BAPEC 71st Ordinary Meeting

Bishops Lay Emphasis on importance of Education

The Bishops of the Bamenda Provincial Ecclesiastical Conference BAPEC have enjoined all stakeholders to put in the needed effort to make sure that children go to school. They further said for this to be feasible, a complete return to peace was absolutely necessary and called on public authorities to create an enabling environment for children to conveniently go to school. This call was made during the 71st Ordinary Meeting of BAPEC that took place at Archbishop’s House in Bamenda from Tuesday the 17th to Saturday the 21st of August 2021.

 

This reporter caught up with His Grace Archbishop Nkea Andrew Fuanya, the new President of BAPEC shortly after a Holy Mass that took place at the All Saints Parish at Bayelle in Nkwen, Bamenda to mark the end of this 71st Ordinary Meeting. 

Commenting on his aspirations as the new President of BAPEC, His Grace  Andrew Fuanya Nkea said “I think the aspiration of every President of the Bishop's Conference be it at the Provincial or National level is to maintain unity …and  continue  with Pastoral work in the Province. At this time when there is so much insecurity in the Province, it is important that all the Bishops collaborate in their efforts to make sure that peace returns in our communities again. It is also very important that children return to school again and it is our duty and that of parents to make sure that this happens.  This is the future of our kids and we are the ones to guarantee that future. Our faith is very important to us. Bishops are not Politicians. Bishops are Pastors and at the same time we involve ourselves in the lives of our people. We protect the poor and defend the oppressed and we make sure that we stand for the truth and nothing but the truth to make our church grow.  

His Lordship Bishop George Nkuo Erstwhile BAPEC President said what had been achieved by the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference in the past couple of years under his reign has been the maintenance of the unity of the church and the continuous building of the faith despite the turbulent situation in the Ecclesiastical Province.

In a joint communique  that was read on Sunday, August 22 at the All Saints Parish at Bayelle, certain key issues were raised.

The Bishops noted among other things that more Catholic Schools functioned during the 2020/2021 Academic year and encouraged parents to send their children to school.

They happily intimated that an Administrative Block and a hostel of 140 Self-contained rooms will be constructed at the Catholic University of Cameroon CATUC Bamenda and urged parents to encourage their children to enroll in the University and get quality education and also make use of these facilities.

They acknowledged with appreciation the efforts of the Priests “who, for the sake of the people entrusted to their pastoral care, have made and continue to make heroic sacrifices in this time of crisis.”

“We encourage every Priest to seek to bring the healing power of God's grace to everyone in need, to stay close to the marginalized.”

The Bishops noted with regret that there was still a lot of insecurity, violence, senseless killings, kidnappings, torture, sometimes of innocent people and Children. They appealed to all armed factions to stop violence with immediate effect and to seek for more Pacific resolutions to the conflict. “ Our people have suffered enough and they are tired of living in uncertainty and fear.” They urged Christians to pray for a return to peace.

The Bishops also promulgated guidelines for Priests working in Extra Parochial Ministries and priests assigned on Fidei Donum abroad. The main aim of these guidelines is to ensure a proper care of all the priests of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province and to make sure that they work and live as members of the same priestly family.

At the end of the meeting, the Bishops appointed a new Executive to pilot the affairs of BAPEC for the next three years. The new Executive is made up of His Grace Andrew  Fuanya Nkea (Archbishop of Bamenda) as President and His Lordship Michael Miabesue Bibi (Bishop of Buea) as Vice President. Meantime Father Gilles Ngwa Forteh, Priest of the Kumba Diocese was appointed Secretary General of BAPEC.

Also in attendance were His Lordship Nfon Agapitus Enuyenyoh(Bishop of Kumba), His Lordship George Nkuo (Bishop of Kumbo and Erstwhile President of BAPEC), His Lordship Bushu Immanuel (Bishop Emeritus of Buea) and a host of priests from the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province.

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

Edev Web News

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