There are 229 Women Religious distributed into 18 different Institutes of Consecrated Life who are living and working in the Archdiocese of Bamenda. Since the last Quinquennial Report, 7 new Institutes of Consecrated Life have made foundations in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, namely, the Capuchin Sisters, Sisters of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Handmaid Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, Sisters of the Cross, Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret, Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima and the Passionist Sisters. We shall now look at the various activities they carry out in the Archdiocese of Bamenda.
New Female Institutes of Consecrated Life which have made Foundations in the Archdiocese of Bamenda since the last Quinquennial Report
2.1. The Capuchin Sisters
The Capuchin sisters arrived in Bambili, in the Archdiocese of Bamenda on 11th October, 2004 and were officially welcomed by the Parishioners on 24th October, 2004. Their Charism is to love God, “The Supreme Good” and to serve him in the least of their brothers and sisters as apostles of grace and salvation, with a special attention to the youth and the sick, to be well devoted to the Eucharist and united in one heart. They are a true family in the Lord, living in poverty, simplicity and humility following the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi.
Since they arrived in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, they have had a successful mission in getting candidates who follow their way of life in the Capuchin spirit to serve God and His people by being simple and little among the people of God. As of now, they have 4 finally professed Sisters, 3 temporal professed sisters and 12 postulants. They are involved in education at the Nursery and Primary levels, as well as fully engaged in pastoral activities in Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Bambili, especially assisting in distributing Holy Communion, as well as bringing Holy Communion to the sick in their homes.
At the Parish level, they are involved in Pastoral work, and they participate in different prayer and action groups, and also assist in the educational life of the Parish by taking care of the Nursery and Primary School. They teach pupils to grow mentally, spiritually and morally, to be good citizens tomorrow. In all, their missionary work in the Archdiocese of Bamenda has been successful till date.
2.2. Sisters of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus of Buea Diocese is an Institute of Consecrated Life of Diocesan Right. It was founded by the Rt. Rev. Jules Peeters, Bishop of Buea in 1963. They have communities in the Dioceses of Buea, Kumbo, Mamfe, Douala and in one Diocese in Spain. They carry out the following apostolates: Education, Health Care, Pastoral and Social Work in Parishes and the Prisons.
They arrived in the Archdiocese of Bamenda on the 27th September, 2007. Their Charism is love and unity, expressed in joyful simplicity. They have one Community in the Archdiocese of Bamenda with two members. Since their arrival in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, they have been involved in Health Care. They work at the Diocesan Health Centre known as St. Blaise Clinic. Their vision is to assist St. Blaise to develop and offer some specialized Medical Care to the inhabitants of the Archdiocese of Bamenda and beyond.
Notwithstanding the challenges that they face, they have excelled in their ministry to the sick and are doing everything possible to bring relief to the many patients who come there on daily basis. With the growth of this Health Centre, many people will have access to health care at a very affordable cost.
2.3. Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus
The Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus is an Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right, founded on 15th January 1931 by Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker, a Religious of the Sisters of Charity. She came to Nigeria under the invitation of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, then Prefect Apostolic of Southern Nigeria to help in the education and evangelization of women and children.
Their Charism is “All-embracing charity”. The members, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Handmaid of the Lord, carry out the following apostolates: Education, Health Care, Pastoral Ministry and Social Work. They have communities in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Togo, Sierra Leone, Kenya, England, Italy, Germany, the United States of America and Canada. In Cameroon, they have communities in the Dioceses of Buea and Kumbo.
The Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus arrived the Archdiocese of Bamenda in September 2010 and founded a community in St. Francis Xavier’s Parish, Bali where they have established and run a college of their own, namely, Ancilla Catholic Comprehensive College, Wosing –Bali. Their vision is to assist in the work of evangelization through education in the Archdiocese of Bamenda. Their community is made up of 4 Sisters, three finally professed and one temporarily professed.
2.4. Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod is an Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right which was started in Chavanod, South East of France, in 1838 by Mother Claudine Echernier and Father Pierre Marie Mermier. Their charism is to participate generously in the Mystery of Jesus’ death and Resurrection in the world for the salvation of all mankind. They are concerned in making God known and loved by all. They are involved in education, health care, pastoral work and social work. They have communities in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and North America. They have been in Cameroon in the Archdiocese of Yaounde since 1987.
The sisters packed out of the Diocese due to Anglophone Crises.
