Consecrated Life Celebrated / La Vie Consacrée Célébrée
Celebration of Consecrated Life in Bambui Deanery
Friday, February 2, 2024.
Sr. Marceline Mokia Mbuh, a Capuchin Sister of Mother Rubatto (Bambili), tells us that this celebration took place in Bambili with the Sisters of Christ, the Capuchin sisters of Mother Rubatto, The Capuchin Friars, and the Marist Fathers, all present in the Deanery. It was an occasion to thank the Lord for his call and a moment to renew the call to follow Christ. The message retained for the day was: “Consecration is not a burden rather a joy. It does not bring sorrow, it brings joy. Consequently, a sad religious is a contradiction”. Thus, celebrating this day, according to sr. Marceline, remains an occasion for people to know who we are, the life we have chosen and the value of consecration in the world today. Moreover, it is necessary to let young people know that it is not what they are that makes them happy but who they are. All in all, my wish and prayer is that all Consecrated Persons, beginning from me, radiate joy to the world.
Sr. Marceline Mokia Mbuh, Capuchin Sister of Mother Rubatto
Was Consecrated Life celebrated in Mamfe Diocese?
Sr. Elizabeth Kinyuy (Capuchin Sister of Mother Rubatto, Mamfe), what have you to tell us about the celebration of Consecrated Life in Mamfe? Sr. Elizabeth Kinyuy tells us it was a wonderful celebration in Mamfe, on Sunday February 4, 2024, around their Chief Shepherd, Mgr. Aloysius A. Fondong. She tells us that, they as Consecrated Persons in the Diocese of Mamfe, did celebrate their consecration in the context of the Silver Jubilee of the Diocese. She makes us understand that the Bishop thanked all Consecrated men and women for the witnessing in his Diocese. He equally reminded them of the Letter of Pope Francis calling on consecrated men and women to go back to the roots. Sr. Kinyuy tells us that this celebration gave her an opportunity to revisit, to revise, to check, to edit, infact, to evaluate her calling, and motivation for choosing this life. As her own message of the day, sr. Kinyuy said: “If we are to be true witnesses we must do so in joy.
The inner joy that the challenges of life cannot take away”. She profited to check the things she clings to, which take her off from the lane, from the life she has willfully accepted to live. How to do away with what prevents her from being faithful to her spouse, was the assignment she gave herself. The Bishop, Aloysius A. Fondong, left a question to all Consecrated men and women present, that if their founders and foundresses were to come back to this life, will they really recognize them as their disciples? A question Sr. Elizabeth rephrased as: if my foundress, Mother Rubatto was to come back, will she recognize me as her daughter?
Sr. Elizabeth Kinyuy (Capuchin Sister of Mother Rubatto, Mamfe)
World day of consecrated life in the Archdiocese of Bamenda
The day of Consecrated Life in the Archdiocese of Bamenda was celebrated in Bambui Deanery, precisely in Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Bambili, on Sunday the 4th of February 2024, in the presence of Mgr. Andrew Fuanya Nkea, the Archbishop of Bamenda Archdiocese.
The Archbishop ceased this opportunity to express his gratitude to all Consecrated Persons in the Archdiocese, for their close collaboration with him and for their life of witness amongst God’s People.
He encouraged the Christians present at this solemn occasion to always support the Consecrated Persons God has given them.
To the young people present, he exhorted them to embrace this way of life without fear, without hesitation for God who calls, gives the grace even though we need to collaborate with his grace. Other activities spiced the day, such as, Choral music, sketches, and fashion parades.
Br. William Kongnyuy (OFM. Cap. Bambui)
Bafoussam Diocese was not left out
“IT’S OUR LIFE, IT’S OUR FEAST” was the slogan adopted to adorn the day of the Consecrated Life in Bafoussam. The celebration of Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Bafoussam took place at the St. Joseph Cathedral Bafoussam, with about 44 Religious Orders/Congregations/Secular Institutes/New Communities. The celebration was preceded in February 1, 2024, with activities such as: a visit to an orphanage in Kouogouo II (Bafoussam Deanery), a friendly match with the Diocesan clergy and religious men at the Cathedral Stadium, a friendly match between the religious women, vespers and a cultural evening at the Cathedral hall.
February 2, 2024, at 9:55, Consecrated Men and Women, working in the Diocese of Bafoussam, coloured the Cathedral with their presence at the Eucharistic celebration presided over by His Lordship, Mgr. Paul Lontsie-Keune, Bishop of Bafoussam.
Commenting on the Table of the Word, the Chief Shepherd, expressed gratitude to all the consecrated men and women for their presence in the Diocese, for the touch they give to the lives of the faithful in the Diocese, stressing that the Church in Bafoussam needs them and loves them. He encouraged the all present saying that in the face of secularism and all the ills society undergoes, all that the world proposes to man in today’s society, consecrated persons should still stand as witnesses and true witnesses to Gospel life. He acknowledged challenges that come as a result of their consecration, saying that some, as a result of those challenges start nurturing the idea to quit. He reassured such 
consecrated persons to go back to the first day they made their step into the congregation. He regretted too the fact that elderly consecrated persons turn to devalue the young ones who just come into the life, telling them they have no space because they have made no experience of religious life, hence, making life a hell for the young ones who come into this way of life with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. He cautioned such persons that even a postulant has something to offer into the congregation, for it is not the number of years spent in the congregation that makes one holy. Moreso, the Bishop exhorted all Consecrated Persons to live their consecration with Joy, for without joy, we start dying and our consecration dies too. To crown it all, Mgr. Paul underlined that Consecrated Life has its beauty and value only through the cross. He then admonished that each Consecrated Persons sees meaning in his or her daily cross as a test to his or her consecration.
