For continuous support to growth of church: Pope confers papal blessing on Senator Nfor Tabetando, family.

Senator Tabetando, who is Vice President of the Senate and his family, were publicly conferred the papal blessings recently. 

The Pope’s special envoy, the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, His Excellency José Avelino Bettencourt, handed the recognition on behalf of The Holy Father. 

This was during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Diocese of Mamfe, last February 22, 2024.

The Head of State, Paul Biya, was represented at the grandiose event by the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Manyu, Yves Bertrand Awounfac Alienou. 

The event was also graced by the presence of the foundation builder and first Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, Bishop Emeritus Francis Lysinge; and second residential Bishop of the One Family Diocese of Mamfe, His Grace Andrew Nkea. The Bishops of Buea, Kumbo, and Kumba also graced the event. 

Priests of the Diocese, other prelates, thousands of Christians, administrative, municipal, traditional authorities, elite of Manyu and a cross section of the population also witnessed the event. 

The Apostolic Blessing 

Speaking at the ceremony, the Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, His Lordship Dr Aloysius Abangalo Fondong, expressed gratitude to all and sundry for support and contribution to the success of the anniversary. 

He said to mark the significance of the celebration, they pleaded with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to impart his blessings on some 25 persons for their outstanding contributions to the growth of the Diocese. 

“lt was right and just to make this day significant. We picked out 25 of us for the Holy Father to bless them on our behalf,” the Bishop of Mamfe explained. 

“So, each person will be taking a paper blessing on our behalf,” the Bishop added, while calling on the Pope’s envoy to hand the blessing to the recipients. 

The recognition on Nfor Tabetando and family, it should be said, was also conferred on other lay people and clergy who distinguished themselves through their service to the Roman Catholic Church. 

“The Holy Father, Francis, cordially imparts the requested Apostolic Blessing on Nfor Tabetando Ndiep Nso and Family on the occasion of the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Creation of the Diocese of Mamfe and invokes an abundance of heavenly graces and the continued protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral of St. Joseph-Mamfe, 22nd February 2024,” read the document from the Holy See addressed to the Senate Vice President. 

Enter Pope’s special envoy 

Speaking at the Silver Jubilee of the Diocese of Mamfe, the Apostolic Nuncio extended the greetings and blessings of Pope Francis.

"I bring you Pope Francis' heartfelt greetings and blessings. I too unite myself with you in the great joy of the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the erection of the Diocese of Mamfe," José Bettencourt said. 

The Apostolic Nuncio said his recent private audience with the Pope enabled him to provide him the love and prayers of the people of Mamfe Diocese and the Catholic family in Cameroon as a whole.

He said the papal blessing and recognition should serve to encourage, inspire recipients and many others to bring out their best in the human spirit to further serve society. 

Apostolic Nuncio gets traditional title 

Elders and traditional rulers of Manyu, used the event to bestow the honorary title of ‘Etongho Mandem’, loosely translated as “Light of God”, on the Apostolic Nuncio, vesting him as one of their own.

The envoy of Pope Francis was dressed in a typical Manyu traditional attire to reflect the title given him on the land. 

Observers say the moment was a show of the highest hospitality by sons and daughters of Manyu, to the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

"Recognition from Pope has deepened my faith"

In a telephone interview with this reporter, Senator Nfor Tabetando, who doubles as traditional ruler of Bachuo-Ntai village in Manyu Division, expressed gratitude to the Holy See for the recognition on his humble person and family. 

The Manyu political heavyweight, who has been instrumental in supporting the Diocese of Mamfe, said the distinction has further deepened his faith and bolstered him as a child of God. 

“It has gone to deepen my faith. I now feel that I belong and I am a child of God,” said the inspiring and modest traditional ruler. 

He said the distinction from the Pope to his person and family is evidence to the fact that the Holy See is aware of what is happening across the globe. 

“That the Pope should bless me and extend his hand to my person, family and community, the village, the Division, the South West Region and Cameroon as a whole, I really know that the Pope is aware of what is happening all over the world,” he said. 

The recognition, Senator Tabetando added, also means the Pope “does not ignore any of his children, be they in civilised society or society under the course of development. I am one of them. I count myself extremely lucky to earn his blessing”. 

Revisiting Nfor Tabetando’s support to the church

When it comes to doing God’s work, support to the growth of the church and other philanthropic works, those who know Senator Nfor Tabetando say, and rightly so, that he is in a class of his own. 

The lawmaker and traditional ruler has built churches, houses and come to the aid of the needy indiscriminately.

Nfor Tabetando, who is considered by many as an embodiment of wisdom, has over the years played a vital role in the construction of a Catholic Church in Manyu Division as a whole. 

He constructed many classrooms and dormitories for the John Henry Newman Junior Seminary in Bachuo-Ntai, to groom priests.

He also built the residence of the Rector and Registrar of the John Henry Newman Junior Seminary, as well as put his house at the disposal of the Catholic Church in Mamfe. He has also been key player in the construction of the Mamfe Cathedral. 

Even before the creation of the Diocese of Mamfe, Nfor Tabetando had been paying particular attention to the growth of the church. 

He provided land, free of charge, for the construction of a spiritual centre, seminary and churches in his village. 

Nfor Tabetando has also supported seminarians trained in his village. 

He sewed the clothes for those who graduated in the first batch and is planning to do even more for the next batches of seminarians. 

Snippet about Nfor Tabetando 

Born on October 29, 1950, in Bachou-Ntai, the Senate Vice President is today not just a devout Catholic Christian, but a national figure and asset. 

He has been a towering lawyer for over four decades. The professional career of the founder of Equity Chambers in Douala has brought glory to Cameroon, even on the international scene. 

The Wise King, as he is affectionately called, has been on the Bachou-Ntai throne since 1977. 

His close to five decades on the throne and still counting plus his glittering legal career have seen him inspire millions of Cameroonians from all walks of life to dream big and make things happen.

He is former President of the South West Chiefs' Conference, SWECC, one time Vice President of the Cameroon National Forum of Traditional Rulers, member of the Central Committee of the CPDM and former CPDM Senate Group Leader.