By Jude Abanseka
Christians from all corners of Buea Diocese, especially those of Bokwaongo, converged on St. Martin de Pores Catholic Church Bokwaongo on Friday December 4, 2009, to join Rev. Sr. Edith Itor in thanking God. This was for 25 years of fruitful service in the Lord’s vineyard.
Bishop Bushu, who took some time off his pastoral visit to the Holy Family Parish New Town Limbe, opened his homily as usual with praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life, especially that of Sr. Itor. He said the Scripture is God in written form; reason why the fathers of Vatican II said Christians should venerate the Bible. He said the Bible is meant for every body.
Commenting on what religious life is all about; Bishop Bushu said it is first a life commitment. This commitment, he said, starts from the day of our Baptism, because we become like Christ, such that if one were to die after a proper baptism, she/he will go straight to Heaven. Religious life also gives a spirit of living in a community. St. Paul, recommends no food for one who does not work; so being a religious, one has to emulate Christ’s life of a suffering servant. Religious life, the Bishop also said, is one of temptation; if not, life is empty, because temptation makes one strong in faith. He stressed that temptation is not a sin but a test and that like Christ, Christians should bless all temptation.
He added that religious life is always renewed and strengthened when done with Christ, which is why one should carry his cross daily and follow Christ. Bishop Bushu outlined some vows the religious take. There is the vow of poverty, clearly seen in the simplistic dressing style of Sisters. The vow of obedience, which means, one’s superiors are in charge of him/her. This is what also makes community life difficult, but the difficulties, the Bishop said, are there to make one strong. There is also the vow of chastity which is a sacrificial sign of loving dedication. This is witnessing to the great marriage of Christ to the Church. Bishop Bushu then concluded that the world of the religious is a great sacrifice for the glory of God and the Church.
Noting that Sr. Itor has lived this commitment for the past 25 years, the Bishop urged the congregation to continue praying for her so that God should grant her more wisdom, courage, faith and perseverance in His vineyard. Bishop Bushu said it is no use saying good things about a person when he/she is already dead. The Church thus celebrates events like this to encourage the person to do more good works for the Church.
Who is Rev. Sr. Edith Itor?
Rev. Sr. Edith Itor was born in Kumba on October 5, 1961. She is the fourth child and first girl in a family of 10. Her father was a primary school teacher and her family moved a lot. They found themselves in Bokwaongo at some stage where she spent most of her childhood. While in Secondary school in St. John’s College Nchang, she got her vocation. The Principal Rev. Sr. Declan, was a Holy Rosary sister and with her support was a Holy Rosary Sister; Rev. Sr. Mary Declan and with her support, Sr. Edith accepted God’s invitation to join the Sisters of St. Therese and not the Holy Rosary Sisters, for she did not feel called to Missionary life. She joined the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in 1981. Her primary formation years were spent in Kumba and she did her first profession in 1984.
She began her career in Fiango and Kumba Town as a primary school teacher. After that she went to Nigeria for further training. When she came back home she did formation for young girls for 7 years in their Formation House for Postulancy in Baseng. She then went to the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago USA for further studies and had a Masters degree in Systematic Theology. When she returned to Cameroon, she was posted to Our Lady of Mount Carmel College in Muea, where she taught for 1 year after which she was appointed to head her Alma Mater, St. John’s College Nchang. She did that for one year. When Bishop Jules Peeters Memorial High School Bokwaongo was created, she was appointed to head it as pioneer principal.
Talking to L’Effort Camerounais, Sr. Itor said she considers being a religious as God’s not her personal achievement.
Her only sister is also a Religious. There were close to 50 reverend sisters in attendance, most of them from the congregation of the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.There were traditional dances to animate the day and the most interesting was an impromptu show by some sisters who danced to a typical Bakweri traditional piece. Some members of the Catholic Women Association joined them.
Commenting on what religious life is all about; Bishop Bushu said it is first a life commitment. This commitment, he said, starts from the day of our Baptism, because we become like Christ, such that if one were to die after a proper baptism, she/he will go straight to Heaven. Religious life also gives a spirit of living in a community. St. Paul, recommends no food for one who does not work; so being a religious, one has to emulate Christ’s life of a suffering servant. Religious life, the Bishop also said, is one of temptation; if not, life is empty, because temptation makes one strong in faith. He stressed that temptation is not a sin but a test and that like Christ, Christians should bless all temptation.
He added that religious life is always renewed and strengthened when done with Christ, which is why one should carry his cross daily and follow Christ. Bishop Bushu outlined some vows the religious take. There is the vow of poverty, clearly seen in the simplistic dressing style of Sisters. The vow of obedience, which means, one’s superiors are in charge of him/her. This is what also makes community life difficult, but the difficulties, the Bishop said, are there to make one strong. There is also the vow of chastity which is a sacrificial sign of loving dedication. This is witnessing to the great marriage of Christ to the Church. Bishop Bushu then concluded that the world of the religious is a great sacrifice for the glory of God and the Church.
Noting that Sr. Itor has lived this commitment for the past 25 years, the Bishop urged the congregation to continue praying for her so that God should grant her more wisdom, courage, faith and perseverance in His vineyard. Bishop Bushu said it is no use saying good things about a person when he/she is already dead. The Church thus celebrates events like this to encourage the person to do more good works for the Church.
Who is Rev. Sr. Edith Itor?
Rev. Sr. Edith Itor was born in Kumba on October 5, 1961. She is the fourth child and first girl in a family of 10. Her father was a primary school teacher and her family moved a lot. They found themselves in Bokwaongo at some stage where she spent most of her childhood. While in Secondary school in St. John’s College Nchang, she got her vocation. The Principal Rev. Sr. Declan, was a Holy Rosary sister and with her support was a Holy Rosary Sister; Rev. Sr. Mary Declan and with her support, Sr. Edith accepted God’s invitation to join the Sisters of St. Therese and not the Holy Rosary Sisters, for she did not feel called to Missionary life. She joined the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in 1981. Her primary formation years were spent in Kumba and she did her first profession in 1984.
She began her career in Fiango and Kumba Town as a primary school teacher. After that she went to Nigeria for further training. When she came back home she did formation for young girls for 7 years in their Formation House for Postulancy in Baseng. She then went to the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago USA for further studies and had a Masters degree in Systematic Theology. When she returned to Cameroon, she was posted to Our Lady of Mount Carmel College in Muea, where she taught for 1 year after which she was appointed to head her Alma Mater, St. John’s College Nchang. She did that for one year. When Bishop Jules Peeters Memorial High School Bokwaongo was created, she was appointed to head it as pioneer principal.
Talking to L’Effort Camerounais, Sr. Itor said she considers being a religious as God’s not her personal achievement.
Her only sister is also a Religious. There were close to 50 reverend sisters in attendance, most of them from the congregation of the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.There were traditional dances to animate the day and the most interesting was an impromptu show by some sisters who danced to a typical Bakweri traditional piece. Some members of the Catholic Women Association joined them.
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