BAMENDA SUNDAY

November 9th 1997

Today we pray for our twinned diocese of Bamenda in Cameroon and take the annual Retiring Collection for their needs.

The 'Bamenda connection' dates back to the time of the late Bishop [as he then was] Derek Worlock of Portsmouth. Over the years a number of Porlsmouth priests have served in Bamendan parishes. At the present time there are none (Fr Michael O'Kelly returned to England a little over a year ago and is now parish Priest of English Martyrs Reading; he has also taken over as Chairman of the Bamenda Committee from Fr Felix Muscat) but this does not mean that the connection has wound down; far from it.

The Portsmouth diocese is sponsoring further studies for two Cameroonian priests now in Southampton and a number of other study projects for priests and religious; it is committed to a number of projects for health care, medical aid, catechetical formation, school building, provision of water, and the building and enlargement of churches (which in Cameroon in particular also function as community centres). You will remember that last Lent we as a Parish supported the church building project at Baba I.

The need for ongoing spiritual and financial support for the Church in Bamenda remains urgent, and you are urged to be as generous as you can this weekend.

The political situation in Cameroon remains precarious and the role of the Church in speaking out against injustice and corruption has exposed many of its members to grave personal risk They need the prayerful support of fellow Christians for the courage to persevere.