“Show world that chastity is noble”: Catholic Bishop in Cameroon to Newly Ordained Deacons

He continued, “Ask God to help you because you cannot keep this resolve by your own might.”

Credit: Kumbo Diocese

Reflecting on the role of Deacons in the Catholic Church, the 70-year-old Catholic Bishop said that Deacons are called to be “helpers of the Bishops and the Priests.”

“Servanthood is at the very heart of the ministry which you will fully undertake through ordination,” Bishop Nkuo told the ten candidates for Diaconate.

He added, “One who serves is not a slave to his own agenda but ever ready to deal with the unexpected, ever available to his brothers and sisters, and ever open to God’s constant surprises.”

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Credit: Kumbo Diocese

“Our Holy Father has challenged us to reclaim the radical vision of the Gospel in terms of moving out of our comfort zones, laboring at the peripheries and to have the smell of the sheep, to work with the people, identify with them in their struggles, questions, and uncertainties,” he further said. 

The Cameroonian Catholic Bishop who has been at the helm of Kumbo Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in September 2006 told the Deacons-elect that the Church “is rejuvenated by your energy, commitment and enriched by your many gifts. Your brother Priests and people of God in Kumbo are strengthened by our courage.”

Credit: Kumbo Diocese

He underscored the importance of self-sacrifice, urging the Deacons-elect to “not be afraid to make up for all that is to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church.”

“Preach the word of God without compromise, without fear or hesitation,” Bishop Nkuo said, and added, “Your ordination to the Diaconate marks a significant shift. You are now called to a constant move from being a listener of God’s word to being a preacher of the word.”

Credit: Kumbo Diocese

“The quality of your preaching will depend on the depth of your listening to the Lord,” he told the Deacons-elect.

The ten Deacons ordained during the July 6 event include William Clinton Lukong, Pierre Marie Ngew, Ben Collins Nsoyeni, Roberto Tume, Ronald Tume, Fabian Ngwani, Patrick Dubilla, Damian Bisinyo, Clifford Nformi, and Cyril La-ashe.

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.