Arise

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Do you wish to become part of the St. Joseph’s Missionary Society of Mill Hill family?

Becoming part of MHM: For detailed information about joining the St. Joseph’s Missionary Society (Mill Hill Missionaries - MHM); as a Student, Associate or Friend of Mill Hill (FOMH), write to or call:

Rev. Fr. Anthony Ndang Ndichia Mill Hill House, Foncha Street - Bamenda P.O. Box 5058, Nkwen Tel: (+237) 679 91 91 37 Phone: (+237) 665 85 61 06 Friends of Mill Hill Cameroon WhatsApp Email: mhmvocationcam@gmail.com Web: www.millhillmissionaries.co.uk Friends of Mill Hill (FOMH): Be part of the friends of Mill Hill Missionaries by:

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Praying daily for the missions and the missionaries Offering of Mass intentions Animating your parish in mission awareness Regular donations Once off donation Bequeathing to Mill Hill Missionaries in your last will and testament

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Take a red box

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Attend the quarterly meetings in April, August and December.

Become a promoter of Friends of Mill Hill in your parish.

Where we work: The Mill Hill Missionaries work in the following countries: Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, RDC Congo, Sudan, South Africa, Great Britain, Netherlands, India, Pakistan, China, Malaysia, Philippines, North America, Brazil, Ecuador, Cambodia, Australia, and New Zealand.

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Fr. Elvis Shudzeka, mhm

Fr. Richard Njoroge, mhm

Ngwambe Felix M.

Anyengum Alex-Brandon

Malla Bonaventure A.

Stephen A. Kube

Konglim Emile Bvuliwa

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Oh! How I wish everyone in the society could witness you.

You send us with your mark to represent you wherever we find ourselves.

On our journey you direct us to where happiness lies; the ultimate good of every endeavour.

The process of guiding someone towards a deeper understanding of self.

You have changed millions over the centuries.

Till date, you continue to change them, though based on personal efforts to move forward.

Yes! Many had tried to resist you but you knew what was good for them and you enabled them understand the reason why they act the way they do.

You blew across people like the Harmattan wind down a mountain and only the strong can stand your strength, then look at you in the face and say, yes! I need to grow.

You flow like a river through the forest and our strengths are exposed like fine stones.

Our weaknesses carried away like gravel underneath.

A life changing event

10 Welcome to Our Eight New Brothers

O formation!

Once in a life time experience.

They seek to meet you, but you live in me.

12 Injustice to Christ at Christmas: An Unconscious Practice

A bright future for the community

Feasting without the master

19 What will this Child be for Us Being a missionary is tough

Past memories of hatred, anger, loneliness, abandonment, sadness…

You helped them have a flash back as a point of departure to healing.

You never grow tired of insisting on what is right and to be encouraged.

Initiation into the “Philosophicum”

People hail you: Formation! Formation! Formation!

As I do today.

You have let people pass through inner pain, touching them right to the bone marrow.

You have created long lasting relationships between the flesh and the spirit by shedding the darkness of our hearts and lighted them with the light of selfacceptance.

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20 Completed Joy

Fifteen years of faithful service

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man stabs his wife in their car as they return home. Nobody is around to witness this. He then dumps her out of the car, careful not to leave any prints. He then throws the knife into a gorge where it can never be found. An hour later, the police call and tell him that his wife has been murdered. He immediately goes to the scene of the crime. Upon arrival he is immediately arrested and charged with the murder. How did they know that he committed the crime?

For answers to the riddles in this edition, see the next edition in June.

Please comment on what you think of this publication. Your inputs are always a guiding star on the continued success of Arise.

Acknowledgements Contributors:

Fr. Arnold Verhoeven Mme Ngie Florence

Design: Stephen A. Kube

Photo Credits:

Asongakie Derick Akawung Stephen A. Kube Fon Dinnyuy Mark

Arise is the magazine of the Mill Hill

Missionary Students in Bamenda, Cameroon.

It is a bi-annual magazine published in the months of December and June respectively. It is a First Cycle Formation Programme made up of the Basic Formation Programme (BFP) and Philosophy.

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What shall this Child be for Us? arma, or the law of sowing and reaping,

never fails to exact its pound of flesh. What you sow is what you reap. The catastrophic nightmare in the Anglophone section of Cameroon is the tragic consequence of many years of ignoring and playing politics of the ostrich with the legitimate cries of the people, of relegating God and morality in state affairs. From the onset, Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda were quick to warn against an impending genocide, and after many years of misery and trauma, we have almost come to terms with their prediction. Anyone who claims otherwise must either be living in an alternate reality, or deserves a thorough examination of their sanity.

In the wake of this mayhem, some Anglophone church leaders have been accused of poking their noses into the political arena. Those who accuse them argue that even the Bible has demarcated church boundaries outside the political spectrum in: “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt. 22:17-22).

All this, is an attempt to silence the church’s uncompromising outcry against the perpetrators of injustice. For the records, it should be stated that the church’s stand against injustice is not without a prize. Her ministers have been pulled out of vehicles and trashed, others have been kidnapped, and some murdered. Fresh in our minds is the memory of our very own brother, Fr. Cosmas Ondari MHM, the Kembong Martyr. However, what bullies like ours fail to grapple with, is the reality that the church is centered on Christ and

4 founded on the blood of martyrs. The more church blood they spill, the more impetus the church gains in declaring the truth.

buried their sons, wives that have buried their husbands, those whose villages have been razed, those that are homeless in their homeland, is there hope for us? What hope

Amidst this descending spiral of violence, evil and hatred, there are those (poetlaureates of the regime) who have been

is there for us young aspirants in the consecrated life in a world that fights even Christ and his message of hope and love?

