By Mirabel Azangeh Tandafor Fru
About one thousand pilgrims turned out at the Mungo Bridge on December 5 to see the handing over of the Relics of St Therese of the Child Jesus from Douala Archdiocese to Buea Diocese. At no period in its history had Buea Diocese witnessed an ecclesial event of a greater dimension.
Prayers, devotion, reverence and of course, a sense of belonging to the Catholic faith marked the event. St Therese T-shirts, head-scarves, loin-clothes, calendars and devotional booklets, could be spotted everywhere. Bishop Immanuel Bushu led the convoy to Christ the King College Tiko where the golden Reliquary touched South West soil for the first time.
The Bishop headed the team that led the Reliquary through the greater part of Buea Diocese. At least 25 masses and 25 devotions were organised during the whole event. Frs. Moses Tazoh, Francis Ncham, Wilfred Epie, Celestine Diang, Denis Ndang, Fr John Tchamnda and Mrs Rosaline Menga and Mr Joseph Ndifor, all assisted the Bishop to make the event a resounding success.
The core message at every stop was merged with that of Advent. "The teachings and life style of St Therese are an invitation to all to live the Gospel. Her teachings call on society to show true love for God and one's neighbours. Therese trusted God and in her 'Little Way' of doing things, committed herself to her daily tasks, played no favourites, and gave of herself even to the difficult members of her Lisieux Convent. Her life was steeped in a loving commitment that knew no limit."
At the different stops, the officiating prelate explained that the coming of St Therese's Relics to Cameroon during Advent is of great comfort and blessing, which if well understood, would ensure a Christmas with a difference and even bring down showers of roses from heaven. In Tiko Parish, during a Mass dedicated for youths, the Bishop stressed the need for all Christians to strive for salvation.
In Mutengene, the Bishop called on all to be humble on earth in order to be big in heaven. During the Mass that was dedicated to all families, the Christians who came to venerate St Therese, prayed the 'Celestial citizen' to take their petition to God to become like children.
At the Sasse Carmelite Convent, the Sisters received the Relics of St Therese with showers of roses just as she would have loved. They later drowned the air with melodious singing. The Carmelite Sisters described St Therese as a 'shining star' to all generations of women. They asked her to obtain God's grace for them to follow her 'Little Ways', to intercede for all youths and to make more Cameroonians to encounter God, to pray for and with them, and to help them find their mission in the Church and in the community.
At the University of Buea Parish, the Buea Vicar General, Mgr Edward Ngalame, enjoined students to receive the Relics of St Therese with open minds. At Holy Trinity Parish Bota, Fr Thaddeus Mbi explained why Catholics venerate saints, thus justifying the presence of the Relics of St Therese in Cameroon.
During the first vigil Mass for the Limbe community at Holy Family Parish, the Bishop blessed a statue of St Therese. Fr Elias Fonji, who based his homily on the sick, asked patients not to ignore the spiritual dimension of their suffering. "Just like St Therese, some will go home not cured. God is not being cruel, but sickness might just be your ladder to Heaven," He condemned the habit of complaining about misfortune and failing to thank God for our blessings.
At midnight, Fr Sebastian Fonsah led hundreds of Christians through devotion for a special touch from God through St Therese. He lambasted the moral and societal ills that are gaining ground in Cameroon. In St Andrew's Parish Muea on Sunday, December 7, Bishop Bushu invited all to live a virtuous Advent. In St Joseph's Parish Muyuka, Fr Christopher Dia invited all to reshape their lives by shunning vices. At St Anthony Parish Kumba-Mbeng, Fr John Tchamnda admonished devotees to use their professions to seek salvation. The main prayer intention was for the forces of law and order.
At Sacred Heart Parish Fiango, Kumba, Fr Willibroad Sakwe urged the sick to give God the choice to determine the outcome of their illness. At the Kumba Mother House of the Sisters of St Therese, it was a call for the respect of the Congregation's Constitution and a judicious use of talents. Mgr Bushu reiterated: "St Therese was simple and that is what your Constitution prescribes. Abide by it." Overwhelmed with joy, the Mother Superior of the Congregation, Sr Mary Kombe, termed the visit of the Relics of their Patron "a miracle of grace".
The Tombel Parish Priest, Fr Jervis Kebei, said the way God designated Mary to be the mother of His son is the same way He picked out Tombel to host the Relics. During the tour's last Mass, the Bishop announced the imminent creation of associations of St Therese in every Parish as a way to preserve memories of her passage in Buea Diocese.
Catholic schools and mission stations too gyrated to the rhythm of the visiting Saint, an indication of their commitment to the Catholic Faith. From CKC Tiko, REPACOL Mutengene, through St Paul's Bonjongo, St Joseph Sasse, BIROCOL Soppo, St John Bosco Buea Town, St Anne Limbe, Mt Carmel Muea, to OLAGRASS Muyuka, St John Kumba Town, St Francis Fiango-Kumba, and all Catholic primary schools in these localities, the story was same- soul-searching St Therese songs and profound veneration. Students, who were preparing for their exams asked the Missionary Saint for the graces of a retentive memory and success in exams and life.
In Ebonji Mission those who turned out to venerate the relics also listened to the story of a 24-year-old French Carmelite nun and tapped from her experience. The Religious and Church groups; notably the CWA, CMA, choirs and associations also carried out special devotions during the tour.
It may be too early to report miracles registered during the tour, but it is everyone's hope that St Therese's visit will increase the faith of Christians all over Buea Diocese.
What a marvelous story! For much more about the life, spirituality, writings, and mission of St. Therese and about her parents, Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, please see http://thereseoflisieux.org
Posted by: Maureen O'Riordan | December 29, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Hi.Could you pease verify for me that Ay Ndeng Ayumbi is a Sister in the Congregation St. Therese of the Child Jesus of Buea Cameroon.Sr requested assistance for work with crisis pregnancies as Chaplain in the New Bell Prison.The request came following an article we had published in the Word Among Us Jan09 Ed re Crisis Pregnancy Support in New Zealand.As I hope to encourage some others to assist me to raise some donations I need to verify the authenticty of the request.All for Christ,Cushla and Joseph Hassan
Posted by: Cushla and Joseph Hassan | June 18, 2009 at 02:31 AM