Diocese and its teachers were misconstrued by few terribly clerical Priests and Laity who decided to put a strong resistance to the reforms.
Some members of the Diocese and beyond interpreted the reforms as a way of splitting the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda which had hitherto been running the same kind of obsoletely outdated system, old fashioned, outmoded, archaic system. Some Priests, particularly Priests managers became bitter that administration of schools had been taken from their hands to be given to the Laity. The goal as Bishop Bushu elucidated was to give Priests more time to focus on the pastoral and spiritual needs of the pupils, a task which only they could do as ordained ministers.
Today, while some Dioceses are closing down schools, those of Buea Diocese are strong thanks to the fact the current Education Secretary continued with the reforms and has improved on them. The Common pool system for colleges and Primary School Districts is functioning well as we are able to pay all our teachers for 12 months; institutions have bursars and accountants, fees are now paid through the banks and Catholic teachers have ATM cards. The contracts of teachers have been modified to ensure job security, and the Economy of Communion Micro Finance created for teachers to enable them have access to loans and have a better life is running very well. In terms of statistics, Buea Diocese has 21 Nursery Schools and 81 Primary Schools making a total of 102 with 11 Secondary Schools all having both cycles.
vii) Catholic Institutes
Bishop Bushu opened the St John Bosco Teachers Training College to address the exodus of teachers to the government. Since its creation so many teachers have graduated and have helped to solve the problem of teachers. With regards to the need for the laity to know their faith, I also opened John Paul II Institute of Theology at Molyko. Now the institute has branches in Limbe and Kumba. These institutes were created to address particular needs of the Diocese of Buea even though some detractors interpreted them as a deliberate attempt to downplay the work of Bishop Pius Awa and split the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda since similar institutes were functioning in Bamenda and Kumbo.
viii) The Catholic University Institute of Buea(CUIB)
Bishop Bushu established The Catholic University Institute of Buea(CUIB) because immediately he took office as Bishop of Buea, what struck him most was the struggle by many qualified students to gain admission into the University of Buea (UB), the then lone Anglosaxon University in Cameroon. Bishop Bushu decided that the Diocese of Buea needed to have its own university that would admit some of the students so that they could realize their dreams of acquiring university education. So, he put a committee in place and the project was worked out. In the meantime, there was discussion going on about a University for the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda. Bishop Bushu gave his 100 percent support to that project but felt that the Diocese should run its own separate from the Provincial University as the mission of both universities were different. He enlightened that CUIB was to focus on Job creation and employability. In that project, Bishop Bushu did not need to consult any other authority because as he explained, “Ex cordae Ecclesiae”, the Church’s document on Higher Education allows any Superior or Diocesan Bishop to own a University so long as it meets the National and Ecclesiastical standards. Based on his word to support the Provincial University 100 %, the Diocese of Buea has supported the Provincial University project financially and has sent its priests there to serve like Fr. Joseph Jum Awoh who just concluded his term of service as Vice Chancellor.
Buea Diocese, the oldest Diocese with the oldest Secondary school in English Cameroon (St Joseph College, Sasse, founded in 1939) runs one of the best catholic universities in Cameroon. CUIB has been making its mark and fulfilling the objectives for which it was established. CUIB was ranked as the no. 1 University in the South West Region by the Ministry of Higher Education.
Currently, there are 1,300 students, with more than 100 Faculty and staff members. It is well known in the international world as it is the only African University that is a member of the prestigious Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) in the USA. On the 6th of December 2014, it graduated its First Batch of Seniors and Higher National Diploma students making a total of about 270. Of this number, 11 percent are self-employed; 14 percent employed, 39 percent’ are doing graduate studies, 7 percent are on work experience and stand as potential employees to their companies, 11 percent working towards their admission in foreign universities and 18 percent are still undecided on what to do.
CUIB started a process of acquiring a 40 hectare of land at Mokonje in Kumba, in the hope that CUIB will eventually expand to Kumba. 30 Million has been disbursed by the University to the Chief of Wokaka to acquire another 5 hectares of land at Molyko. The University has and is currently putting up more new buildings at the Wokaka Campus, renovated the Molyko Campus, bought two 70-seater campus shuttle buses to convey faculty, staff and students from one campus to the other and have for all these years paid its workers based on the Cameron Government Salary Scale. Finally, CUIB has made the Mother Diocese of Buea proud and has trained our children to be job creators versus job seekers with spiritual and moral values who will contribute to the sustainable development of their communities.
- IX) Lands
The Mother Diocese of Buea has tried to invest in the purchase of lands. The following lands have been acquired: Small Soppo: five hectares, Sand Pit, Sasse Village, Our Lady of Grace Shrine, Mevio-Sasse, Malingo with two houses on rents, New Town Limbe with two houses on rents, Wokaka I and Wokaka II (for CUIB).
- Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinal that Buea Diocese has produced
We would now demonstrate how Buea Diocese has been a fruitful and fertile Mother, who has borne many Bishops, Archbishops, and a Cardinal. The Diocese of Buea is the first and oldest Diocese in Cameroon and has been known as a mother who has given birth to many Bishops (7 in total) and bore many other Dioceses (3: Bamenda, Mamfe, and Kumba.) The mother Diocese of Buea has produced 4 Bishops, 3 Archbishops and one Cardinal:
- i) Archbishop Paul Mbiybe Verdzekov †, Archbishop Emeritus of Bamenda, Cameroon
Bishop Paul Verdzekov is the first priest consecrated as Bishop from Buea Diocese. On 21 December 1961, at 30, Fr. Paul was ordained Priest for the Diocese of Buea in Rome at the Colegio Urbano by Gregorio Pietro XV Cardinal Agagianian who was the then Prefect of Propaganda Fide. On 13 August 1970, at 39, he was appointed the pioneer Bishop of Bamenda, Cameroon and consecrated on 8 November 1970 by Bishop Julius Joseph Willem Peeters, M.H.M. †, then Bishop of Buéa.
