Catholic Christians from the dozens of parishes in the Buea Diocese converged in their thousands at the Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral in Molyko this Sunday morning for a mass that blessed the 48th Annual Seminar of Cameroon Bishops.
The one-week seminar, grouping the 36 Roman Catholic Bishops and Archbishops of Cameroon, starts on Tuesday.
They will spend most of their time at the Bishop Pius Awah Memorial Pastoral Center in Molyko.
The Bishops arrived on Saturday, January 4, for the seminar that will stretch to January 11.
Sunday’s mass, celebrated by the host Bishop, His Lordship Michael Bibi, culminated with the inauguration of the Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral.
The 5,000-capacity edifice was completed in 2024, that is 15 years after the project started.
This Sunday, Christians filled its beyond its capacity. Hundreds of the thousands of Christians who had come for the 48th Episcopal Conference mass sat outside. Others stood on the isle and staircases throughput the three-hour ceremony.
Bushu’s Work Saluted
In a homily, Bishop Michael Bibi of Buea expressed joy in hosting his colleagues from across the nation. He particularly thanked Christians of Buea Diocese for their generous contributions for the construction of the Cathedral.
As the oldest Diocese in Cameroon, he said the Buea Diocese deserved a Basilica. He announced that they would be requesting for the Pope to make the Co-Cathedral a Minor Basilica.
The Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral is the biggest church building in the Buea Diocese, Bishop Bibi said.
An initiative of Buea Bishop Emeritus Emmanuel Bushu, the structure comes as a substitute to the Small Soppo Cathedral constructed decades back.
Bishop Bibi paid tribute to Emeritus Bishop Bushu for kick-starting the project in 2009.
He also hailed the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, for supporting the roofing of the Church.
The Archbishop of Bamenda, His Grace Andrew Nkea, who is President of the National Episcopal Conference, blessed the Co-Cathedral.
He hoped the structure will serve as a spiritual rally ground for all Catholics living in Buea. To the loud applause of worshippers, he hailed retired Bishop Bushu for initiating the project.
Government Officials Also Present
Several administrative and municipal authorities attended the Sunday mass. Among them was South West Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai and the Regional Assembly President, Zacheus Bakoma Elango.
Also present was the Mayor of Buea David Mafani Namange and Senator Francios Puene from the West Region.
Rising from the mass, the Bishops and Archbishops retreated to the Bishop Pius Awah Memorial Pastoral Center where they had lunch with the government officials.
At 7pm, they moved to the Buea Mountain Hotel where Governor Okalia Bilai offered them a state dinner.
The Bishops’ seminar will officially commence on Tuesday, January 7.
During the week, they will pray and meditate, hold in-camera discussions, and visit Catholic shrines, schools and structures in the Buea Diocese.
The event ends on Saturday, with an official closing chaired by the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, His Grace Jose Evelino Bettencourt.
Notably, the Bishops will produce a final communique that will communicate their position on spiritual, social, economic and political issues facing Christians.
