On Sunday 3 November 2024 we celebrated Bamenda Sunday and this year we marked a very special anniversary, namely its golden jubilee. Fifty years ago, Bishop Worlock and Bishop Verdzekov, of the then newly established Diocese of Bamenda, initiated the twinning as a practical demonstration of St Pope Paul VI’s Vatican II document “Gaudium et Spes”.
Since 1974, the relationship has grown and strengthened. In the early years, priests from our Diocese worked in Bamenda, teaching the Faith, establishing parishes, schools, youth ministries, etc. Their mission was hugely successful and saw a fledgling Church grow and develop. Many were inspired by them bringing the Gospel message directly to them. Today, we have the great privilege of welcoming priests from Bamenda into our own parishes and their mission to us is one of renewal at a time when our communities become daily more secular. We have much to thank God for from this twinning.
A core aspect of the twinning is the practical projects that have been funded through the over £1,000,000 that has been raised by our parishes, largely through the annual Bamenda Sunday collection. This source of funding remains an important and tangible part of the relationship.
Bamenda (Cameroon) is ranked 151st on the UN’s Human Development Index covering 193 countries. The UK is ranked 15th. This year we raised an amazing ?? and every penny will go directly to an approved project aimed at cementing this twinning.
If you haven’t yet donated, donations can also be made online here. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
In honour of Bamenda Sunday Fr Anthony and Deacon Paul wore their beautiful chasubles from Cameroon. Fr Anthony explained the symbolism of the cross on these garments, the vertical and horizontal dimensions, the symbol of infinity (God is the same yesterday, God is the same today, God is the same tomorrow) and how we all come from and go back to the same source – the model of infinity. The need to be in union and communion with the Father and Son. Also present – the symbolism of the corn (the staple diet of maize, the food of the table) and the gong which summons us to come to the table. You can listen to Fr Anthony’s Homily below:
