By N. S in Futru
Week long
activities to mark 100years of the Roman Catholic Church in present day St
Michael’s Parish Futru Nkwen are expected to end with a peak celebration on
Wednesday May 29 with a Pontifical Mass to have as main celebrant His Grace
Cornelius Fontem Esua, Archbishop of Bamenda.
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Rev Fr
Bonaventure Ndong Chancellor Archdiocese of Bamenda (M) Rev Fr Evaristus Akem
Ndi Provincial Superior Piarist CA (L) and Rev Fr Hippolyte Tanfen Wirnkar (R)
at the Choir concert
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Ahead of the
event, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bamenda Rev Fr Bonaventure Ndong
Sunday May 26 celebrated Mass with Christians of Futru in what could be
described as preparation ahead of the peak celebration. In his homily titled
“problems and blessings” with focus on old age, the representative of the
Archbishop told the many who answered present for the Sunday Mass that the
Centenary being celebrated is not about those who are alive today but about
those who worked hard in the last 100 years to make sure that the Faith was
planted in Nkwen. According to the Priest, whether Nkwen celebrates or not,
nothing changes the fact that the Church has been 100years in the village since
that remains the essential as a celebration irrespective of what dimension it
takes will only be an accident.
“This
centenary is not about you, it is not about the parish priest and it is bigger
than all of us who are alive today” he said adding that no one has the right to
determine whether the centenary takes place or note. Describing the imposing
multipurpose Centenary Hall in Futru as an external sign of the jubilee, he challenged
all Christians in Nkwen to make sure that their faith is bigger and more
visible than the Hall.
Comparing
the challenges that come with old age amongst them; chronic health problems,
cognitive health, mental health, physical injury, malnutrition, sensory impairments,
bladder control, Rev Fr Bonaventure indicated that it is obvious that at 100,
the faith in Nkwen may be suffering from all these. He however said if
attention is paid to the blessing that come with old age like respect,
humility, prudence, not succumbing to societal pressure and much more, it is
easy to keep the faith alive. It is therefore important he concluded, to build
the values of blessing at this time and work for the growth of the faith in
Nkwen irrespective of personal feelings.
The Chancellor
of the Archdiocese of Bamenda on behalf of the Archbishop at the end of the Sunday
Mass blessed a Maria Grotto in Futru being a Marriage Golden Jubilee donation
to the Church by Mr/Mrs Ngante Dominic.
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Main celebrant, concelebrants
and donating family after blessing of Maria Grotto
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“It started
just like a dream. As we were planning our golden jubilee we wondered what we
could do to thank God for what he has done for us and it came to us that we
should build this Grotto.” Ngante Dominic said adding that he is celebrating
the centenary of the faith in Nkwen with great joy and hoping that God will
give him a priest. It should be said that a one of the sons of the one-time
chairperson of the St Michael’s Parish Pastoral Council and longest serving
Head Teacher of the pioneer school by Futru Parish Elvis Ngante is expected to
be ordained Deacon in the days ahead which is the last step to priesthood in
the Roman Catholic Church.
Ahead of Sunday’s Mass, several activities have taken place
amongst them Mass for the sick,
prayers for healing and Deliverance, Penitential Service and Confessions,
Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism and Sports. Sunday was also reserved for
a grand musical which saw over 20 choirs participating.
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| Celestial Chorus Futru |
According to Fr Hippolyte
Tanfen Wirnkar Parish Priest of Futru, all is set for the peak celebration. “I
can say for sure that all is set for the peak event. It has been a long period
of activities with so much dedication from Christians. We have received a lot of
support from the Piarist Fathers under whose pastoral care the parish is placed
with the Provincial Superior already around and the Archbishop’s house. We can
only thank God and hope that the peak event on Wednesday takes place hitch
free.”