On 10 November 1998, the first two Pallottine Sisters from Poland arrived in Doumé and restarted the mission in Cameroon, which had to be abandoned in 1916 because of the World War I.
To celebrate the silver jubilee, Sr. Anna Kot, the Delegature Superior, could welcome already on 17 November 2023 many Pallottine Sisters and Fathers to the diocesan campus in Doumé, near the cathedral of Bishop Jan Ozga. To open the jubilee activities, the seminarians were pitted against the students of the College de la Salle at Doumé in a friendly football match and the seminarians won the lively encounter. In the evening, there was a concert organised by Sr. Ghislaine Koagne Ndeyo Makui, SAC with the seminarians and the students of the same college. The melody of the balafons, local musical instruments, shook the walls of the cathedral while angelic voices were singing. It beautifully expressed the gratitude and joy of the children and youth, diocesan and religious clergy and close collaborators for the dedicated service of the Pallottine Sisters.
The next day, 18 November, an important ceremony took place in the cathedral of Doumé to officially open the Pallottine jubilee year: 25 years of passing on the flame of the Spirit, 25 years of the second arrival of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters in Cameroon, 25 years of dedicated service and spiritual guidance. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Msgr Jan Ozga, Bishop of Doumé Abong-Mbang, together with Fr. Herve Pascal Okolong, SAC, Pallottine Provincial Superior in Cameroon, other Pallottine Fathers and some diocesan priests. The Superior General, Sr. Josephina D’Souza, and her councillor, Sr. Marie Claire Mukeshimana, as well as the Provincial Superior of Poland, Sr. Iwona Nadziejko and her councillor, Sr. Blanka Slawinska, accompanied by Sr. Ludwika Jastrzebska, the Mission Secretary, and other Polish sisters from France, Rome and Poland took part in the celebration. Some sisters from Tanzania, Congo, Rwanda and India, who had participated in a formation programme in Yaoundé, were also present, as well as some students, seminarians and sisters of other congregations.
During this Eucharist, Sr. Marceline Nkorh Ngwesse took her final vows. The ceremony was attended by the family of our sister as well as people from neighbouring villages, which added to the festive atmosphere of the day. We pray that our newly final professed sister will continue her fruitful missionary work in His vineyard.
Thanking God for 25 years of our Pallottine presence in Cameroon, we all continue our mission in this country with renewed joy.
Photos: Sr. Fabiana Leitgeber, SAC
Take a look at the event gallery Jubilee of Restarting the Mission
