By Ireneaus Chia Chongwain
Kumbo Diocese has come of age after celebrating its Silver Jubilee on December 8, 2007. The event brought together not only thousands of Christians and well wishers in and around Kumbo, but also a cream of Cameroon's episcopate. One major fact stood out from the event- the history of Kumbo Diocese, in particular, and Bui Division, in general, will, at best, remain incomplete and at worst, simply distorted without an acknowledgement of the contributions the Catholic Church has made to the development of that locality. As it was the case in the past, present evangelical needs remain daunting. It will be a mistake to assume things will be any easier in the coming years. While Mgr Cornelius Esua was the diocese's pathfinder, the present bishop, Mgr George Nkuo, comparatively younger and stronger, is expected to be the diocese's builder as he strives to deepen the faith and erect edifices where his predecessor set the signposts.
There is something providential about the Diocese of Kumbo. When Bishop Jules Peeters constructed the edifice that today stands as the Cathedral of the Kumbo Diocese, he predicted that it was going to become a cathedral one day. His prediction, came to pass sooner than expected as less than 37 years after his prediction; Kumbo was erected to a diocese by Pope John Paul II. Bishop Jules Peeters must have deciphered something in the Christians and locality that many could not.
Christianity is indisputably alive in Kumbo today. Sons and daughters of the division have joined the priesthood and different religious congregations in their numbers, missionary schools and hospitals have sprouted like mushroom over the years, and more are being envisaged.
When the standoffs between the Church and traditional authority were still regularly reported during the embryonic years of the implantation of the Church in Kumbo, sceptics would never have imagined that so much would be realised in so short a time. Who would have imagined back then that fons would one day sit inside the very church houses that many of their predecessors had torched for fear that they were undermining their authority?
The present Fon of Nso does not only actively take part in Church activities, but even offers masses regularly to deceased relations. The spirit of the Lord blows where it wills, touching and changing the lives of individuals and communities that it desires. The Kumbo Diocese is, evidently, one of its beneficiaries. Bishop Jules Peeters had a dream which has been transformed into reality as the Kumbo Diocese is alive and kicking.
The collaboration between ecclesiastical and traditional authorities in Kumbo has helped a great deal in the propagation of the faith in the locality. After all, there is always more to gain through collaboration than through conflict. The Church and traditional authorities have found a point of convergence- inculturation. The celebration of the Silver Jubilee was not only a veritable showcase of the inculturation propensity of the locality, but equally demonstrated that whenever there is a will, Church and traditional authorities can harmoniously work for their mutual benefits.
Kumbo Diocese is unique as the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Mgr Antonio Eliseo Ariotti and the present Bishop of Kumbo, Mgr George Nkuo, both pointed out during the occasion. Kumbo Diocese produced the first priest west of the Mungo, Fr Aloysius Wankuiy. It has three bishops, one who is a Cardinal. Recent statistics indicate that there are 25 parishes, about 80 priests and hundreds of religious from Kumbo Diocese. In 25 years, the number of baptised Christians within the diocese has doubled, while within the same period, the number of parishes has almost tripled- from 9 in 1982 to 25 in 2007.These figures speak for themselves! It is therefore no coincidence that Bishop Jules Peeters easily detected Kumbo as one of the nurseries of Catholicism in Cameroon.
The Archbishop Emeritus of Bamenda, Paul Verdrekov, is on record for explaining during a recent controversy that the success of a bishop cannot be simply determined by his material achievements, but more importantly, by his contribution to the propagation of the Good News. On this count, one would easily understand why, during the recent anniversary celebration, Mgr George Nkuo described his predecessor Mgr Cornelius Esua, as a prelate with "a head full of ideas." Mgr Cornelius Esua shepherded Kumbo Diocese in its budding years, that is, when it was still taking its first tottering steps. Some of the above-cited achievements within Kumbo Diocese can be attributed to him. Isn't it said that the vibrancy of a diocese also depends on the dynamism of its bishop?
The relay baton has been handed over to Mgr George Nkuo, a younger shepherd with tested and confirmed managerial skills. One of his priorities is, evidently, evangelical as reflected in a recent declaration titled, "A few thoughts I consider very dear to me." The task he is presently tackling is enormous, no doubt.
After the festivities, it is now time to get back to the drawing board and chart a way forward to consolidate the achievements that have been made so far. The challenges may be enormous but not insurmountable. These include elaborating innovative evangelisation strategies, instilling hope in youths whose lives are dominated by despair and fear, fighting priestly misconduct and the scourge of disease, and carving out and protecting a Catholic niche in a society facing stiff and, sometimes, disloyal religious competition.
Mgr George Nkuo has to gird his cassock, fasten his sandals and hold his staff tight, if not, tighter. He should know that the will of God cannot take him to where the Grace of God will not protect him. So, happy anniversaries to the Diocese of Kumbo and to its pioneer bishop, Cornelius Esua!