Catholic Teachers in Cameroonian Diocese Urged to Embrace Holistic Formation of Students

Buea, 27 August, 2025 / 7:22 PM

Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi of the Catholic Diocese of Buea in Cameroon has called on teachers and administrators in Catholic schools across his Episcopal See to strengthen their commitment to faith-based education, authenticity, and holistic formation of students.

In his homily during a Thanksgiving Mass for teachers ahead of the new academic year, Bishop Bibi emphasized that “we cannot train our students to be intellectual giants who have no faith.”

“Faith must be the basis for every formation that we give them. It is important for us, therefore, to make sure that formation in the faith is taken and given seriously,” the Cameroonian Catholic Bishop said during the Wednesday, August 27 Eucharistic celebration that was held at the Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral of Buea Diocese.

Bishop Bibi highlighted the “tremendous blessings” of the Church’s educational institutions, including nursery, primary, secondary, high schools, and the Catholic University Institute of Buea. 

He urged teachers to remain faithful to the vision of Catholic education: forming young people academically, morally, spiritually, and socially.

The Local Ordinary of Buea thanked teachers, administrators, bursars, accountants, and education council members for their “sacrifices and prayers,” especially in ensuring transparency, accountability, and high academic standards. 

Bishop Bibi warned teachers against hypocrisy, pride, and self-sufficiency in their mission, saying, “It is a terrible thing for a teacher to be a hypocrite. Modern man listens to witnesses more than teachers today. Teachers must be witnesses to what they teach and what they proclaim.”

He urged educators to lead by example, treat students as their own children, and avoid arrogance. 

“The Church does not need stars. It needs servants with humble and available hearts. A hypocrite says one thing but does another. Teachers must live authentic lives,” the Catholic Church leader said.

Acknowledging the ongoing socio-political crisis in Cameroon’s English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions, Bishop Bibi insisted that education remains a fundamental human right that no authority can deny.

“Nothing should separate us from this goal, from this mission of educating our young brothers and sisters,” he said.

Bishop Bibi announced plans to open a diocesan vocational training institute in the basement of the Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral, beginning with hotel management and catering courses. 

He explained that the initiative would provide practical skills and job opportunities while “giving our own Catholic touch to vocational training.”

The Catholic Bishop encouraged the people of God to draw inspiration from St. Monica, whose persistent prayers led to the conversion of her son, St. Augustine. “With the difficulties and the challenges that we are encountering, we should not relent in putting everything in God’s hands in prayers,” he said.