2.5. Missionary Sisters of our Lady of Fatima
The Congregation, initially called “Missionary Daughters of our Lady of Fatima”, simply known today as: “Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima”, was founded on 2nd October 1949, in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima at Pieve (Perugia) in Italy, by Mother Emma Pia Pignanelli. She died in 1975. It is an Institute of Consecrated Life of Diocesan Right with the Generalate in the Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria, Italy. Their Charisma is Marian-Franciscan, inspired by the message of our Lady of Fatima, centred on the daily prayers and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners in the whole world, the propagation of the rosary, through the poor, chaste and obedient lifestyle of St. Francis. Such charisma is manifested in an apostolic form through the education of children, youth, with the Samaritan care towards the needy, abandoned and orphans.
Through contact with a Diocesan Priest of Kumbo Diocese, they started getting vocations from Cameroon before they were invited by the then Archbishop of Bamenda to make a Foundation in the Archdiocese of Bamenda. They arrived Bamenda on 18th November 2009 and started a community in Immaculate Conception Parish, Ngomgham, which is made up of two Professed Sisters. Since their arrival in the Archdiocese, they are fully involved in pastoral activities of the Parish at all levels. At the diocesan level, they carry out any activity assigned to them working in close collaboration with the Bishops. They have a Formation House and eight young girls in formation. The community is made up of 7 members, two finally professed, five in temporal vows and three postulants.
We thank God for their presence, and we hope and desire that they will grow and found many more communities in the Archdiocese of Bamenda.
2.6. Congregation of the Sisters of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Passionist Sisters)
This Congregation was created in 1918 in Poland by Mother Josepha Halacinska. It is an Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right, and follows the Rule of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi. It is both contemplative and active. Their charism is to glorify God through prayer and, and to work for the salvation of mankind. Their spirituality is centred on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Their apostolate includes education and the care of children and youth, catechetical and pastoral work with Christian movements and associations, social and charitable work, medical work, etc. They have communities in Poland, Canada, Italy, Germany and Cameroon. They have been in Cameroon since 1986 and have two communities in the Archdiocese of Bertoua.
Through the invitation of the Archbishop Emeritus of Bamenda, they arrived in the Archdiocese of Bamenda on 09 August, 2013 and founded a community in Santa Mbei, Assumption Parish, Santa. For the moment, they have three members in their community, one finally professed and two temporarily professed.
Presently, they are involved in the work of education in the Nursery and Primary School in the Parish. In future, they hope to get involved in health care.
2.7. Sisters of Divine Providence
At the invitation of the Archbishop, the Sisters of Divine Providence came to the Archdiocese of Bamenda in June 2021. They are in control of the Health Centre in Our Lady of Lourde’s Parish, Njindom.
Female Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life which have been in the Archdiocese before the period of this Report.
2.8. Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi
Since the last Quinquennial Report, the communities of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis have grown from eight to nine, the youngest being Ntasen. They have a total of 91 sisters, 60 finally professed and 31 in temporal vows who live and work in the Archdiocese of Bamenda.
New developments within the congregation comprise:
Health:
Njinikom hospital: Construction of Project Hope – Centre for HIV/AIDS patients; a new theatre, a new pharmacy; a new physiotherapy department; a new maternity; and a new surgical ward. The hospital has a new Matron, four resident doctors and 235 beds.
Bafut Health Centre; 105 beds and two resident doctors and a new Matron.
Ntasen Hospital: Construction of a new maternity.
SAJOCAH (St. Joseph’s Children and Adults Home) which serves as centre for the handicapped and rehabilitation presently has two 200 beds.
Education:
St. Maria Goretti’s Vocational/Technical College, Njinikom was upgraded to a Comprehensive High School.
Formation:
The Postulancy was moved from Shisong to Bafut.
A new building with 60 beds was constructed at La Verna Spiritual Centre to host renewal courses, meetings, retreats, and rest.
The Congregation held a Provincial Chapter in 2019, all at La Verna Spiritual Centre. For the first time in the history of the congregation, no expatriate was elected to the Provincial Council – the new Provincial Council is made up only of indigenous sisters.
Unfortunately, up till now, there has not been a proper Contract between the Archdiocese of Bamenda and the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis concerning all the works of the apostolate they are carrying out in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, whether they have been entrusted to them or they are works proper to their Congregation. It is absolutely necessary that this is done as soon as possible according to the regulations of the Code of Canon Law.
2.9. The Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary
Since the last Quinquennial Report, the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary have maintained three Communities in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, with a total of Sixteen Sisters. These Communities are Akum, Mankon and Ngomgham. Ngomgham is the West African Candidacy of the Congregation and presently has twenty-two candidates.
The new developments in the Congregation comprise the following:
- The establishment of the Treasure Centre, a school for children with intellectual and physical impairment.
- One of the Sisters is serving as the Archdiocesan Health Coordinator.
- The construction of an Out-Patients Department, a Mortuary and a Theatre at the Holy Family Health Centre, Akum and the employment of two resident doctors.
- The election of one of the Sisters originally from the Archdiocese of Bamenda as a Councillor in the General Council of the Congregation.
