The Archbishop of Bamenda who doubles as the president of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon His Grace Andrew Fuanya Nkea has inaugurated a new Quasi Parish in Nkwen, Bamenda III Subdivision.
With the community in constant enlargement interms of population which is fast growing, the new Quasi Parish dubbed Our Lady of Mercy Quasi Parish Manda with it's four mission stations, will see to it that Catholic Christians in the area do not travel long distances for worship.
In a solemn mass celebrated on the area where the seat of the parish will be in Namoh quarter, Nkwen, Archbishop Andrew Nkea as main celebrant reminded the Christians that it was a big day made by the Holy Spirit.
While preaching on the occasion, Archbishop Andrew Nkea told the Christians that a Parish is created at the request of the Parish Priest who states clearly that his territorial boundaries have witnessed an increase and necessitates the upgrading to a Parish and not the Christians writing letters to the Archbishop for the creation of a Parish same thing he added that the Bishop requests from the Pope for the creation of a diocese.
He however used the opportunity to salute the people of Nkwen for haven't received and welcomed the Bayelle Parish which housed at that time and still housing all the parishes in Nkwen which then migrated to so many other parishes and the latest being Manda which Mbelem will follow suit adding that the Nkwen land counts six Parishes. His Grace Andrew Nkea exhorted and encouraged the Christians of Nkwen to continue building God's houses despite the crisis, such that as the crisis ends and others starting from zero, they would have been going ahead and succeeding.
Given the need to have an educated society, the Archbishop called on the people of Nkwen to keep sending their children to school for education is key to every growing society. "...Education is what I have always stood up for since this crisis began and I have always said if you don't send your children to school today, when the crisis comes to an end, those who did not go to school will become nightwatchs and minor jobs while does who did go to school will have the major jobs, so be wise my people..."
As the readings of the 6th Sunday of Easter portrayed, he called on the Christians to have an open mind to help one another. "it has been decided by the Holy spirit that this land will continue to grow peacefully," adding that the peace will be transcended to the kids receiving confirmation. "I pray that the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit guide you all into the new church you will begin to enjoy." His Grace Andrew Nkea said.
To note that Our Lady of Mercy Quasi Parish Manda was created on July 20, 2021 and became functional with the appointment of the pioneer Rector Rev Father Beltus Asanji and Curate Rev Father Hycenth Kam. The Quasi Parish was carved out from the then Futru Parish by the Archbishop Andrew Nkea. Our Lady of Mercy Quasi Parish Manda, Nkwen counts four mission stations with eighteen Small Christian Communities.
The Archbishop made it cristal clear that the newly inaugurated Our Lady of Mercy Quasi Parish will be raised to a Parish upon building a church in their premises and his next visit will automatically raise them from a Quasi Parish to a full flesh Parish.
Being the pioneer Rector to pastor the people of the new parish, Rev Father Beltus Asanji noted that starting a parish is not easy and is a very herculian task but "we thank God for His Grace for making us reach this level, with the efforts put in place we are going to attain higher heights. without the people you cannot succeed so I count much more on collaboration which should see us realize our church project. I am here to work with the people, for the people and with the people."
The Parish Pastoral Council Chairman Nsah Frederick highlighted that being a new Quasi Parish the challenges are many given that they don't have structures and facilities given that they have to build from scratch. "We are still renting an apartment to hous our priests, we have land which we still have to bulldoze before we start building." Nsah Frederick intimated.
The Our Lady of Mercy Quasi Parish Manda has as motto: The City of God.
By Peter Tasi
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