RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHURCHES
- Partnership between the Archdiocese of Bamenda and the Diocese of Portsmouth, England
The Archdiocese of Bamenda, for the past 49 years, has been linked to the Diocese of Porthsmouth. This partnership has been of great help to both Dioceses, especially with the exchange of Fidei Donum Priests and the regular visits of the Laity from the Diocese of Portsmouth to Bamenda to check on some projects sponsored by the Diocese of Portsmouth. This visit is done every two years. All the Bishops of Portsmouth, since the establishment of the partnership, have visited the Archdiocese of Bamenda. The height of this exchange of visits was in February when the Bishop of Portsmouth, Right Reverend Philip Egan led a delegation of 27 made up of Clergy and Laity to the Archdiocese of Bamenda for the celebration of the Ruby Jubilee of the link between both dioceses from 14th to 22nd February, 2014. A return visit for the same celebration was made by the then Archbishop of Bamenda from 15th to 25th of June, 2014 with a delegation of about 33 delegates from the Archdiocese of Bamenda.
- Partnership with the Archdiocese of Florence, Italy
The Archdiocese of Bamenda has also been in partnership with the Archdiocese of Florence, Italy. Through this partnership, three Fidei Donum Priests from the Diocese of Florence, Italy had the opportunity to work in the Archdiocese of Bamenda for some years before they were finally withdrawn due to the shortage of Priests in Florence. Presently, some priests of the Archdiocese of Bamenda are serving in Florence as Fidei Donum priests.
- Partnership with the United States of America
The Archdiocese of Bamenda has been linked with the Archdiocese of Chicago for some years now and some other Dioceses in the United States of America. The Representative of the Archdiocese of Bamenda in the United States is a permanent Deacon who oversees the various activities and advises the Archbishop on steps to be taken to concretize the link with the United States of America. Through the Fibers of Life Scheme, which looks at the various aspects of evangelization in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, it is hoped that new ways of partnership will spring up to facilitate a better link with Dioceses in the United States of America. A priest of the Archdiocese of Bamenda is currently serving as a Fidei Donum priest in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, and some of our seminarians are also studying in America.
- PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BANGUI
The Archdiocese of Bamenda recently established links with the Archdiocese of Bangui- Central African Republic. There are two priets of the Archdiocese of Bamenda serving as Fidei Donum priest there. There are two seminarians from there who are to begin seminary studies in the St Thomas Aquinas’s Major Seminary Bambui Bamenda under the sponsorship of the Most Rev. Andrew Nkea, Archbishop of Bamenda.
English