The novelty brought by His Lordship, Bishop Paul to this solemn celebration of Consecrated Life, was his invitation to the Diocesan Group “Sainte Anne” (a group for widows) to participate at this celebration. He said that like Anne, the widow in the Bible, they too have consecrated their lives to serve the Lord in his Holy Temple and in the upbringing of their children. He then encouraged them to be faithful to the Lord and in the upbringing of their children.
Br. Cedric Verbe K. (ofm Cap.- Bafoussam)
How was it in Kumbo Diocese?
The celebration of Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Kumbo began on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 8:30am, with the talk at the Cathedral on: DO OUR LIVES AS CONSECRATED PERSONS REFLECT THE JOY OF ETERNITY. This talk helped the participants to revive their calling as missionaries of joy in a society and in an environment where many are saddened due to the socio-political climate and its effects on the populace. After the talk, came sporting activities with two matches of football: the first being: Religious Women against the Youths of Meluf Denary and the last match, Religious Men against the Diocesan Clergy.
On the D-Day, that is, February 2, 2024 at 9am, a Holy Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral Church with the Chief Shepherd, Bishop George Nkuo, Bishop of Kumbo Diocese. A beautiful celebration animated by Shisong Community of the Tertiary Sisters of Saint Francis. The Bishop used the occasion to remind all consecrated Persons to get back to the roots of their call and to use this moment to renew their calling. He expressed the desire that the celebration be extended to all the Faithful, since we are all consecrated, each in his or her own way. The day ended with some refreshment, and recreational activities.
Capuchin Postulant, Paulino – Shisong
Br. Albert kilofonyuy (Capuchin Novice) gives his own witness In the Diocese of Kumbo, the World day of consecrated life which is celebrated on the 2nd day of February as the D-day, rather started with some sporting activities on the 1st of February 2024. These activities took place in the SAC Nso sports complex. On the 2nd day of February, the world day of consecrated life, the events of the day started with Holy Mass at the Kumbo Cathedral at 9:00am. This Mass was celebrated by his Lordship Bishop George Nkuo, Bishop of Kumbo. The liturgy was superfluous and well animated. What marked most Br. Albert was the fact of seeing many congregations still present in Kumbo in spite of the socio-political situation. This brought to mind the fact of Consecrated Persons being signs, pointers to the future reality; their presence have given hope to the hopeless, and life to the lifeless. May God’s Holy Spirit continue to accompany all Consecrated Persons in being true witnesses to the society.
And in Rome, how was it celebrated with the Pope?
Br. Peter Tar tells us more
Reflecting on the prophetic anticipation of the Lord’s arrival as foretold by the prophet Malachi, the Pope said that while the people were long for their salvation, prophets kept their hope alive through their prophecy like Malachi in the first Reading for today– “the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple”- the Pope upheld the figures of Simeon and Anna, who after being enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they waited in hope everyday in the temple for the fulfillment of the promised salvation. “It is good for us to look at these two elders who were waiting patiently, vigilant in spirit and persevering in prayer. Their hearts have stayed awake, like an eternal flame. They are advanced in age, but young at heart,” he said. They did not allow their age to weigh down on them nor given in to disappointments and hardship. In the child Jesus, they were able to see the promised Messiah to the nations. He went on to say that waiting for God is vey important in our faith journey because everyday the Lord visits us, therby revealing himself to us in an unexpected way. We therefore should wait in an expectant hope. The worse thing that can happen to a Consecrated person is to let our spirit doze off; to let the heart fall asleep; to lock hope away in the dark corners of desolation and resignation. Simeon and Anna’s ability to preserve the flame of hope is an indication to Christians, in a world filled with distractions, to remain with their eyes fixed on God in expectation. “By staying awake in expectation of the Lord, they are able to welcome him in the newness of His coming,” he said.
And directly addressing Consecrated men and women, he says that there is the present danger of running behind doing things to the detriment of our religious calling. That sometimes we risk our community and personal life by calculating the odds of success, instead of cultivating in total humility the small seed that has been entrusted to us. That we have lost the ability of patient waiting with open hearts for the Lord like Simeon and Anna.
Obstacles to waiting
The Pope then identified two obstacles that hinder the ability to wait. The first, he said, is the neglect of the interior life, where weariness prevails amazement, where habit takes the place of enthusiasm, where conflicts or negative experiences turn us into bitter persons. He says it is not good to ruminate on bitterness, but to recover the lost grace through an interior life through the spirit of joyful humility and silent adoration in order to reawaken the amazement of the first day of our profession. The second obstacle is adapting to a worldly lifestyle that ends up taking away the Gospel. This is characterized by speed, activism, and the pursuit of immediate gratification. In this case, silent is banished and lost from religious communities. He then calls us to slow down the pace at which we are going. “Where silence is banished and lost, waiting is not easy, for it requires an attitude of healthy passivity, the courage to slow our pace, to not be overwhelmed by activities, to make room within ourselves for God’s action,” he said.
The Pope continued with a call to cultivate a spirit of waiting, careful that “the spirit of the world does not enter our religious communities, ecclesial life and our individual journey, otherwise we will not bear fruit.” Like Simeon, he added, “Let us also pick up this child, the God of newness and surprises. By welcoming the Lord, the past opens up to the future, the old in us opens up to the new that he awakens.” Pope Francis concluded his homily reminding those present that “these questions are for us, for our communities and for the Church.”
“Let us be restless, let us be moved by the Spirit, like Simeon and Anna. If, like them, we live in expectation, safeguarding our interior life and in conformity with the Gospel, we will embrace Jesus, the light and hope of life.”
Br. Peter Tar (ofm Cap. Rome)
