The Archbishop of the Bamenda
Archdiocese has described his own life as a miracle. His Grace Cornelius Fontem
Essua was speaking at the All Saints Parish Church Bayelle Saturday April 7 during
an event organized by Bambui Deanery to celebrate his 35th
anniversary (of Episcopal Ordination) as Bishop and his advanced 75th
birthday.
Recounting several instances where
he came close to losing his own life, the leader of the Roman Catholic in the
Archdiocese of Bamenda maintained that he can only give glory to God for
keeping him this long. He remembered with precision when he was just eight. How
he fell from a tree unto a fence where a stick entered his armpit for about
5cm. the stick was pulled out; hot oil poured on the bleeding wound for
disinfection. Though he moves around with the scare till date he sees that as a
miracle and so must give God the glory. He remembers several deadly road
accidents and several open heart surgeries stating “I consider all these a
participation in the passion of Christ.” The homily delivered with the theme “To
God be the Glory”, the Archbishop admitted with humility “that my live has been
a miracle.” Going by his experiences, the Prelate noted “Thank God always for
the gift of our lives…. We are not responsible for our lives …our lives depend
on him.”
In an earlier address by the Dean of Bambui Deanery, Rev Fr
Hippolyte Wirnkar Tanfen who doubles as Parish Priest for St Michaels Parish prior
to inviting the Archbishop to lead the Pontifical High Mass noted that the
Church in the deanery was assembled “to raise the Cup of Salvation during the
celebration” was “for thanks giving and asking for God’s blessing.”
The celebration by Bambui deanery comes after Widikum and
later others following a decision by the college of Consultors, the laity
council and other decision making bodies of the Bamenda Archdiocese according
to the celebrant.
Enter His Grace
Cornelius Fontem Essua
Born in Mbetta-Nguti in Koupé-Manengouba
Division of the South West region in July of 1943, His Grace Cornelius Fontem
Essua only had the previllege to go to school ten years later following the
distance he had to cover to get to St Theresia Catholic Primary School from
where he earned his FSLC. He successfully went through several institutions
amongst them; St Joseph College Sasse, the Birgard Memorial Seminary Enugu
Nigeria and the Pontifico Collegio Urbano Rome before his ordination as Priest
on the 29th of December 1971.
From Mamfe where he served as Curate, he
returned to Rome to continued studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute
before returning to Cameroon to work as Formator in the Saint Thomas Aquinas
AMjor Seminary Bambui.
He was later nominated in September of 1982
and Ordained Bishop of Kumbo in December of same year. While serving as Bishop
of Kumbo he also held other posts of responsibility nationally and internationally
amongst them President of the Cameroon National Episcopal Conference before his
appointment as Co-Adjutor Archbishop of Bamenda on the 7th December of 2004. On
the 24 of January 2006 he took over as Archbishop of Bamenda.
Expected to clock 75 on the 2nd of
July 2018, His Grace Cornelius Fontem as per Roman Catholic laws will be going
on retirement consequently the Archbishop noted during the Bayelle event, his
Deanery tour is considered necessary meeting with the Christians in his current
office. Between now and then it is also expected that a new Co-Adjutor or
Archbishop will be appointed to take over from him. At the moment the
Archbishop is assisted in the running of the Archdiocese of Bamenda by an
Auxiliary Bishop His Lordship Michael Bibi. Contributions are reportedly
ongoing in Bamenda to ensure a perfect retirement experience for the Prelate.