L'Effort Camerounais (English Version)

Editorial:Small Christian Communities, Learning from the East African experience

By Ireneaus Chia Chongwain
The world is undergoing perpetual mutations, so too are the different approaches to effective evangelisation. Whereas the traditional evangelisation pattern within the Catholic Church has been the top-bottom approach, Small Christian communities, which constitute the new of being Church, do not only provide a decentralised and more people-centred way of sharing the Gospel at the community level, but equally provide some kind of planned practical action, mutual aid and social outreach to its members. The strengths of these groups notwithstanding, not all Christians in the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province are part or fully understand the importance of Small Christian communities.

Cardinal Tumi says illegitimate governments do not merit obedience

By Grace Ongey
Christians of  St Monica Parish, Makepe have been called upon to be missionaries in the spirit like St Therese of the child Jesus who prayed endlessly that God's will be done everywhere in the world. His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi made the call over the weekend during his pastoral tour in that parish.During a Mass that was celebrated on the occasion, the Cardinal reminded Christians that they were the first fruits of the work of the early missionaries and must therefore continue to support the missionary work materially and financially.

The Sacraments of the Church: a continuation of the incarnate and glorified Christ (Part one)

By Maurice Agbaw Ebai Ashley,Hekima College Jesuit School of Theology
The Catholic Church has seven sacraments which are the Sacraments of Initiation, which includes Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist; the Sacraments at the Service of Others, that is, Marriage and Holy Order; and the Sacraments of Healing, made up of Confession/Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick." It is the Church's faith that by the sacraments Christ's personal act of redemption becomes sacramentalised in the Church through the use of the works of human hands and nature: bread, wine, oil, water, et cetera.

Small Christian Communities need to be revamped in Douala

By Grace Ongey
Small Christian Communities are seen as the link between the laity and the Church's authorities in spreading the Word of God. These communities are used as channels to disseminate religious doctrines and to help Christians in their everyday spiritual journey. As concerns registration, the group has no strict conditions and opens its doors to everyone. This makes it easier to have more people.

Youths foster the growth of the Church and ensure its continuity

By Emmanuel Wirndzerem Verdzeka
The saying that youths are the Church of today and tomorrow has prompted young people to be described as the 'nursery' of the Catholic Faith. This assertion is further assuming a more concrete perception as young people are getting more involved in the life of the church, especially at grass root level. Ecclesia in Africa underscores the need for the Church to be divided into communities, small enough to foster close human relationships.

First Centenary celebrations: Bota Christians renew commitment to better serve the Church

By Mirabel Azangeh Tandafor Fru
Christians of Holy Trinity Parish Bota have reaffirmed their commitment to serve God and His people. The pledge was taken during the Eucharistic Assembly that marked the parish's Centenary Celebrations at the Bota seaside main mission compound.The desire not to miss this once-in-a-lifetime event, pushed thousands of Christians to brave the eve's bad weather and threats of an even heavier downpour on the morning of the Centenary celebration, to be part of the historic event.

Reactions

Rev Sr Victorine Kuma - daughter of Bota Parish 
Having grown up in Bota Parish, I really feel delighted to be part of this celebration. I also feel very happy that I am part of the history of this Parish especially as most of my years in school were spent here. A centenary is not 20 years. It does not come easily. So, I am proud to be part of the success story of Bota Parish.

Yaounde Archdiocesan Education Secretary assures teachers of regular salaries

Interviewed by Franckline Benjika W
The Yaounde Archdiocesan Education Secretary, Rev. Fr. Joseph Essomba,  recently visited the St Joseph Bilingual Primary School, Mvolye, to evaluate the situation on the ground following the resumption of schools for the 2008/2009 Academic Year. L'Effort Camerounais seized the opportunity to ask the clergy a number of questions in relation to problems plaguing Catholic Education in the Archdiocese.

A majority of pupils in Catholic Anglophone schools in Yaounde are Francophones

By Franckline Benjika W
It will not be wrong if one speculates that in 25 years, English will replace the French Language as a lingua franca in Cameroon as most Francophone parents now prefer to enrol their children in English or bilingual schools. The Yaounde Archdiocese pedagogic adviser for Anglophone schools, Mrs Nkuo, says the rush for English schools is rife in the archdiocese, explaining that three-quarters of pupils in Catholic English schools in Yaounde come from French speaking homes.

"Cameroon's roads are smeared with human blood", says Mezam State Counsel, Ngwene James

  By Emmanuel F. Sanosi
"Our roads are multi-coloured with human blood from road accidents. Road accidents have become a perennial illness". This statement is contained in a submission of the learned State Counsel for Mezam, Ngwene James, presented during a recent swearing-in of some staff of the North West Delegation of Public Works as follow-up engineers for the protection of public works infrastructure in the province.