What shall this child be for us?

diminishing the danger we are contending with by claiming that after the Major National Dialogue, normalcy has, or will, return to war torn areas. As Bernard Fonlon reminds us in The Genuine Intellectual, “there is greater courage in accepting the truth than declaring

This child shall be the peace we long for, because He is the Prince of Peace. Through this child our gunmen “shall beat their swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks” (Is. 2:4-6). Through him “the cub shall be with the lamb, the calf

it” (p.78). It takes humility to accept the reality that we cannot stretch our hands further than the bones in them. Facts stand out, irrespective of our preferences. History confirms that we will not be prophets of doom by inserting reason into a system that abhors it. It is simple logic. The most

and the lion cub shall feed together with a little boy to lead them” (Is. 11:6-7). This child shall be for us the courage to look at those who persecute us overtly and still say “I love you brother (sister).” He shall be for us the strength to bombard heaven with prayers; and our faith in a renewed

expensive wine cannot quench the thirst for common water. As our leaders continue to sing the normalcy song, we in the field are all too conscious that the corpses on the streets, the kidnappings and torture, gunshots and harassment of students and teachers are litmus indications

Cameroon. Through Him, God shall take his rightful position in our nation and brothers shall not fight to death. One who speaks French will not be hated, and one who speaks English will not be marginalized. This child shall be for us a bright star, leading our nation to safer

that we have not seen the end.

shores.

In such a hopeless situation, what shall this child be for us the poor people of

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Merry Christmas & Happy a New Year!

Bamenda and Buea? Parents that have

Christmas is a time for love and fun, A time to reshape souls, A time to share out our hearts.

We get to share the untold beauty of the day With family, friends, and people in various places.

O Christmas and New Year!

Thou art here again with thy colourful scenery.

As I journey through January to November, I have no other anxiety of joy than thy coming.

We celebrate Christmas in different ways But they are common across the globe, The exchange of gifts and sweets, Decorating houses with colourful lights And spending time with family and friends.

‘Tis a time to meet with family and friends, A time to celebrate the advent of salvation, A time to fully fulfil the task of my Lord, In forgiveness and reconciliation.

Here comes Christmas the joyous Christian festival.

Wake up! Hurry up! You are late! Get ready!

It is dawn!

Can you not hear the little lilies?

It is booming outside yet your doors are still closed, Your windows are still locked.

You, in Bamenda and Buea, Do not be scared. There are no gunshots, There are no enemy steps.

It is baby Jesus crying in the manger.

Amidst all the turmoil, we still find time to celebrate and blow off some steam.

Open then the doors of your hearts And the windows of your souls!

For him to come and celebrate With you this cheerful festival.

O Thou Holy Angel, that announc’d my Lord’s birth!

O Thou heavenly star that led the Magi to the Manger.

O Thou heavenly host that show’d the path to the shepherds, Kindly lead thou me thy little lamb to my King.

To thee Joseph, the protector of my Lord, Be thou my protector from earthly foes.

To thee Mary, the tabernacle of my King, Be thou my merciful intercessor.

To thee the manager who habited my Lord, Be to me a heart of rest to my Immanuel.

O Christmas and New Year!

Be thou to me like no other.

Come Lord, for my heart is ready, Come thou little angel and make my life like none.

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The Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions For 2020

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he Catholic Church encourages its faithful to pray for the dead especially during the month of November. Death has always been a mystery and will remain a

who are baptized (pilgrims). This is professed in the creed using the words the “communion of saints.” The triumphant enjoy heaven and pray to God for us,

mystery. In the face of this mysterious reality, the church invokes a hopeful imagination and assurance of enjoying a loving God after death. It is a widespread belief that death is a transition from this world to another world. Our concern here is why the Catholics pray for the dead.

pilgrims, and those in the state of purification (purgatory). With this, we also need to constantly pray for those in purgatory. The word purgatory is not mentioned anywhere in the bible but it is implied in Mt 12:32. Purgatory is a state of cleansing and purification of the dead with the hope of seeing God face to face.

Christian life does not end at death. It is for this reason that in the Creed, we profess our faith in “life everlasting.” Death is simply a rebirth into eternity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes this when it says, “…all who

die in God’s grace and friendship but still imperfectly un-purified are indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo purification so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter God’s kingdom” (CCC, 1030). This is only possible through our prayers on earth.

Some scriptural passages that encourage us to pray for the dead include 2Macc 12:3946 and 2Tim 1:18. We can always find time to read the passages. Charity demands that we commend the souls of our departed brethren to God’s mercy by praying for them.

Furthermore, the church believes in the unity of those in Purgatory (militants), those in heaven (the triumphant) and those

Praying for the dead especially in November is at the centre of any Christian living. Praying for the dead can take various dimensions. Some common prayers for the death include; Holy Mass, Hail Mary, Our Father, Glory be to the Father, and “eternal rest grant on to them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them.”

