Douala Archdiocese has set the pace in creating a School of Theology for the Lay Faithful. L’ Effort Camerounais caught up with the Rector of St. Jerome School of Theology in Douala, who examines study concerns in his institution. Excerpts:
When was the Douala Cathedral St. Jerome School of Theology created, and what motivated the Bishops to create a School of Theology for the lay Faithful?
This school opened its doors in September 2006, but the school was created a month earlier, that is, in August 2006. By creating the school and appointing its first director, His Eminence, Christian Emeritus Cardinal Tumi, was responding to the demands of Christians in Douala Archdiocese. What also motivated the creation of the school was that Our Archbishop was committed to creating a school of Theology that could ensure an in-depth training of the Laity. I think that objective has been met.
Are homilies and sermons delivered during Eucharistic celebrations not enough to edify Christians to the extent that a School of Theology should be created to train them?
We think the time set aside for homilies either on Sundays and during week, or even the time set aside to train catechumens before they receive the Sacraments, is largely insufficient for Christians to master the Word of God profoundly. The Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops that has just held in Rome addressed this subject. It is not only limited to training the Laity in general, but different categories of the Lay Faithful. The Church believes it is necessary to create specialised institutions to train Christians in matters of faith, so that they can better master the fundamentals in their faith, notably the Canon Law, knowledge on the functioning of the Church and morals, so that Christians should be well provided for, seasoned and apt to render an account of their stewardship to God.
How have Christians responded to the initiative and may we also know the present enrolment in your institution?
The Douala School of Theology is God’s marvellous and prophetic work. When His Eminence Christian Emeritus Cardinal Tumi created this school in 2006, we had envisaged taking off with about 30 students. At the time plans had been made that the school should open its doors at St. Gerald School Annex, Deido, in one or two classrooms. But from the first day, we were surprised to find a crowd of Lay Faithful who had turned out, positively responding to the Archbishop’s call. From that day, the response indicated that the number of students was going to largely outnumber our prediction. Faced with a very large number of faithful hungry to deepen their faith, we were obliged to decentralise this school into various pastoral zones in our archdiocese. Besides, the Archdiocese has opened the Higher Institute for Religious Studies this year. Even with the Catholic University that the government has authorised Douala Archdiocese to open, ECATHED remains the mother institution. The desire is enormous, and we are happy to notice that our pastors are responding to the aspirations and needs of the Lay faithful.
May we know more about the courses your institution offers? Do students receive the same training as Seminarians?
We train different categories of Christians, considering the different ministries and the needs of the Church. Priests have a particular focus in their training and pursue long studies which last for a minimum of 9 years. These studies are long so that priests can better respond to the needs of God’s people. With regards to the Lay Faithful, it is not the same thing. They are not trained to become priests. The training they receive helps them to deepen their faith, so that they better understand their mission, role, vocation, and put it into practice in their different walks of life. Their studies have been designed to meet the objectives I have just cited. It is for this reason that we believe that after four years of training Christians are better prepared to exercise their ministry in this world.
Can Muslims and Protestants be admitted to your institution?
For believers, God is a Father of all Men and we cannot monopolise him and prevent others from knowing Him better. There are people who do not share our faith who can also, even if it is limited to the cultural level, have the thirst to better understand the Word of God that we teach. This will permit them to better understand their brothers who belong to other religious denominations, to be able to exchange and dialogue with them. It is with this perspective that the Institute of Theology was created. I am happy to inform you that there are non-Catholic students, as well as Muslims, and even people who are reticent to the Word of God, in our school. We believe it is fundamental these people understand the values we teach in the Catholic Church. This will help us to dialogue and better understand our differences, to better live together.
Many people believe this school is for the rich. Proof is some students have just undertaken a pilgrimage for FCFA one million to the Holy Land. What is done to encourage the poor to be also involved?
ECATHED is not a school for the rich. It is a school in which one meets people of all strata in society. It is for this reason that right from the very beginning it was divided into two levels- level 1 for the masses and level 2, which is more selective, involving those who have the Advanced Level. Here we have people from the upper class, if you permit me use the expression. There are magistrates, university lecturers, doctors and business people. Perhaps it is here that we can meet people who are rich, who can offer not only gifts, but also afford different experiences, like the pilgrimage to the Holy Land you have just mentioned.
What are some of the difficulties the administrative staff and others are facing in your institution?
ECATHED is our first experience. In this regard, one is forced to reflect in all directions and this is not easy. A project like this one is still in its foundation stage and not easy to manage. We need infrastructure, put in place the institution itself, the training programme, organise training of lecturers, define objectives and sensitise students so that they understand why they are here and make available theological principles, which are fundamental to us, available to all. There are difficulties, no doubt, but they are not insurmountable.
In your opinion, what is the future of ECATHED, which you manage?
I think the future is full of hope. ECATHED has opted for decentralisation. The school is present in all Douala Archdiocese’s Pastoral Zones. We also have the Higher Institute for Religious Studies and we are working in collaboration with the Faculty of Theology in Yaounde under the supervision of the Congregation of Catholic Education and the State has just authorised us to open an Institute for Religious Sciences. This means that the diplomas which will be issued from this institute will be accepted by the Roman Catholic Church and the State of Cameroon. We are about to establish definitely near the Cathedral where our campus will be built. There is every reason to hope. The first batch will graduate on November 28 and we are happy as testimonies reaching us confirm the school is doing a lot of good to Christians at the personal and social levels.
Do you have a message for those who are still hesitating to enrol in your institution?
They should not be afraid of this institute. It is a school that teaches the faith. We attempt to tailor studies to meet the needs of all. We envisage giving not only theoretical knowledge, but also to convert Man. It is an evangelical school whose aim is to permit Man to transform himself, so that He becomes a witness to the values that he has been taught. At a financial level, there should also be no fear. Every one will find a place in the different categories that have been put in place in ECATHED.
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