At Silver Jubilee of Cameroonian Diocese, Nuncio Urges Priests to Be “agents of service”

“Be people of prayer; be people of Christian service; be united. Let us take the example of a single thread; a single thread that you use to sew these beautiful garments that you are wearing. A single thread can be torn apart by the smallest amount of pressure. But a rope, a rope composed of many threads intertwined together, can hold ocean liners in bay,” the Portuguese-born Vatican diplomat, who also represents the Holy Father in Equatorial Guinea said.

Credit: Mamfe Diocese

He continued, “My dear brother Priests, be united like the ropes of the bark of Peter, the ropes to which the anchor is hooked, protecting the bark from the winds and the storms. Be united like the rope that lifts up the sails to catch the wind, making it sail and bringing the bark to port. Be like the ropes of strong, expansive nets that bring in the abundant catch of fish.”

The member of the Clergy of Canada’s Ottawa-Cornwall Archdiocese called upon the Clergy of Mamfe Diocese to “be the faithful, loving presence of God in your communities. Know that with God you can make a valid, enduring and holy difference for our beloved people.”

Credit: Mamfe Diocese

Mamfe Diocese is part of Cameroon’s English-speaking region that plunged into conflict in 2016 after a protest by lawyers and teachers turned violent. An armed movement of separatists claiming independence for the so-called republic of Ambazonia emerged following the government’s crackdown on protesters. 

School boycotts have become common in the embattled regions, as have enforced moratoriums on public life, resulting in what is known as "ghost towns".

Credit: Mamfe Diocese

In his February 22 address, the Apostolic Nuncio in Cameroon recalled the killing of innocent civilians during the February 11 attack on Nkambe town and the disruption of Holy Mass at Christ the King Jakiri Parish in Kumbo Diocese.

He said, “The blinding shadows of the recent tragedy of February 11 at our sister Diocese of Kumbo are repugnant reminders of the life-threatening exposure you and all who are here live each and every day.”

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“Violence is never justified,” Archbishop Bettencourt further said, adding that he felt “firsthand the difficulties, the humiliations, the molestations, the hardship” members of the Clergy of Mamfe Diocese face.

“Dear brother Priests, I admire your presbyterate. You have a wonderful, supportive, priestly brotherhood. You are young, energetic, dynamic, and so much good is possible with your gospel loving ideals,” the 61-year-old Vatican diplomat, who started his service as Apostolic Nuncio in Armenia and Georgia in March 2018 said.

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He continued, “Today, in these difficult times, your ministry is ever relevant to the faithful and the community as a whole. Preach the eternal word of peace throughout your land. Be messengers of peace and unity. Your unity to your Bishop guarantees the universal church's support for you.”

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Reflecting on the Silver Jubilee of Mamfe Diocese, the Apostolic Nuncio in the Central African nation recognized the value of all the people of God in the Episcopal See that was erected in February 1999.

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He said, “Every member has its respected and dignified place amongst us. In a family, each member occupies an important place and contributes in an important way to its well being.”

“We witness this with all the work that has gone into preparing this wonderful celebration of the 25th anniversary of the erection of the Diocese of Mamfe,” the representative of the Holy Father in Cameroon since August 2023 added.

He expressed the Holy Father’s fraternity, saying, “Pope Francis is very close to you in his solidarity and prayer for the goodwill of all and that peace may be upon you.”

Credit: Mamfe Diocese

“I thank you once again for all the work you are doing for the church and for the people of goodwill in this beloved region and for the whole of this noble nation of Cameroon,” Archbishop Bettencourt said.

He implored, “May St. Francis Xavier, Saint Joseph, our heavenly Mother, intercede for this family in this church of Mamfe.”