There are many prayers for the death. As we celebrate Christmas let us also pray for the dead especially those who have died in the prevailing Anglophone crisis.

lease join Pope Francis and the whole church in praying for these monthly prayer intentions, particularly for ten minutes on Fridays at 12:30pm JANUARY Promotion of world Peace: We pray that Christians, followers of other religions, and all people of goodwill may promote peace and justice in the world.

FEBRUARY Listen to the Migrants’ Cries: that the cries of our migrant brothers and sisters, victims of criminal trafficking, may be heard and considered.

MARCH Catholics in China: that the Church in China may persevere in its faithfulness to the Gospel and grow in unity APRIL Freedom from Addiction: that those suffering from addiction may be helped and accompanied.

MAY For Deacons: that deacons, faithful in their service to the Word and the poor, may be an invigorating symbol for the entire Church.

JUNE The Way of the Heart: that all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus.

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he New Formation Year 2019/2020 started in a climate of uncertainty and fear as a result of numerous threats on not reopening of schools and learning Institutions in the Anglophone Cameroon courtesy of the prolonged socio-political crisis. Despite the doubt and a sense of fear surrounding the resumption of schools, our Formation Programme opened with admission of eight new Basic Formation candidates who together with the First Cycle Formation students made a total number of thirty-two students in our Formation Programme.

The new candidates each gifted in different ways have enriched the formation community in many ways. While we welcomed the eight, we also bade farewell to six students who completed their first cycle of formation, two continuing to Second Cycle of Formation in Nairobi Kenya while four went for Missionary Experience in three different countries, - Kenya, Uganda and Douala - Cameroon.

As we draw to the close of the annual calendar, we look back with grateful hearts to God at how smooth the first semester of the formation year has gone. Though at the start of the year, there were concerns that there might be serious disruption to schools and learning Institutions, all has

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gone well despite the hard times. The concerns were mainly founded on the fact that there is still no sign of improvement in the ongoing crisis in the Anglophone

God for our Missionaries. Two important occasions that stand out were the celebration of the Golden anniversary of Fr. Arnold Verhoeven’s Golden Jubilee

region; a crisis that has had a toll on many innocent lives, wanton destruction of property, rendering many homeless and with some, leaving them scars of traumatic experiences. In spite of all these, it is wonderful to see how people are resilient and continue to forge on with their lives

celebration for Missionary Priesthood and service in Cameroon. Fr. Arnold has been instrumental in the formation of our students. The second, was the fifteenth Anniversary of Missionary service of Fr. Richard Njoroge MHM. We continue to thank God for the contributions and

2019, saw the arrival of all the students whom after a long holiday led their way to the Mill Hill Formation House, Bamenda, for the 2019/2020 formation year. It was a remarkable, yet symbolic day in the lives of all the students.

This day went down into diaries as the first

and daily activities the best way they know how, while in their prayers they remain hopeful that things will change for the better.

In the Month of November, the formation community joined the Mill Hill family in remembering our fallen Missionaries who have borne the burden and heat of the day

missionary service of the two Mill Hill Missionaries both in our Formation Programme and Society Mission in Cameroon.

In this edition of the Arise Magazine, our students are happy to share with our readers, diverse experiences of their personal and communal living, as well as

day some candidates started formation into the missionary priesthood, that is the Basic Formation students. Others started their first and second year philosophy, while the final year students commenced their last year in the formation house.

in their missionary service in Cameroon and have gone before us. In the same month we marked the first anniversary of Fr. Cosmas Ondari MHM, a young Mill Hill Missionary from Kenya who was killed in Kembong Parish in Mamfe diocese where he was serving. Fr. Cosmas has

their pastoral engagements, life of studies and a sense of humour. We hope you find their sharing valuable.

come to be regarded as a martyr of the Anglophone crisis.

In the course of the Formation year we have also had many occasions that have brought us together to celebrate and thank

We wish all our readers a good reading.

Furthermore, in this Advent Season as we prepare for Christmas, on behalf of our Formation Community, I wish all of you a very Blessed Merry Christmas and a Prosperous Happy New Year 2020. May the Peace we yearn for now, come true this Christmas and in the new Year.

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ednesday the 9th of October,

The joy of beginning a new formation year could be seen in the profound smiling faces of all the students as they majestically walked through the gates into the community. They could be seen with pieces of luggage of different shapes and sizes.

Talking with some of the new Basic Formation brothers about how they felt and what their expectations were as they were to start formation, their feelings were captured by Canice Ibemsi in the following words; I am moved with a lot of joy and excitement as I begin my first year in formation, though with some degree of fear within as there are going to be a lot of expectations from me in terms of maturity.

However, the joy and happiness I have experienced from the senior brothers since I came makes me really feel at home. I hope that I will be able to open up myself to formation and be tolerant and respectful

After the celebration of the Baobab Mass with the Mill Hill family

to all aspects of growth as I begin the

formation year. I pray that peace may return to our two regions such that I will be able to receive formation in a free and peaceful environment. Notwithstanding, I must confess ‘It is good to be here!

Talking with Br. Wainkem Evaristus, one of the senior students who was hopefully beginning his last year in formation, he had this to say about his feelings, hopes and expectations for the formation year; Coming back to the formation house to begin my final year, I feel very happy and God willing, I am expected to take a giant step through a commitment by the end of this formation year. I hope to be more open to formation and to have a good relationship with other brothers and people in and out of the community. I equally come with a lot of fears and worries especially with the insecurity we are currently experiencing. Nevertheless, I still have hope and my expectations are what I have as my inner inspiration.

