It’s been
quite a week for us! The kids finished
school, each one performing wonderfully during the end-of-the-year performance
and graduation. They all did very well
in school. The delegate for education in
the Northwest region commented on how “completely integrated” our children
are. Josh was featured prominently in
his role as school prefect and the #1 student in the school. We are all looking forward to our summer!
I’ve been
busily grading papers and final exams this week in order to submit the grades
to the seminary. In addition to teaching
two classes on the Church Fathers, Joy and I together taught a Pastoral
Counseling course to the final year seminarians. It went very well, although we wish we had
more time to prepare them (if anyone in this country is going to seek
counseling, most likely they will go to the priest).
The big event
was the centenary celebration, the crowning event after two years of
preparation. There were two cardinals,
over 25 bishops, and about 200 priests.
I was privileged to offer “color commentary” during the Mass for the
live broadcast on the Catholic radio station.
In addition to marking 100 years since the first missionaries came to Cameroon,
it was also the ordination ceremony for nine priests and seven deacons for the
Archdiocese of Bamenda. I was quite
moved to see the culmination of a long journey for these men, knowing that I
had a part in their formation.
In his
homily, the Cardinal Prefect for Evangelization (from Rome), whom I would say
is in the top three in terms of the most important positions in the Church,
asked us to renew our commitment to be “fellow workers with God” (the theme
verse for the centenary and also for Lay Mission Helpers). It is an honor and privilege for us to be
here in the transition into the next 100 years of the faith here in
Cameroon. May each one of us renew our
commitment to live and proclaim the Good News!
-Pete
