Sons and daughters of Mamfe Diocese, friends of the diocese who reside outside the diocese, some priests and the Bishop of Mamfe, have held the first Economic and Financial Council of Mamfe Diocese.
The session took place on Monday, December 11, 2010 at St. Anthony’s Buea Town Parish. The meeting’s main objective was to evaluate development projects in Mamfe Diocese and examine how Christians and friends of Mamfe Diocese can provide the finances needed to realise these projects. These projects include, but are not limited to, completing the Cathedral and Bishop’s House, and building offices for the convent and some presbyteries.
The day’s activity opened with a Pontifical Mass which the Bishop of Mamfe, His Lordship, Francis Lysinge, celebrated. In his homily, Bishop Lysinge, told the congregation that true development is rooted in a firm faith in Christ. He urged them to help not only Mamfe Diocese, but also the universal church, to meet her development objectives.
Bishop Lysinge quoted Pope Benedict XVI’s recent encyclical Caritas in Veritate, in which the Pope writes, “…besides the good of the individual, there is a good that is linked to living in society: the common good. It is the good of ‘all of us’ made up of individuals, families and intermediate groups who together constitute society. (…) To take a stand for the common good is on the one hand to be solicitous for, and on the other hand to avail oneself of, that complex of institutions that give structure to the life of society, juridically, civilly, politically and culturally, making it the polis, or “city”. The more we strive to secure a common good corresponding to the real needs of our neighbours, the more effectively we love them. Every Christian is therefore called to practice this charity, in a manner corresponding to his vocation and according to the degree of influence he wields in the society” (n.7).
Talking to L’Effort Camerounais after Mass, Bishop Lysinge said Douala, which is the nerve centre of economic activities in Cameroon, was initially the meeting’s first choice, but some friends later suggested that Buea was a better venue and the Bishop of Buea also accepted the meeting should be held in Buea.
Asked if the meeting had anything to do with the up coming 10th anniversary of Mamfe Diocese, Bishop Lysinge said it had, adding it was part of the diocese’s campaign to see what had been achieved in ten years and to examine what still has to be done, especially as a lot is still pending.
His Lordship, Mgr. Francis Teke Lysinge presented the Populorum Progressio Development Plan of Mamfe Diocese.
Other issues discussed during the meeting included the need for vehicles for the Bishop and some parishes, the raising of funds for the Catholic University of Cameroon, School of Forestry and Agriculture, the construction of a minor seminary in Fotabong, the welfare and upkeep of Priests working in Mamfe Diocese, the BEPHA scheme in Mamfe Diocese and considering ways of substantially reducing the deficits the diocese has incurred as a result of ongoing projects in various parts of the diocese.
The following resolutions were taken after the meeting. A committee charged with upgrading the accounting system of Mamfe Diocese was formed. A two-man committee was also put in place to draw up a strategic development plan based on the Populorum Progressio Development plan of Mamfe Diocese before March 19, 2010, FCFA seventy (70) million was to be raised to complete the Bishop’s House. It was agreed that second hand pick-ups be bought and priority should be given to parishes without cars. For the up-keep of priests, it was proposed Christians be sensitized to honour their financial and material commitment towards the Church.
As a result, the paying of tithes was re-introduced. Parishes were encouraged to create committees that could write projects especially in the area of agriculture. While these projects would gradually make the parishes self-reliant, they could also generate money to help them clear their debts.
Besides the Bishop and seven priests, the meeting brought together 24 elite of Mamfe Diocese. The budding diocese presently has 9 parishes and 5 quasi-parishes. Mamfe Diocese will celebrate its 10th anniversary on March 19, 2010.
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