Bishop Michael Bibi Welcomes the Founding of the Province of St. Clare

The Chief Shepherd of Buea Diocese, His Lordship Michael Bibi, has pledged his complete support to the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis’s (TSSF)  St. Clare Province, one of three new provinces created from the reorganization of the Province of Cameroon into smaller, more locally responsive provinces. The St. Clare Province has its seat in Kombo, in the Diocese of Buea, in the South West Region Cameroon.

The Bishop’s message was echoed during a thanksgiving Mass on Saturday 10th, August, 2024, at the Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral in Buea, officiated by His Lordship Michael Bibi, and assisted by Bishop Emeritus, Immanuel Bushu. The recognition and joy of this great gift to the people of Buea was evident in the massive presence of consecrated persons, priests and lay faithful.

The Bishop went on to acknowledge the contribution of the TSSF in the Church in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda when he declared;  “I can testify without any fear of contradiction that the TSSF  have been fundamentally instrumental in the work of evangelisation in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda”.  He echoed this as he lauded the TSSF for their remarkable contributions towards evangelisation especially in Buea Diocese in the area of priestly formation and services in the Diocesan curia since 1969.

He further encouraged the TSSF to cherish the occasion as a moment of rejuvenation and empowerment to become even more enthusiastic in spreading the Gospel. Mgr. Bibi remarked that the celebration fits in aptly in the 75th anniversary programme of the presence of faith in the Diocese of Buea which was launched on April 18, 1924, under the theme, “Spread the Good News”, to be celebrated in April 2025.

The Tertiary Sisters’ Superior General, Sr. Theodosia Baki, presented the Provincial Leadership Teams of the three newly established provinces–St. Francis, Maria Hueber and St. Clare to the Congregation. She explained that the restructuring of the Cameroon Province was necessitated by the challenges presented by the numerical and geographical expansion of the Province. The St. Clare Province consists of 15 communities of sisters in 3 different countries and 10 dioceses.

The paramout Chief of Bakwery, HRH Chief Dr. Robert Esuka Endeley praised the expertise of the health services of the TSSF, saying that it was a long-awaited blessing in Buea. He generously declared to the people that they are ready to welcome the sisters at any time.

The General Administration who had been traditionally decorated in GABAs the previous day, were equally baptised with significant Bakwery names such as Eyole (Peace), Malingo (Joy), and Jemeya (Acceptance). In giving the vote of thanks, Sr. Lorretta, on behalf of her team, expressed hope and optimism for the future of the Province. The day ended with a sumptuous meal in a very relaxed atmosphere.