“May all the good works we have heard about Bishop Faustin Ngabu encourage us to do even more good and to multiply the talents we have received from the Lord,” Archbishop François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo said.
Successor of Bishop Ngabu at Goma Diocese, Bishop Théophile Kaboy Ruboneka, himself retired, paid tribute to the memory of a “bold” man who “took many risks to proclaim Christ and make Him loved.”
He recalled that Bishop Ngabu did not hesitate to meet with the highest authorities, including Mobutu and Mzee Kabila, to defend the cause of the Gospel, sometimes at the risk of his own life.
“Ngabu is an encyclopedia. His journey and his biography should be made public to serve as a lesson for all generations,” he said.
Bishop Kaboy is also the last surviving Priest among the 16 whom Bishop Ngabu met upon his arrival as the head of the Diocese of Goma.
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In an emotional tribute, Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele of Goma Diocese lamented the loss of someone he considered a father figure and mentor, having been confirmed, ordained a Priest, and later ordained a Bishop by him.
“We were always three, but today, we remain only two,” Bishop Ngumbi said, referring to the Diocese’s unique situation of having two emeritus Bishops and one serving Bishop—an exceptional case in Africa.
He will now rely on Bishop Kaboy, his immediate predecessor, for guidance as he seeks to preserve the legacy left by both predecessors.
Presenting the biography of the late Bishop, Fr. Célestin Kanyambiriri lauded the 51 years of Episcopal Ministry of the former rector of the Major Seminary of Muresa, who became Bishop at the age of 39.
His episcopal ministry, Fr. Kanyambiriri noted, was marked on one hand by exceptional dedication to proclaiming the Gospel and on the other by his fight against poverty and interethnic conflicts that shook his region.
He noted that Bishop Ngabu’s commitment to the two causes and his sometimes firm stances had earned him both enemies and misunderstandings in the region, with several attempts made on his life.
“The legacy of Bishop Ngabu is immense. It would take a whole book to fully recount it,” said.
For the Catholic Priest, Bishop Ngabu will remain an inspiration to all generations in the region, a model of courage and perseverance in evangelization, and a promoter of vocations and development.
The late Bishop is said to have ordained 112 Priests, established 11 parishes, 15 hospitals, and around forty other medical facilities
He is also said to have established the Diocesan Caritas, a network of approximately 661 Catholic schools, and many other Church establishments.
Fr. Kanyambiriri paid tribute to a man he considered “a tireless pastor, a baobab, and a peacemaker.”
Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.