- ii) Bishop Pius Suh Awa †, third Diocesan Bishop of Buea
On 21 December 1961, at 31, Fr. Pius was ordained Priest for the Diocese of Buea in Rome at the Colegio Urbano by Gregorio Pietro XV Cardinal Agagianian who was the then Prefect of Propaganda Fide. On 20 February 1971, at 40, he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Buéa, Cameroon. On 30 May 1971 at 41, he was ordained Coadjutor Bishop of Buea. On 29 January 1973, at 42, he succeeded Bishop Julius Joseph Willem Peeters, M.H.M. †.
iii) Christian Wiyghan Cardinal Tumi, Archbishop Emeritus of Douala, Cameroon, and Cardinal-Priest of Santi Martiri dell’Uganda a Poggio Ameno.
On 17 April 1966, at 35, Fr. Christian Tumi was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Buea by Bishop Julius Joseph Willem Peeters, M.H.M. †, then Bishop of Buéa. On 6 January 1980, he was consecrated Bishop of Yagoua, Cameroon at St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Pope St. John Paul II. On 19 November 1982, at 52, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Garoua, Cameroon. On the 17 March 1984 at 53, he succeeded Archbishop of Garoua, Cameroon. On 28 June 1988, at 57, he was elevated to Cardinalate and appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santi Martiri dell’Uganda a Poggio Ameno. On the 31 August 1991, at 60, he was appointed Archbishop of Douala, Cameroon.
- iv) Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua, Archbishop Emeritus of Bamenda, Cameroon.
On 29 December 1971, at 28, Fr. Cornelius was incardinated to the diocese of Buea and ordained Priest by Bishop Pius Awa. He is the very first priest ordained by Bishop Pius Awa barely six months as Coadjutor bishop of Buea. On the 10 September 1982, at 39, he was appointed pioneer Bishop of Kumbo, Cameroon. On 8 December 1982, he was consecrated Bishop of Kumbo, Cameroon by Archbishop Donato Squicciarini †, then apostolic nuncio to Cameroon.
- v) Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge, Bishop Emeritus of Mamfe, Cameroon.
Fr. Francis Teke Lysinge was ordained a priest on 17 April 1966, at 27 for the Diocese of Buea by Bishop Julius Joseph Willem Peeters, M.H.M. †, then Bishop of Buea. He was appointed Bishop of Mamfe at 60, On 9 February 1999, and consecrated on 21 April 1999 as Bishop of Mamfe, Cameroon by his classmate, Christian Cardinal Tumi.
- vi) Bishop George Nkuo, Bishop of Kumbo, Cameroon:
On 26 April 1981, at 28, he was ordained Priest of the Diocese of Buea, Cameroon by Bishop Pius Suh Awa †, then Bishop of Buea. On 8 July 2006, at 53, he was appointed Bishop of Kumbo, Cameroon. On 8 September 2006, he was consecrated Bishop of Kumbo, Cameroon by the Principal Consecrator: Christian Wiyghan Cardinal Tumi †, the then Archbishop of Douala.
vii) Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya, Archbishop of Bamenda, Cameroon
On 22 April 1992, at 26, he was ordained Priest of the Diocese of Buea, Cameroon by Bishop Pius Suh Awa †, then Bishop of Buéa. On 10 July 2013, at 47, he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Mamfe, Cameroon. On 23 August 2013, he was consecrated Coadjutor Bishop of Mamfe, Cameroon by Archbishop Piero Pioppo, then apostolic nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea and Titular Archbishop of Torcello.
viii) Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, Bishop of Mamfe, Cameroon
On 20 April 2006, at 32, he was ordained Priest of Buéa Diocese Cameroon by Cardinal Christian Tumi. On 22 February 2022, at 48, he was appointed Bishop of Mamfe, Cameroon. On 5 May 2022, he was ordained Bishop of Mamfe, Cameroon by his second cousin, Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya, Principal Consecrator and Archbishop of Bamenda.
- Conclusion
Dear brothers in baptism of Christ Jesus, as you could see from the forgone lines, Buea Diocese merits to be raised to an archdiocese. It is significantly important that you could remind the Holy See for this dream to become a reality someday, for it will be for the good of all. What perfect day would it be, if not on its 75th anniversary (diamond)? Thank you for your attention and consideration to this significantly vital matter which will go a long way for the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, and which is to be kept before one’s eyes. (Cf. Can. 1752). Thank you in advance for having taken time out of your very busy schedule to peruse this 13 – page Memorandum. Please, accept, the expression of my profoundest gratitude and respect from the pen of a lay canon lawyer of the “Holy Mother Church” of which you are Bishop. Thank you! Merci beaucoup! Vielen Dank! ¡Muchas gracias! Hartelijk dank! Muito obrigado! Grazie mille!
And believe me to be, most unpretentiously, most reverentially, most objectively, most prayerfully and most canonically – dutifully yours.
Submitted today, Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
Nchumbonga George Lekelefac, B. Phil., (Mexico); S.T.B., (Rome); J.C.L/M.C.L., (Ottawa), Diploma in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch; International Language Tutor of English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and German; Doctorandus, University of Münster, Germany; Europe/ US Correspondent of “The Herald Tribune Newspaper” and “The Sun Newspaper”; Catholic Media Influencer and Whistle blower; Canon Lawyer and Researcher; Founder/ CEO of the “Nchumbonga Lekelefac Institute of Research, Documentation, Language and Culture, USA
My signature: Nchumbonga George Lekelefac
Email: nchumbong@yahoo.com
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The SUN’s editorial stance.