By Grace Ongey
Christians of Douala Archdiocese converged on St Monica's Parish church in their numbers on Saturday, December 6, to thank the Almighty for saving the life of the Yaoundé Archbishop, Mgr Victor Tonye Bakot. Mgr Bakot miraculously missed death in a ghastly accident along the Yaounde-Douala Highway on March 27, 2008.
Mgr Victor Tonye Bakot personally celebrated the thanksgiving Mass, which according to him, constituted one of the unique moments since his return from France where he had been evacuated for treatment. It was unique because it gave him the chance to show his profound gratitude to the Lord for what will certainly remain one of the miracles of his life.
During his sermon Mgr Bakot made a lot of allusions to the Psalmist and to Job, the servant of God, who went through the devil's harsh trials, but emerged victorious. He disclosed that every Christian's strength comes from his/her ability to submit all forms of suffering to God. Mgr Tonye Bakot did not remain inactive while in hospital in France. Right on his sick bed, he came up with a book on why people suffer and how they should respond to suffering; a write up based on his proper experience.
Mgr Bakot called on Christians not to ignore the positive dimension of suffering. He reiterated that God dwells in our midst more when we suffer than when we rejoice. He instructed Christians to love without limits as God's love is boundless.
He equally thanked Christians for their prayers and intercessions during his trial moment. Mgr Bakot enjoined them to pray for the priests and for Cameroon, and called upon all Christians to pray so that the Pope's March visit to Cameroon should be a success.
His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi described Mgr Bakot's survival as a miracle. "I could not imagine how someone had survived judging from the state of the vehicle". Cardinal Tumi said the fact that Archbishop Bakot has been given another opportunity indicates that he has not yet completed his mission on earth.
In his welcome address, the Douala Archdiocese Vicar General and Parish Priest of St Monica Parish Makepe, Mgr Paul Nyaga, recalled the March incident, which he said, almost plunged the Catholic Church into another tragedy. He said the accident looked like one of those strategies the devil and his agents concoct to put an end to the lives of God's children.
Mgr Nyaga said, like the nine lepers in the Bible, most people hardly come back to thank God for the good He has done in their lives. Mgr Bakot, he pointed out, did not only pray, beg and ask God to heal him, but also later came back to thank God for His healing mercies. On behalf of Douala Catholic Christians, Mgr Nyaga expressed gratitude to God for having the prelate once more on his feet.
During this thank-you-God mass, there was a special offertory, intended to assist Mgr Bakot in buying his medicines. A musical manifestation in the Bassa dialect graced the occasion with songs related to some of the themes Mgr Bakot has raised in his recently written book on suffering. Mgr Tonye Bakot had served as auxiliary bishop in Douala Archdiocese for close to 15 years.
Revisiting the March 27, 2008, accident
On March 27, 2008, Mgr Victor Tonye Bakot and two others were victims of a ghastly accident along the Yaounde-Douala highway, precisely at Ahala. There was a head-on collision between the Archbishop's car and an oncoming truck which left the occupants of the Arch bishop's car seriously injured. The victims were rushed to the Yaounde Central Hospital, but based on the gravity of his injuries Mgr Bakot was flown to France for intensive treatment. The trip was made possible thanks to financial assistance from the Head of State and the Church.
He was successfully operated upon on March 30, and a series of other operations followed the initial surgical intervention. Mgr Bakot received a lot of support from Christians and government officials after his accident. One of the firs people to visit him at the Yaounde Central Hospital was His Eminence, Christian Cardinal Tumi.
Prayers, vigils and novenas for the prelate's recovery have had their desired results as he could be seen walking without any assistance during the event. The Douala Co-Adjutor Archbishop, Mgr Samuel Kleda, and a host of priests from far and near took part in the Eucharistic celebration.
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