Book Launch

Publication on Life and Ministry of Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua Unveiled!

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

A publication focused on the Life and Ministry of His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua, Archbishop Emeritus of the Bamenda Arch Diocese will be launched in the first half of the month of February in Bamenda.

The publication which is titled Indelible Footprints is a well crafted narrative that runs through the life of one of the greatest builders of the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon from his birth in Mbetta in the Kupe Manenguba Division in the South West Region of Cameroon to his present life as the Archbishop Emeritus of the Arch Diocese of Bamenda.

It is a masterpiece and a product of the collective work of a cross section of dedicated people ranging from Religious to laity. This collection of Priests and Reverend Sisters working in close collaboration with the Chamber of African Elite Biographers successfully crafted a story that provides a vivid picture of the life and ministry of the Archbishop Emeritus.

The book is divided into four parts. The first concentrates on the early beginnings of the life of the Archbishop Emeritus. Here, early German and Mill Hill Missionary activities are vividly painted. It also touches on historical realities at the time like the effects of the Second World War. The difficult circumstances surrounding his first journey out of Mbetta on his way to Saint Joseph’s College Sasse, his life at Sasse College and the nursing of priestly Vocations also constitute parts of the first part of Indelible Footprints.

The second part of the publication wades through his life at the Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu, Nigeria and at the Pontificio Collegio Urbano, Roma in Italy. Part two also takes us through his Priestly Ordination in Mbetta and the beginning of his work as a priest in Mamfe. In part two we also see the earliest efforts put in by the respected Professor Bernard Fonlon that resulted in the creation of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Bambui. Light is  equally shed on his studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and in the Hebrew University.

By virtue of the fact that he was the maiden Bishop of the Kumbo Diocese and that most of his Pastoral works were carried out While he was in Kumbo, Indelible Footprints in Part three focuses almost completely on his life as the Bishop of Kumbo. The narrative in part three zooms through the creation of the Kumbo Diocese and the appointment of the first Residential Bishop. The subsequent imbroglio that came in the wake of his appointment as Bishop of Kumbo is vividly described. The Ad Limina Visit and Episcopal Ordination in Kumbo with its pump and pageantry are revisited with admirable artistry. This segment of the Publication which constitutes the nucleus, touches principally on Primary Evangelisation and challenges in establishing the Kumbo Diocese.

From Kumbo, the narrative shifts to Bamenda when His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua was appointed to the Metropolitan See of Bamenda as Archbishop. From Kumbo to Bamenda, the Prelate is seen shepherding the flock, empowering, inspiring and shaping people.

The publication takes time to zoom in on the Archbishop's Biological family. As the vivid narrative runs through, we see a character with steadfast humility realising projects with long term impacts. We see him carrying out Priestly formation, we see him in the Youth Ministry and in family life. However , the most important thing in the life and ministry of the Archbishop Emeritus as hinted in the narrative is the Strategic Plan for Evangelisation. His achievements are enormous and are indeed surprising when we take into consideration the enormous health challenges that the Prelate had. The narrative does not ignore his role on the global stage of the Catholic Church.

Like a shepherd that does not abandon the sheep in danger, the Archbishop Emeritus maybe retired but is not tired.

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