Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
At Tuesday, April 22 2014 Priestly Ordination in the Diocese of Buea, the Shepherd of the Diocese, Bishop Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu raised the issue of materialism and the quest for wealth in the Catholic Church. In his sermon and message to the eleven new deacons ordained into the Priesthood and to the rest of his Priests in the Diocese and beyond, Mgr. Bushu challenged them to be like God, be humble like God and stay away from the things of the world and acquisition of wealth.
The Prelate said materialism and secularism are big issues in the church, which must be vigorously fought against on a daily basis. “Priests are not supposed to acquire wealth, have bank accounts, buy things like people in ordinary life and civil society do. If they do not live a life of simplicity and humility, their message will not go across to people,” he mentioned.
Mgr. Bushu(mic on the mouth) carries out Ordination Rite on a Deacon(kneeling with Priestly garment)
Mgr. Bushu told the new Priests that they are servants and slaves to the people of God, saying they are out to work for everybody without distinction. “You have to teach the gospel in the name of Christ and let your doctrine nourish the people of God,” he advised.
The Shepherd of Buea Diocese said the Ordination Rite is the laying of the hands on the head of the Deacon, which makes the individual a Priest. The other rites come after the laying of the hands. He will cite St. Paul, who says; “Ordination is an amazing grace…”
One of the newly ordained Priests, Rev.Fr Herbert Niba offers Communion at the Ordination Mass
He said the new Priests, called to the Presbyterate after their ordination must stand with Jesus Christ everyday of their lives. He will add that the work in the vineyard of God is delicate, with the devil ever ready to perturb, “so, they must hang on to the garment of Jesus Christ.”
Bishop Bushu mentioned that ordination is the last great thing Jesus Christ did on earth before his death, as he ordained his apostles, thus Jesus has accepted Priests because he has made them worthy.
According to Mgr. Bushu the vocation of Priesthood comes with God’s inspiration and not man and so he thanked God for the gift of Priesthood, indicating that it will never die.
He invited Christians to pray for Priests when they go astray and not to heap abuses on them. “They are chosen amongst God’s people and must act in the name of God,” Mgr Bushu noted.
The New Priests
The eleven new Priests ordained at the Regina Pacis Cathedral, Small Soppo, Buea, include; Rev. Frs Herbert Niba, Kevin Sakwe, Joseph Ngome, Marcel Ekang, John Baba, Ernest Epan Mungu, Michael Mbunwir, Jude Visoh, Richard Tah, Franҫois Xavier Effa and Killian Agbor.
On behalf of the newly ordained, Rev. Fr Mungu expressed gratitude to all, who have been supportive to them as they went through the mill to be part of God’s vineyard, while calling for endless prayers as they engage into a new ministry.
Rev.Fr Joseph Ngome said they have all been looking forward to the day of their ordination though God has the final say. “It is the work of God and not me. I know God cannot give me what I cannot handle. I keep wondering why God trusts me so much, with His grace and the prayers of all those who love me, God will not let me down.”
Eleven new Priests in the Diocese of Buea are coming at a time when Bishop Bushu is in the process of creating new parishes so that the word of God can be taken closer to the people.
Cross section of the Deacons to be ordained Priests at the Ordination Mass at the Regina Pacis Cathedral Premises, Small Soppo, Buea
The Deacons prostrate themselves for the cantors that start with the litany of the saints
The ordination rite is being executed with the laying of hands on the head of a Deacon
The newly ordained Priests bless the christians who turned out for their ordination ceremony
Some Seminarians of the St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Bambui at the Ordination Mass in Buea
Members of the Catholic Women Association, CWA at the Ordination Mass