Formation entails openness and the humility to accept that we are weak enough, ready to be broken like Christ and sent out on mission. This encompassed all other aspirations by the students as they prepared themselves to settle down for the formation year.

After refreshment and supper, the students all gathered in the common room where they were highly welcomed by the formators; Rev. Frs. Richard Njoroge MHM and Elvis Shudzeka MHM, hence, officially opening the bonding week for all the students.

22 place sit back and allow such to befall humanity? When we suffer, we are emptied of everything that prevents us from fully loving God. When children

My Sunday pastoral outreach experience in the Regional Hospital, Bamenda, is one that leaves me drained yet satisfied because I have the opportunity to draw close to

suffer, they touch God’s heart in the holiest and most tender ways. This is evident in autistic children. You see the wonderful and special talents they possess, which even the most brilliant and “well-formed child” will seldom possess. They, though they suffer from our own perspective, are

these suffering ones. Not only does it help me share in their suffering, it also opens up a door of personal reflection on where my true price lies. It equally helps me to value not just that which is living, but that which has the potential of coming to life. The joy of suffering with these beautiful souls is

impressively in joy and harmony than we can imagine. For God uses these incidents to draw us closer to Him especially when we draw close to these suffering ones.

what motivates me to wake up every Sunday, especially this Christmas to meet them.

ANGEL

CANDY CANE

BELLS

CAROLS

CANDLES

EGGNOG

MARY

MYRRH

MISTLETOE

ORNAMENTS

DECORATIONS FAMILY FRANKINCENSE FRIEND FRUITCAKE GABRIEL GIFTS SANTA

POINSETTIA SHEPHERDS SKATES LIGHTS SLEIGH SNOWFLAKES SNOWMAN

GOLD

STABLE

GREETING

STAR

CARDS

STOCKING

HOLLY

THREE WISE MEN

ICICLES JESUS

TOBOGGAN

JOSEPH

TOYS

MANGER

TREE

BETHLEHEM

WREATH

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aking a step into the philosophical world remains a

mesmerizing interesting life scenario in the Mill Hill Formation House. I intend to paint a portrait of the way a typical African goes about the concept of performing rites and in our case, the formation house.

It is a tradition in the formation house that at the start of every formation year, the graduating Basic Formation Programme (B.F.P.) candidates are initiated into the Philosophicum to begin their philosophical studies as first year students in the Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC), Bamenda. This is done by way of a magnificent celebration championed by their immediate predecessors; the second year Philosophy students. A brief description of the scene presents a typical African chief holding the cup of ‘Wisdom’ and his cupbearer besides him, other notables and ‘Nchindas,’ with a ‘juju’ from ‘Nwerong’s family. They all appear in their splendour on such occasions in order to prove their oneness despite their differences, to display the magnitude of the event.

Comparatively, the initiation rite marking the beginning of 2019/2020 formation year, was more enthralling for us who were concerned.

As a class of four, individually gifted in many different ways, we had our own pre-conceptions towards this said rite termed ‘The Initiation into the Philosophicum.’ Prejudices emanated from the fact that we were still in transit from our Spiritual Year to the world of Critical Thinking. Consequently, we often related

all happenings around us to our faith (Spirituality) and the Holy Scriptures. These thoughts of ours were finally bracketed and clarified when we experienced the reality of this euphoric encounter. In the context of our time, we had five brothers who had to perform the rite: people with diversified characters and personalities and giftedness but yet very united as a class; a thing worth copying. Another reason why the ceremony was one of a kind is that the characters that played the different roles were just perfectly suited.

Finally, I rate this tradition of our House very highly. This is because it is always jubilant in nature and important. Given the very fact that the wise sayings of the Chief usually pricks the consciences of those involved to realize the greatness of the task, which lies ahead of them and how dearly they should handle it though full of challenges. This makes the ceremony worthwhile. This is just a gist of how lively our Formation House is.

Merry Christmas!

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hristmas in the past years of my life has been exciting; the good food, new dresses, new shoes, gifts and booming

Spending about two months as a Basic Formation student with the St. Joseph’s Missionary Society Bamenda Cameroon, I

businesses. I always saved a reasonable sum of money to be spent on the 25th of December. These were beautiful experiences but this year’s advent comes with a difference in my life, the first and definitely the last of its kind.

have come to realized that Christmas is more than the above mentioned material preparations. The spiritual aspect of Christmas is primordial. The dawn of December was very different for me this year. It was completely fascinating as evident in the commitment of the brothers in prayers and other spiritual exercises, like

and the bursts of chatter, I noticed the physicians tending the patients and I could hear their exhales of exasperating pain. On the far side of the room, a man tussled in bed. Emanating from this man were screams, requesting for food. He had been in bed for five days without food because he underwent a major operation.

preparation of reflections to help strengthen each other on the Advent pilgrimage. No Advent has ever been this fruitful. I guess this is because of the seminary environment. Well, it is not true.

This is what every Christian, I believe should consider first - for I see no reason in

Reflecting on the thoughts of these episodes helped me to see what peace there was in silence. Keen-sighted with the value in silence, I could not help but wonder why they had to suffer this much.

What could I have done to relieve their pain? Why would God allow such to befall

celebrating Christmas with all the good wine and delicious food, at the expense of one’s salvation. Let us use this opportunity to purify ourselves as brides awaiting their bridegroom, who holds the key to the eternal banquet. Christ indeed wants our love to be reflected firstly in prayers, then

humanity? These questions ran through my mind.

