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From Xaverian Mission NewsletterJuly 15, 2010
This formidable gathering, captured by this photo, took place in
the Cameroonian Muslim town of Foumban, Africa.
The occasion was the ordination of a Foumban native to the Catholic priesthood,
an event which was graced by the presence of the Muslim Sultan of Foumban,
Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya (2nd from the left) whose lineage has ruled the Bamoun
since the 14th century.
A sultan is a Muslim leader and in Bamoun, Cameroon, 17 chieftaincies were
united in the 17th century under Islam. It became a Sultanate in 1918. His
majesty, Sultan Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya, the spiritual and traditional leader of
the Bamoum Kingdom, was among the hundreds of Moslems who joined Catholics at
St. Catherine of Siena’s Parish Church to witness the ordination of Rev. Blaise
Mbouapegnigni.
Another Cameroonian who was recently ordained a Xaverian missionary priest is
Rev. Richard Nembuoet. He says of his call: “In the Catholic school where I
studied, the priests often asked: “Which of you would like to become a priest in
order to share the Word of God?” Since I was baptized, the desire to enter the
seminary was strong.
But, I did not have the courage to tell my parents. Only several years later,
with the help of my uncle, I explain to my father my desire. After two long
nights of conversation, Dad gave me his approval. The mission of St. Francis
Xavier Parish in Bafoussam, Cameroon, was entrusted to the Xaverian
Missionaries. There the priests introduced me to pastoral work as a catechist
and youth coordinator. I was impressed with the closeness the Fathers, though
foreign, shared life with the people.
I was also impressed with the vision of our founder, Blessed Guido Conforti, who
dreamed to help make the world ‘one family’.”
