L'Effort Camerounais (English Version)

Editorial:Pre-empting mass fainting in Catholic schools

By Ireneaus Chia Chongwain
Schools have effectively resumed for the 2008/2009 Academic Year and with it a return of numerous problems that plague the school environment not only in Cameroon, but the world at large. One of such problems is the recurrent mass hysteria or fainting, affecting mostly female students, in different schools. Although no such incident has been reported this far, as schools have just resumed, there are speculations the mass hysteria phenomenon may not have disappeared altogether, but could just be lurking at school corners, waiting for the ideal moment to rear its ugly head once again.

Altar linen stolen, planned church dedication postponed as a result!

By Mirabel Azangeh Tandafor Fru
One of the key activities leading up to the Bota Parish Centenary celebration should have been the dedication of St Pius X Catholic Mission, Middle Farms, on September 7. Just a few weeks to that event, which should have  been  accompanied by the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, another sacrilege ruined the event as unidentified people broke into the Church and disappeared with the altar linen.

Pre-empting collective hysteria in schools

By Ireneaus Chia Chongwain
The wave of collective hysteria that swept across different schools in Cameroon during the 2007/2008 Academic Year did not only reflect the gangrene that has blighted the country's educational system recently, but also indicated the paranoia mass fainting has generated within the learning environment.  Rather than downplay the gravity of the situation, as most administrative officials in Cameroon are wont to doing, a dissuasive, or better still, prevention approach through the subject's frank discussion with all stakeholders would be beneficial.

"Prayer was my key in fighting demonic attacks," says Rev Fr Aloysius Ituka Ndifor

Interviewed by Mirabel Azangeh Tandafor Fru
The former principal of St Paul's College Bonjongo, Rev Fr Aloysius Ituka Ndifor; a school in Buea Diocese where demonic attacks were regularly reported, recounts his experiences fighting satanic practices within the school milieu. At a time many school authorities are finding it difficult to understand what demonic attacks are all about, the way Fr Aloysius Ndifor handled the situation in his former school, could provide some useful insights. Rev Fr Aloysius Ituka Ndifor is the present principal of St Joseph's College Sasse.  Excerpts   

Looking at the trance syndrome from another perspective

By Franckline Benjika W
To aver that the trance syndrome in certain schools greatly moderated the choices of some parents this academic is no fallacy. Some of these parents last academic year were on the horns of a dilemma when a series of trances happened in schools they had enrolled their children in.

Buea Diocese heats up to receive the relics of St Therese

Preparatory meetings have multiplied in Buea ahead of the arrival of the relics of St Therese of the Child Jesus in Cameroon by the end of the year. Buea is going to be one of the first dioceses to receive the relics. The most recent of these meetings held on September 18, at Kumba Mbeng Parish, Kumba. Commission leaders made suggestions geared towards making the event a success. At the national level, another meeting took place in Yaounde on September 11. The Diocese of Buea will receive the relics from the Douala Archdiocese on December 5 and would hand them over to Nkongsamba Diocese four days later. A novena to prepare for the event is underway in Buea Diocese.

Yaounde Anglophone Legion of Mary clocks 15

By Franckline Benjika W
Members of Marian groups in St Joseph Anglophone Parish, Mvog-Ada, joined the Anglophone Legion of Mary on Sunday, September 07, to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity and the 15th anniversary of the Anglophone legion of Mary. Besides the traditional pomp and pageantry which usually characterise such occasions, funds were also raised to buy a bus to facilitate the movement of legionaries as they go about accomplishing their pastoral duties. The turnout was impressive.

Rev. Fr. Martin Raymond Bindzi named parish priest of St Joseph Anglophone Parish Mvog-Ada

By Franckline Benjika W
The new parish priest of St Joseph Anglophone Parish, Mvog-Ada, Rev. Fr. Martin Raymond Bindzi, was on Thursday, September 11 installed into his functions amidst great animation from the parish faithful.Fr Martin has taken over the command baton from Mgr Joseph Befe Ateba who will be ordained as first bishop of Kribi on Saturday, October 04.

St Anthony Parish to revamp existing Bible-sharing groups

By Mirabel Azangeh Tandafor Fru 
Following a Pastoral Ministry training seminar using the 'Lumko Method' that recently held at the St Anthony's Parish, Buea Town, the faithful, who took part in the training, have resolved to revamp existing parish Bible-sharing groups. 

BEPHA-Buea registers first beneficiary

By Mirabel Azangeh Tandafor Fru
History was made in Buea Diocese on September 5 when a form two student in Tiko, 12-year-old Catherine Nkie Fofock, went into BEPHA records as the first person to benefit from the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province Health Assistance Scheme - BEPHA in Buea Diocese. Catherine Nkie, who is registered under her parents, recently fell sick and went for consultation at the Mount Mary Health Centre with her membership card.