At present, we are working on a new Contract between the Archdiocese of Bamenda and the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary concerning Our Lady of Lourdes College, Mankon whose running was entrusted to them right from the beginning of its establishment.
2.10. The Dominican Sisters
The Sisters of the Order of Preachers continue to make an important contribution to the work of evangelization in this Archdiocese as one of its spiritual power houses. They are very much appreciated by the faithful. This is shown by the growing number of them who are attracted to become Lay Dominicans. The Dominican Monastary in Bambui presently has Eighteen nuns, all solemnly professed, four novices and one postulant.
Since the last Quinquennial Report, it has realized one major development, namely, the completion of a Large Guest house and the installation of digital Machines for production of liturgical vestments. The installation of the Solar Panels in currently going on.
During a recent Chapter, they elected a new Prioress. There is need to continue to consolidate their monastic tradition and spirituality according to the demands of “Sponsa Verbi”.
2.11. The Sisters of the Holy Union
The Holy Union Sisters have moved from two communities in the last Quinquennial Report to four communities. The two new communities are in St. Mary’s Catholic Comprehensive High School, Ndop and St. Paul’s Comprehensive College, Nkwen, respectively. St. Mary’s Catholic Comprehensive High School is owned and run by them. St. Paul’s Comprehensive College, Nkwen belongs to the Archdiocese of Bamenda in which the Sisters serve as part of the administrative and teaching staff. One of them is Bursar and the other is on the teaching staff. In the four communities, there are twelve (12) finally professed sisters, while those in temporal vows are thirteen (13).
The new developments realized since the last Quinquennial Report include:
- The completion of the convent at the new site of St. Mary’s College.
- The transformation of the old site of St. Mary’s College into a Centre for spiritual activities, Conferences and Seminars.
- The establishment of a Health Centre in part of the plot of the Old Site of St. Mary’s College.
- The construction of a multi-purpose building in Baba I serving as a Postulancy and a spiritual centre.
2.12. The Sisters Servants of Mary
The Sisters Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, have two communities: in Widikum and in Alakuma – Mankon, with a total of thirty-two (34) sisters, nineteen (20) finally professed and thirteen (14) with temporal vows. There are seven Novices in the Formation House.
Since the last Quinquennial Report, the following developments have been realized:
- The upgrading of St. Maria Soledad’s Health Centre to a hospital with three doctors.
- The establishment of the Juniorate in Widikum which automatically stopped the sending out of the Temporarily Professed Sisters to other Countries for their intensive Juniorate.
2.13. The Sisters of St. Ann
The Sisters of St. Ann have four Communities in Bamenda Archdiocese, including the new community which has been established to take care of the newly open Divine Mercy Centre. It is situated about two kilometres from the Formation House. This new community serves as a centre for the promotion of the Divine Mercy Devotion, counselling, retreats, pro-life and family apostolate issues, and has a chapel for Eucharistic Adoration which is open to the public during the day. It equally has a multi-purpose hall.
Some members of the congregation are responsible for the catechetical formation and the preparation of students of Government and lay private colleges in Bamenda urban area for the Sacraments of Initiation at the Archdiocesan level. They also follow up and promote the activities of the Young Christian students (YCS).
Number of finally professed Sisters: 16
Number of temporarily professed sisters: 08
2.14. The Sisters of Christ (Union Mysterium Christi)
The sisters of Christ have only one community in the Archdiocese of Bamenda with five members, Four finally professed and one temporarily professed. They are deeply involved in pastoral and social work in St. Peter’s Parish, Bambui.
2.15. The Infant Jesus Sisters
These sisters who resided at Fundong left the area because of the heightening Socio-political Crises that hit the area so much.
2.16. The Calasanzian Sisters
The Calasanzian Sisters have one community in the Archdiocese. Presently, the community is made up of three sisters, all finally professed and nine postulants. They own and run a Nursery School. In addition to their Education apostolate mentioned in the last Quinquennial Report, they have opened two institutions:
- Divine Shepherdess Home Care Centre for girls that are orphans or victims of HIV/AIDS.
- Centre for the Promotion of Women for both normal and mentally sick girls. A big house is being constructed to accommodate these two centres.
2.17. Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart
The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart have one community in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, with one finally professed Sister, three temporarily professed sisters and ten postulants.
Since the last Quinquennial Report, they have moved into their newly constructed convent and Formation house, and have opened a Nursery School in their new site. They remain deeply involved in pastoral work in Njimafor Parish.
2.18. Little Sisters of Jesus
The small community of the Little Sisters of Jesus in Bamenda has four members striving daily to live a contemplative life centred on the Eucharist and lived in the midst of the world, sharing the Good News through a presence of friendship.
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