I channelled all my energies toward material things and pleasure and forgot the spiritual importance of Christmas. It is a culture in my village that most of the young people go to church only on Christmas day. The whole of advent is a period of financial check and balances, when every young person seems to have become an Oliver Twist (always wanting more). Thus, church going is completely neglected and Advent spiritual activities are completely suppressed by material preparations; this is a common practice across thousands of villages in this part of the world. Most of the youths are more attached to jobs than prayer, I inclusive.

Today I have come to realise and believe that what we Christians need most are prayers and spiritual commitment rather than just working for money. By this I mean work and prayers should complement each other with spiritual commitment being the most considered form of preparation.

stepped into the Hospital wards; the ambient air was filled with the stench of drugs. As I went placidly amid the groans

It is with these that I can confidently say, this Christmas will be the best for me, this

Not long afterwards, I encountered a young girl and in a little chatter with her, she shared her experience of abortion. She was a rape victim. She had to abort the baby because all she felt at the time, towards the foetus growing in her womb was utter hate and ferocity. To spare the potential baby this much pain - even

advent is and will always remain an iconic one. This is because of the devotion to prayer and a lot of spiritual reflections which I believe is far more important than any materialistic aspect of celebration.

though it had committed no crime but that of conception – she had to abort. I could see the pain as she narrated her story, but what struck me most was the fact that her pain creased when she said she regretted

reconciliation during this period of Advent.

aborting the baby. Sympathetic, isn’t it!

Once more, we take away the choice of the foetus. Affirmative, the latter did what she thought was best. Nevertheless, is death in itself not a form of pain? Right there and then, she already missed the future she and her family would have had.

Perhaps God allows these few individuals to enter this world to keep the rest of us humble and make us caring people. They offer us much by being able to help serve them, that at one point we cannot say they should not have been born. Truthfully, it is hard, but we quickly assume that we cannot bare such things. Frankly, God did not give us this gift - just as he does not ask us to judge either. Who and what He places in our path is His choice. He has reasons, we are not to become judge and jury based on what we think should happen. By this, I am not judging this young girl for the act she committed, however I am only bringing to light what she now misses.

When we spend time rectifying the log in our own eyes, we begin to see that the world is big enough for all types and not just for those who are easy to take care of.

I cannot remember where I read this but it makes much sense. It helped me see suffering from another perspective.

Suffering is a gift and not a curse.

Alternatively, why will God in the first

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pray that the Lord should empower him to be more zealous and courageous in witnessing to the gospel of Christ. Then came the long awaited moment, a word from the celebrant: “When I celebrated

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very great event in life leaves an indelible memory. Such was the case on Saturday, 19th October 2019 within the context of the opening socials of the Mill Hill Formation House. The students

my anniversary with my family in Kenya, deep within me I still felt something was lacking, something to make my joy complete and today, I tell you that my joy is complete…”

decided to surprise their rector, Rev. Fr. Richard Njoroge, by commemorating the belated fifteenth anniversary of his priestly ordination. Prominent in attendance was the veteran missionary, Fr. Arnold Verhoeven and a young member of the society, Fr. Johnson Tatah.

After these words, he proceeded to thank all present especially the students for having him in mind and for the beautiful surprise. Words of encouragement and wishes of many more missionary years were addressed to Fr. Richard by the veteran Fr. Arnold who happened to have celebrated his golden jubilee a few months

The surprise package came as the program unfolded. Led by a special group in the community known as the accapela musica, the students, personalizing the words of Psalm 110, joyously sang to their rector, A Priest Forever. To crown it all was the classical Mill Hill anthem, whose words

earlier. Pictures were taken to immortalize the day.

best suited the occasion; for indeed, “He remains a Mill Hill man.” A symbolic cultural gift was then handed to him from the entire student community by the student’s representative.

October, being the extraordinary missionary month, prompted all present to

Finally Fr. Richard opened the dance floor which set the ball rolling and then returned to his sit full of enthusiasm as if to say the mission is only beginning. If you cannot cross the oceans and the heathen lands explore you can witness to the love of Jesus by your way of life wherever you are; that is what it means to be a missionary. One wish was re-echoed from every corner of the room: Ad multos

annos!

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n most African cultures before an important person announces their arrival, there are a series of preparations

because every human being has the right to dignity and livelihood. The birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas is a perfect expression

done to honour his coming and to make his stay pleasant and euphoric. These preparations take varied forms, such as clearing of the streets, and cleaning of the general environment where the guest will have an encounter with the people.

of God’s love and mercy. It is painful to see hatred prevail over reason and dialogue. May God’s peace and mercy rise afresh in our lives this Christmas! May it shine forth in our words and deeds throughout the coming year!

During every advent, I am called to reflect on my life and faith, to prepare myself anew for the coming of Christ our Saviour and Redeemer. I have to prayerfully

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year 2020.

recollect, reconcile, and correct what I failed to do. The sacrament of reconciliation is preponderant during this period because it heals me and brings me closer to Christ who is always there for me.

I wish that my celebration of Christmas be more spiritual in solidarity with victims of violence, hostility and terrorism; especially Fr. Cosmas Ondari Omboto (MHM), Fr. Alexander Sop of Buea Diocese, and the seminarian, Gerald, who were brutally murdered.

