Mamfe Bishop Emeritus, Francis Teke Lysinge, dies at 88.

“Bishop Emeritus Francis Teke Lysinge has been called home to his Heavenly Father…May the Good Lord whom he selflessly served have mercy upon his soul and prepare a place for him in His Kingdom,” partly read the message. 

Bishop Lysinge was the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe. He dedicated close to five decades of his life to priestly and episcopal ministry. 

Born on December 28, 1938, near Buea, the late Teke Lysinge was the second of seven children of his parents. Raised in a Protestant family, he later converted to Catholicism, while studying at St Joseph’s College, Sasse, in 1955. Upon his conversion, he adopted the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis Xavier.

After completing his secondary education, he pursued philosophical and theological studies at Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu, Nigeria, before furthering his academic training in Rome, Italy, where he obtained advanced qualifications in Spiritual Theology.

Priestly ordination 

He was ordained priest of the Diocese of Buea on April 17, 1966, by Bishop Julius Joseph Willem Peeters. In over three decades of priestly ministry, he served in various pastoral assignments.  

He is said to have played a crucial role in the training of future priests as Spiritual Director at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Bambui in the North West Region.

In February 1999, Pope John Paul II established the Diocese of Mamfe from the Diocese of Buea, and appointed Monsignor Francis Teke Lysinge as its first Bishop. 

He was consecrated Bishop on April 21, 1999, in Mamfe by the late Cardinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi who was assisted by Archbishop Paul Verdzekov of Bamenda and Bishop Pius Suh Awa of Buea.

As the founding Bishop of Mamfe Diocese, Lysinge strengthened ecclesiastical structures, encouraged vocations and promoted evangelisation. His pastoral leadership is said to have helped lay a solid foundation for the growth of the Church of Mamfe.

After 14 years at the helm of the Diocese of Mamfe, he retired on January 25, 2014 upon reaching the canonical retirement age. He later tabled his resignation letter, which was accepted by Pope Francis and he thereafter served as Bishop Emeritus.

Since news of his passing away, tributes have been pouring in from clergy, religious, and lay faithful, who remember him as a humble shepherd, dedicated teacher and tireless servant of God.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, His Lordship Aloysius Fondong Abangalo, has called on all faithful to continue to pray for the repose of his soul in this difficult moment.

The traditional ruler of the Membea Bokwaongo, HRM Albert Njie Mbonde, described his passing as a “sad moment” the Membea Bokwaongo community.

“…but we are grateful to God and our Ancestors for the life he lived, for his creator he served with passion and devotion and humanity he served with humility. I hereby urge the people of Membea Bokwaongo and the entire Membea community to pray for the repose of his soul,” he stated. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3862 of Wednesday July 29, 2026