The creation of the Mamfe Major Seminary: a historic event

Barely 40 years after the first Major Seminary in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda was created in Bambui, the Bishops of this Church province have founded another in the soil of Mamfe. The opening of Pope John Paul II Major Seminary in Mamfe in September - precisely two months from today - is an event of such historic importance that the tongues of Cameroonian church men and women - lay and religious, have begun to wag.

The creation of this Seminary is in itself a deep and lasting recognition by the Holy who see the dire need for the spiritual and moral nourishment desperately needed by the Cameroonian people. Therefore, to the founders of this sacred institution – our bishops - we render immense thanks.

The name, John Paul II, is perhaps the brainchild of two inspirations. First, the saintliness of that extraordinary pope of our times, and second, a tribute to a pontiff-missionary who loved our country, visited it twice, and thus, encouraged and inspired our seminarians and priests.

Saint John Paul II has given explicit Church teachings on the ministerial priesthood for two decades and more. His legendary letter-writing to priests on every Holy Thursday and his special reflection book on the sacred priesthood Gift and Mystery is a telling reminder to the stakeholders of this seminary of the need to be united with the Pope and the Universal Church.

Lay people often say wherever a road passes, development follows. But experience in Africa has shown that wherever a church is built, development follows. It is therefore true that the creation of a major seminary in Mamfe, will trigger off the development of the people of the Mamfe Diocese. It is a gesture which greatly pleases the heart of the people of this area whether Christian or not. But that is not what is provoking such excitement.

No, what excites many is that Mamfe, which had become a forgotten area in Cameroon, is again beginning to make newspaper headlines in Cameroon and other African countries. They tend to see the creation of the Mamfe Major Seminary as the resurrection of Mamfe. Not long ago in 1953, Mamfe was the meeting point for delegates calling for the creation of the Southern Cameroons House of Assembly and for the uplifting of the area to a Regional Status within the Nigerian Federation.

In 1959, the Plebiscite Conference which culminated in the reunification of the British and French Cameroons was held in Mamfe. Mamfe was an obligatory port of call for all Cameroonians travelling to Nigeria when British Southern Cameroons was ruled as part of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. For this reason, this enclave became the nerve-centre of the economic life and the political pivot of British Southern Cameroons.

With the coming of reunification, regrettably, Mamfe became an orphan child and disappeared from the political and economic map of West Africa, becoming, if you like, a ghost town. You can therefore see the reason why many people of this area are joyful at the Holy Father’s decision to create a Major Seminary in Mamfe.

Also remember that Mamfe is home to some of Cameroon’s heroes – the politicians like S.A. George and Emmanuel Tabi Egbe as well as Cameroon’s foremost literary voice, Bate Besong. We remember that Mamfe Diocese is the home of two distinguished Bamenda Ecclesiastical prelates. Do not forget the one time National Football team captain Tataw Eta Stephen who led the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to a record quarter finals in the 1990 World Cup, a record no African nation has yet broken. The people of Mamfe therefore see in the creation of a Major Seminary in Mamfe, the Holy Father’s recognition of their enormous contribution, not only to the church in particular, but to Cameroon as a whole.

From the zeal and energy with which the Mamfe man is known to pursue academic excellence, Saint John Paul II’s Major Seminary promises to be the fulcrum of intellectual activity not only in Cameroon, but also in Africa as a whole. Yet, a seminary is not just a university where professors and lecturers teach and students take notes and learn to do research. It is much more than that. A seminary is primarily a formation house. The staff is more than professors. They are apostles. They are models and mentors who the priest-in-formation will inadvertently copy. Therefore, the task is not only for the bishops and seminary staff. Parents, teachers, priests, religious and the lay faithful also have an important part to play. It is expensive to build seminaries, to staff and maintain them. None of us in the Ecclesiastical Province should shrink back from this heaven-sent seminary-building venture for a lost world is waiting and a rising generation is watching – we must dare and mark our names on the pages of history.

It will be of huge importance if those called upon to handle this great and noble institution can read with keen attention and penetrating insight the suggestions already made on the running of a seminary by the great African scholar and ex seminarian, Prof. Bernard Nsokika Fonlon in his Open Letter to the Bishops of Buea and the Bamenda. It is true that many of Prof. Fonlon’s suggestions are no longer relevant to our world today and some of the issues he raised in 1973 are now highly debatable. But I strongly believe that the core of most of Prof. Fonlon’s work and the spirit in which he wrote his ideas remain important for the Church today in Africa.

I am greatly persuaded that the creation and location of this Seminary is very relevant because the Mamfe and Fontem area is rich in African culture and tradition. The tradition of the Obasinjong and Emanyangkwe which were designed to fight against social evil can become useful points for inculturation - a philosophical and theological posture which was the core of Pope John Paul II’s message to the Church in Africa. As a Bayangi proverb says, a man who cannot challenge what is wrong is not better than a corpse. The time has come for us to challenge the moral and spiritual malpractices characteristic of public life in Cameroon. John Paul II’s Major Seminary will be a beacon showing us the light.

There may be a lot for us to discuss, and plenty of time for that discussion. But that discussion must lead us to action to sustain this young seminary. But first, we entrust this sacred institution to the work of grace, to the Blessed Virgin Mary the source of Pope John Paul II’s spiritual strength. When the Seminary begins, Mamfe will no longer be the same again.