Finally, Christmas is a time when I remember the importance of peace in families and nations. It is necessary for our leaders to help build the families suffering from famine, violence, terrorism and all forms of man’s inhumanity to man. They should listen to the voices of those who seek for peace, act in their best interest

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witch and a pastor fell in love, and eventually got married. Many people were against the marriage that appeared for the most part like a scandal. One day, they died. What else are you looking for? I said they died or do you want to attend the funeral?

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e have a beautiful prayer that we say every morning after the divine office - Prayer for Missionary Vocations.

Often times, I feel very inspired when I recite this particular phrase the prayers. “… we ask you to choose from among us, many missionaries who as Mill Hill Missionaries…”

From the Left to Right: Canice Ibemsi, Emile Bvuliwa, Desmond Yuh, Marcel Nyuykonghe, Ewi Patrick Jr., Fon Mark, Princewill Yai, and Suinyuy Richard

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journey of a thousand miles, they say, begins with the first step. Unlike the previous two years, which six and four candidates respectively came in to begin formation, this year we are blessed with eight candidates. After external aspirancy, some for months and others for years, this year we were happy to welcome: Nchine Desmond from Ilung; a good footballer and a skilled drummer, Konglim Emile Bvuliwa from Njottin; a lover of football and handball, Fon Dinnyuy Mark, all the way from Kumbo; a fan of art work and dancing, Muchi Princewill Yai from Fonfuka; an excellent midfielder, Canice Ibemsi; a native of Njinikom and lover of music, Ewi Patrick Junior; a son of the soil of Wum and a talented comedian, dancer, and social enthusiast, and last but not the least, Kongnyuy Marcel Nyuykonghe from Kumbo; a huge fan of music.

Just as the Scriptures remind us that we are unique in our giftedness, the Church teaches that ‘the differences among persons

The destructive violence we have lived in for over three years now, has evicted our missionaries from mission areas. Worst still, it has claimed the life of our very young and enthusiastic Fr. Cosmas Ondari (Cosi Cosi) just barely getting to two years after his post ordination appointment. What

lovingly recite it daily. As we await the Christ-child, we have to realize that it can be very costly to love and want to serve Christ. At the same time, it is very rewarding to live in hope and to be here discerning for such a noble task. Only then can we see the coming saviour as a bringer of hope and love. With this newfound hope, we can share freely what we have received.

If a ‘cub can be with the lamb, the panther lies down with the kid. The calf and the

hope is there for us the young aspirants in a world that fights even Jesus and his message of hope and love? A one-time peaceful nation now competes with itself for monstrosity and barbarism. One in which churchmen are targeted and murdered without remorse, church

lion cub feed together, with a little boy to lead them’ (Isaiah 11:1-10) then God will definitely not desert us. In the words of Casting Crown (while you were sleeping) “Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping, God became a man and stepped into your world today…

We give a big and special thank you to God, your parents and friends. A big thank you to our vocation director, Fr Anthony Ndichia, thank you to the admissions board Frs. Arnold Verhoeven, Richard

buildings shot at and the blood of the innocent continues to flow. It almost does not feel right to want to follow Christ in the missionary way of life at the moment.

Come to think of it, there was no room for the Christ-child that night in a world he was coming to save. He ended up like a thief on the wood of the cross, just for this

you will go down in history as the city with no room for its king.” In our world divided by violence, fear and greed, may Jesus our loving saviour bring with him true and lasting peace. May he meet us awake and hopeful and find a dwelling in our hearts.

Njoroge, and Elvis Shudzeka, and most especially to all who have supported you to be where you are today. You are a blessing to the community. Happy Christmas!

wonderful new beginning to destroy the power of darkness. This is the meaning I (we) should truly grasp from grieving this Kenyan martyr. Only then have I truly internalized the words of this prayer as I

belong to God’s plan who will that we need each other. These differences should encourage charity.’ (CCC 1946.) With the cultural diversity and giftedness of our eight new brothers, we are rest assured that our community will reflect a rainbow imagery.

Merry Christmas and best wishes to you!

What has an eye but cannot see?

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t is no news that for the past three and fraction years, the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon have had security challenges, characterized by wanton destruction of property and loss of abundant human life.

This has made the practice of my faith difficult. My mind has been burdened with a thousand and one questions: Whom do I trust? Whom do I respect? What force should motivate and animate my relation with others, love or fear? What gospel should I preach and where? Am I free to carry out acts of charity to whomever I meet irrespective of their political views? I remain at the crossroads as many of these questions keep puzzling my mind.

While commemorating the centenary of Pope Benedict XV’s encyclical, Maximum Illud, Pope Francis, rekindling a missionary spirit in the church, jolted me out of slumber. He even went further to declare October 2019 an Extraordinary Missionary month. Pope Francis holds, and rightly so, that by virtue of our baptism, each Christian is a missionary. This exultation comes at a time when, as an individual, I am gripped by fear and pessimism. I have had the opportunity to do my Sunday pastoral ministry in the Regional Prison for a year amidst the crisis. Seeing what the inmates are going through, listening to some of their stories, and getting to know how they are treated, stirs up feelings of anger and hatred for the perpetrators of violence. I have equally been tempted at some point to celebrate the death of some

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C

ome on people! Who does not know that we are all students? Why bring up such a mundane topic? If you ask me, I will say this topic is a ruse. A con attempt to get you spend your time on something you already know. Perhaps it could be just some idle reading just to pass the time.

laughter and cheerful face. With every single breathe while puffing in-between breaks; you could perceive the agonizing

2302.

