HOW I HEARD MY CALL - Rev Fr Sebastian Mongo

In this edition of "How I Heard My Call", Rev Fr Sebastian Mongo, Catholic Education Secretary of the Diocese of Douala, credits much to his mother, and stresses his conviction that, although of French-speaking expression, the Lord guided him to pursue seminary studies in Bambui, in order to "know that part of our land...." This column focuses on the vocational experiences of priests and other religious, as they battled with the fears and doubts on whether the Consecrated Life was really what they were meant to do. In each edition, we shall feature one or more of our bishops, priests, and/or Reverend Brothers and Sisters. It is especially meant to encourage other young men and women who are meditating the Consecrated life but may not have someone to whom they can express their doubts and fears.

Q: Father, when did you begin to have the feeling that God might be calling you to serve at his altar?

I'm not sure I can tell you for sure the exact time I began to have the feeling that God was calling me to his altar. I was born here in Douala and my parents were all natives of Douala. When I started school, I attended a Catholic nursery, primary, and secondary school. I wrote the common entrance examination into the Minor Seminary at St. Paul, Nylon, here in Douala. My initial idea was not to become a priest, but things began to change after an incident involving another student and me. I fought with him and I expected to be dismissed, but that did not happen. From that moment, I began to understand that God was calling me to serve him. That incident served as an eye-opener to me and I've never forgotten it. Later, when I was in Upper Sixth Form, and even though I was still not too eager to go further in my seminary studies, there was still something there pushing me on. It was not until I went to the major seminary in Bambui that I began to feel the seriousness of what was happening to me. But I felt I was not worthy, I am still not worthy, but God has forgiven my weaknesses and taken me into his embrace.

Q: You studied in Douala in French, and later in English at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Bambui. Was it your bishop who decided to send you there, or did you suggest to him that you wanted to study in that part of our country?

No, it was my bishop who, on his own, decided to send me there. It's not always easy to read the mind of a bishop, no matter how hard you may try. What might also have motivated him to send me to Bambui is that Bambui wanted somebody from Douala. I was the only one from my batch, and so I was sent there. God must’ve wanted me to go to that part of our land, so I could know the Northwest and Bambui very well, and have a good experience of pastoral service there.

Q: When were you ordained a priest?

His Grace Archbishop Paul Verdzekov ordained me deacon in Bambui in 1989 and I was later ordained priest in 1990, here in Douala. I am already 15 years old in the priesthood.

Q: In how many parishes did you work before going out for further studies?

Come to think of it, I have never been assigned to any particular parish for any length of time. I worked as acting priest in Deido for some six months. Shortly after my ordination, I was assigned the youth chaplaincy of what was then the big Archdiocese of Douala before the dioceses of Edea and Eseka were carved from it. Shortly thereafter, His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi sent me to the Catholic University in Washington DC where I obtained a PhD in Philosophy. When I came back home, I was sent to the major seminary to teach philosophy. I was there for three years before being assigned the responsibility of Catholic Education Secretary. That's what I am today. Maybe God is waiting for me to reach the prime of life before he can assign me a parish. I don't know.

Q: There are many young people who may be hearing God's call, but are unsure of what to do. What advice would you give them?

If a young man aspires for the priesthood, or if a girl feels attracted to the sisterhood, my advice to him or her would simply be to let the will of God be done. I would advise him or her to lead a righteous life, a prayerful life in total respect of the rules and traditions of the Church. Such a young person must also have the personal will to live up to the call. With the right motivation, God will help you through.

Q: Was there a time during your formation years when you felt like quitting?

That is a very good question. Yes, there indeed was such a moment. I looked at how poor my mother and my brother were, and I felt richer than they were. My mother had 10 children, and their condition made me really sad and I almost left the seminary. I thought I could earn some money to help them out of their misery. But then I realized that even if I were to leave, I would use whatever money I might make more on myself than on them. That was when I decided to leave everything in the hands of the Almighty and his will was done on me.

Comments

[Emil I Mondoa, MD]

My dear Friend Father Mongo:
I am happy to note that you are fine. We do think about you and talk about you from time to time here in the US where you left us. All the family children whom you baptized here are growing and doing well in their lives. It is interesting that you have reached out and touched us again through this medium.

God bless you.
Emil I Mondoa