By Franckline Benjika
The conference hall of the Multi Media Centre of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, NECC, on June 2 could not contain the crowd that came to witness and participate in the installation ceremony of two newly appointed officials of NECC.
Photo: Mgr Joseph Akonga presiding over the ceremony
Prof. Louis Pascal Modo Asse officially took control of the Workshop of Audio Visual Material, AMA, while Prof Siméon Ombiono received the command baton of the Justice and Peace Commission. It was also an occasion to thank and bid farewell to Prof Pierre Titi Mwel, former coordinator of the Peace and Justice Commission. While presiding at the ceremony the Secretary General of NECC, Mgr Joseph Akonga, revealed that the two units of NECC came into existence after Vatican II.
He added that the units were created to help the bishops better organise their activities. The units, he explained, were fortified following the advent of democracy in Cameroon and have since been making headlines. Mgr Akonga stated that through pastoral letters and declarations made to the public, units of NECC have shown that the Church has a social obligation given that the Christian is a social being.
Concerning the participation of the laity in NECC activities, Mgr Akonga said the pyramidal structure that used to characterise the Church in antiquity has become anachronistic, or out of date, in contemporary time. He pointed out that the laity is at the centre of all the Church's activities. It is for this reason that the Church's hierarchy recruits well-trained lay faithful, for priests must not and cannot handle all Church activities by themselves, he explained. Mgr Akonga congratulated Prof Pierre Titi Mwel on the immense job he covered while serving as coordinator of the Justice and Peace Commission.
In response, Professor Titi Mwel thanked the bishops for the confidence bestowed on him during his years in office. After speeches the ceremony continued at the different services with the exchange of documents. At AMA the outgoing interim director Martin Nsoe Atangana handed over documents to Prof Louis Pascal Modo Asse. The same ritual took place at the Justice and Peace Comission. It was with a broad smile that the outgoing coordinator, Prof. Titi Mwel, promised to assist the incoming coordinator, Prof Siméon Ombiono, should the need arise or be expressed. The new coordinator of the National Justice and Peace Commission is not a novice in the field. He has held the same post and function at the level of the Archdiocese of Yaounde for close to 10 years.
The 60-year old professor is married and has three children. He is a professor of private law. The installation ceremony was attended by the personnel of NECC as well as well wishers.
At the end of the 33rd Plenary Assembly of the National Episcopal Conference on April 5, bishops made three appointments at NECC. Fr Robert Tantoh of Kumbo Diocese was appointed assistant Secretary General of NECC.
He replaced Mgr Pierre Vital Nkinglifack who is now Apostolic Administrator of Batouri. Prof Simeon Ombiono was appointed as the National Coordinator of the Justice and Peace Commssion, while Prof. Louis-Pascal Modo Asse was appointed director of AMA. Fr Robert Tantoh is yet to be installed.
By Franckline Benjika
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