Who knows nowadays what people really intend to gain from drafting manuscripts. It might just be those little mind games to get you reading. Not too fast! Before we quickly discard this topic, would you mind to know what this person thinks about the subject at hand? After all, no one ever had constipation for reading.

pangs of childbirth. This happenstance was no encounter I will want to make a familiarity. I turned away for a second or more wishing it will just end. Then the wail of the baby came. Without a moment’s hesitancy, I fixed my gaze towards the outcry only to see all traces of sorrow and pain disappear from my sister’s sweaty

Amidst this battle of emotions, I go back to the Bible to seek the meaning of my being.

We are not tabula rasas as some will purport. Intrinsically, we learn and one can

Upon reflection, I discover that no one has ever encountered God and went back the same. With this in mind I have embraced prayer as my sole refuge and weapon: Holy Mass, rosary and adoration. Through this, I am gradually realizing my mission as a Christian in the context of the crisis.

say, daily. Even infants learn from the moment of conception about pain; the lesson of the absence of the warmth of the womb and the pain that results from the push and pull while birthing a child - hence the squeal at birth. It will be absurd to think of a new-born not screaming at birth.

Eventually we all learned, yet this is no lesson you are taught in classroom, no experience you are amply prepared for.

However, without this lesson I would neither tell of the pains of childbirth nor the joy that comes with it. Intuitively, I can now begin to imagine how Mary equally

Though others may think otherwise, we can establish some level of reason to understand to what extend one will assert the idea that “we are all students.”

Although others think that students must be those educated in a classroom, my understanding of this makes me a student albeit out of the classroom.

went through the same experience birthing Christianity’s Saviour, Jesus. Though I wonder if his birth was something near this experience, or could it have been less painful? Whatever the case, I owe it to life to learn. In my world of culture, if a child does not scream at birth, the child is either dead or a force to reckon with. We learn

people, a thing which should be unheard of from a Christian. The church reminds us that “by recalling the commandment ‘You

shall not kill’, our Lord asked for peace of heart, and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral. Anger is a desire for revenge. ‘To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit,’… if anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbour it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin.” CCC

May our Christmas encounter with Christ rekindle a missionary spirit in our lives so as to translate into action, the mission of the church as envisaged by Christ and systematized by Pope Benedict XV. Overwhelmed by the crisis, I pray to avoid anger, hatred, and contemplation of evil and rather channel my energies to prayers.

May Christ whose Nativity we celebrate strengthen us, give us a meaningful purpose of our lives and a spiritual fulfilment as we struggle to identify and live our mission in the world. Happy Christmas!

The birth of my nephew was one of the most frightening experiences, yet a peculiar one. Watching from a distance in the labour room, my sister was shrieking in agony. All joy had left her ever-wide teeth

face. What joy filled the air; one could only fathom.

everywhere, as such, one can say in a sense that we are all students – students of life. I dare say that you – yes you reading this have learnt a thing or two about my world view of culture.

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17 worry expressed by some of us who are still timid and afraid to err. Similarly, some find it difficult to understand and deal with the complex minds around. Moreover,

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here is nothing as strange as having a feast on of your birthday and keeping you completely out

Have you ever thought of giving Christ a birthday present? Giving Christ, a gift at Christmas places Him at the centre of the

of it. This is what some of us unconsciously do to Christ at Christmas, which is quite unfair. Christmas is that feast where in, Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. We organize magnificent parties in our homes, making sure we are in the best of dresses and shoes, a good habit that should persist

feast. Your gift to Christ at Christmas is a special gesture that will fill his face with smiles. What will make this gesture special is the love attached to it. It could be visiting someone who is abandoned or sick, in or out of your neighbourhood, providing material means for celebration to the less privileged and in this period of

considering the personality we are celebrating. Then, some of us render the occasion meaningless by keeping this personality – Christ - out of the picture. We actually forget him and his values thereby causing much pain and sorrow in his heart instead of joy on his birthday celebration.

socio-political crises in our country, it could be lodging the internally displaced in your home or contributing whatever you have to their well-being. Let us consider giving Christ a gift this Christmas!

We certainly are not comfortable with this reality thus let us consider it and try to make amends.

It certainly sounds abnormal to be in bad terms with someone whose birthday you intend to celebrate. However, this happens when we celebrate Christmas in sin. The existence of sin in our hearts renders our celebration meaningless. The sacrament of reconciliation is very essential for a proper celebration of Christmas. We should be in the best terms with Christ at Christmas.

Most often, attending a loved one’s birthday party without a birthday present creates within us a great feeling of shame.

Placing Christ at the periphery of the celebration of Christmas is more or less a mockery. We have always done so well by giving the feast the grandeur it deserves.

Let us also ensure that our celebrations are not in vain. Let us make Christmas pleasant in the sight of our Lord Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

What is greater than God, more evil than the devil, the poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it, you'll die?

since we are not yet versed with the vocabulary of the place and the style of humour, some of us tend to see it as pride on the part of the seniors. Using the breviary is another major challenge faced, as some of us are using it for the very first time.

Despite these challenges, these eight brothers find fun being part of the Mill Hill family. Living and bathing in the sea of happiness and love that the community shares and receives from one another increases our zeal for the formation we are receiving. Putting our trust in the Lord who has called us, we have however taken the few challenges as a good beginning and are moving ahead in prayers that will help us never to regret this important decision we have taken. In all, the basic formation experience is amazingly fantastic to the eight of us.

