Establishment of the Vice-Province of Cameroon and the Installation of the Vice-Visitor as described by Father Clement Ondoua
On Sunday, February 7, 2016, many of the members of the Vincentian Family, together with Father Gregory Gay, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, gathered together to celebrate the establishment of the Vice-Province of Cameroon and the installation of its first Vice-Visitor, Father Clement Ondoua. This took place during the Eucharist that was celebrated by Bishop Joseph Atanga (Metropolitan Archbishop of Bertoua), Bishop Faustin Ambassa (Bishop of Batouri), Father Stanislav Zonták (Assistant General), Father Christian Mauvais (Visitor of France) and about fifty concelebrants (mostly Missionaries of the Congregation). The Master of Ceremony for the day was Father Jacob Nyeg, CM and the moderator Brother Gervais Kouam, CM.
The ceremony started at around 10:00am with a long entrance procession, accompanied by music from the seminarians who were responsible for the liturgical animation of this ceremony.
Words of Welcome
After the opening hymn, Father Robert (Director of the Theologate and coordinator of the event) addressed some words of welcome to those who had gathered together for this celebration … recalling to mind the reasons for this festive event.
Decree of Establishment
The Decree of Establishment was read by Father Stanislav Zonták, the Assistant General who closely followed the unfolding of the process that led to the establishment of the Vice Province of Cameroon. As a result of this decree we have witnessed a change in legal status of Cameroon and its relationship to the Congregation of the Mission … Cameroon will now be referred to as the Vice-Province of Cameroon.
Homily After listening to the Word of God, Father Zonták spoke about the fact that structures in themselves are important in as much as they allow the Congregation to carry out its mission: the evangelization of the poor. Words of Father General Father General recalled the three conditions needed to create a province: the presence of the spirit of the Congregation, vocations to give life to that spirit and finally, financial resources for the mission. In his view, the time had come for the establishment of the Vice-Province of Cameroon. He reminded the confreres that they are not alone, “the grace of God and the support of the other branches of the Vincentian Family of Cameroon will continue to accompany you”. Father General presented the Vice-Provincial with a relic of Saint Vincent de Paul, a relic that had been provided by the provincial econome of France, Father Philippe Lamblin. This gesture symbolized the long standing relationship between the Mother Province of Paris and its former mission territory. Profession of faith and allegiance to the Vice-Visitor After the words of Father General, Fr. Clement made a profession of faith and stated his commitment in the presence of the whole assembly. The admitted and incorporated members then pledged their allegiance to their new superior. Word of thanks from the Vice-Visitor At the end of the celebration, Father Clement Ondoua, Vice-Visitor of Cameroon, expressed his gratitude to Father General and his Council for their vote of confidence. He then thanked all those who came from near and far to witness this event.