Wishing you a joyous and fulfilling Christmas and a happy New Year!

This is an unanswered riddle from "The Hobbit" by J. R. R. Tolkien, between Gollum and Bilbo.

Alive without breath, As cold as death; Never thirsty, ever drinking, All in mail never clinking.

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ne of the greatest strengths of humankind is unity. It holds very firm with the famous saying that together we stand, divided we fall. Unity is the state of oneness. In other words, it is the absence of deviation. In the world, there are particular things that bring particular people together. That is in the family or in different associations and organizations that exist. What unites these people makes meaning only to them, and most often only those who belong to these groups understand what their uniting force is.

I have come to discover that there exist one man who is an embodiment of total unity. Almost everyone in the world celebrates his birth. This man is JESUS CHRIST. The 25th of December, has been chosen by the Holy Catholic Church to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST. This is one of the most respected dates worldwide; a day when Christians and even non-Christians are united with a single focus (Jesus Christ).

Christ is unity, and unity is strength.

Therefore, I invite everyone to unite totally in Christ, and through celebration, in order to receive the gifts, which Christ has for all of us this Christmas. Merry Christmas!

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asic

formation in the

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13 francs. When reprimanded by the driver, he said: “Please you said I should pay two fifty; fifty plus fifty is a hundred (50 + 50 = 100), not two hundred and fifty francs

Hill

Formation Centre is a year for beginners in which they learn more about the society and its way of life and spirituality. It is also a year for greater selfrealization, acceptance and a deepening of one’s relationship with Christ, his Lord and saviour.

It was therefore amidst mixed feelings of happiness, fear, and sadness that eight of us left our homes and families on the 9th of October 2019, to begin the discernment journey with the Mill Hill Missionaries.

Leaving home and family, we were all set ablaze with enthusiasm to become missionary students – priests in the making per se. Most if not all of our families, were happy for us while they hoped and prayed for our vocations. On the other hand, embedded deep within us was and is, a set of contrary feelings such as: sadness, for the fact that we left the comfort of our homes, families, friends, and loved ones to begin a journey of detachment. This sadness however is nothing compared with the feeling of fear that also springs up; fear and uncertainty about the life or journey we have just begun.

More so, we individually came in with a preconception of what formation is. We wish to affirm that this setting matches our expectations and preconceptions, especially in the spiritual domain, and in the organization and running of programs that are strictly respected to the latter. Strange enough, we find it even livelier and more entertaining, with much more to learn in the process. Normally, this will not come

ooh. I used my head; by the way I had only one hundred francs.”

easily outside the confines of a formation house. Having engaged in so many recreational activities like sports, manual labour and gardening, we are all overwhelmed and filled with content for the skills we are already learning. In just few months, some of us have become good cooks, something that was unheard of in most of our homes. Also, we have already engaged in pastoral activities, which entails going out to the hospitals and parishes to have a foretaste of what mission is all about. This entails reaching out to the old, the sick, the needy and underprivileged to let LOVE flow.

Nevertheless, a few challenges have been met within these few months of formation.

Time management has been a major challenge to us fresh men who are fighting hard to stifle the notion of ‘black man

time’ from our minds; which we discover does not exist in the vocabulary of the formation program. At a point when one seemingly has all the time to himself, he still finds himself running late for activities.

Time management is the watchword here.

Homesickness, is another interfering factor in our discernment process. This however is very common when a certain degree of detachment from home and family is required. Coupled with this, we cannot go in and out of the premises at will.

Expressing oneself amidst seniors is another

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nce there was a man called Sango

who stood by the road to board a taxi though he did not enough money for his fare, with a distance of one thousand meters to cover. When the car that passed by had gone five meters ahead of him, he raised his hand and indicated. The driver reversed, and out of fear, Sango asked: “Who will pay for this reverse?” The driver replied: “Nobody.” Again, Sango asked: “How much is one head?” He said: “Two fifty.” When he finally boarded the taxi, he sent his head out through the window of the car. He was cautioned about the danger of what he was doing but he was adamant to the end. Once the car arrived his destination, he alighted without offering a word nor paying his fare. The driver then asked (in a rather infuriated tone) for his money. In reply, Sango calmly said: “Sorry driver, you did not carry my head but you carried my legs. If my memory serves me right, I do not recall us talking about my legs.” At this, he went his way happily, leaving the driver speechless.

On his way back the next day, he stopped a taxi and demanded to know the fare. He was told the same fare as the previous day; two fifty. This time around he sat comfortably in the car. When he alighted at his destination, he paid a hundred

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ver the years, man has always considered the art of merry making

as part of his culture and as such popping a few bottles of champagne and having a good meal. This definitely defines the activities of the Christmas day. But is that Christmas? Certainly not. Therefore, what then is Christmas? I do not know either, but let us think of it together. To a politician it is a time of great speeches and subtle campaigns; to an economist, entrepreneur or businessman, it is a time for business returns and to an entertainer, this is the moment of break through; an alltimes record sales. To many, it is a period of spending time with family and sharing a degree of oneness. It is a time for the family to bond and my advice to everyone is: go home, sit down, and rediscover in an intrinsic and authentic way, what it means to be family. This is my answer for what Christmas is. What is yours?

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