True Religion?

The Mass readings these weeks have been from the book of James, who has a lot to say about what it means to live our Christian faith.  One of the things that is inescapable in Shisong is the degree to which religion (not only Catholicism) permeates the culture, and the fervency and apparent joy with which it is observed.  One of the visitors that I have spent time with in Shisong doubted the faith of many of the people here.  This individual felt that much of the fervency and enthusiasm expressed in the Catholic community was based on the culture and behavioral expectations rather than true love of Christ or belief in God.  In her country, the cultural aspects of faith have largely disappeared, but she feels that those that practice their Catholicism are sincere because those without faith simply don’t bother.

Being here for 5 months certainly does not make me an expert on anything, and I am not inclined to judge the faith of individuals or a community in any case.  However, it could be interesting to share a few observations.  I think that nominal faith and participating in a faith community for social reasons exists everywhere and in every faith and philosophy.  Even in countries where there is severe persecution it is possible that people seek martyrdom for the wrong reasons, although you might suspect that there is less “acting” in a community where the faith costs much.  In Shisong, the Catholic community is served by Capuchins (Franciscan friars), as well as diocesan priests from Kumbo.  I have heard teaching at high levels to general audiences (homilies and instructional settings) on Christian living, the differences between superstition and sacramentals, the tension between one’s Christian faith and the traditional practices of one’s community or position, Christian sexual morality, and care for the poor.  The Mass attendance for the hospital weekday Masses on Wednesdays and Fridays is high; for some it is certainly that they are attending to say they have attended because they work in a Catholic hospital.   However, the level of participation within the Mass is high and I think it would be unreasonable to suspect the motives of most of the people.  In any case, it is much easier for people to be exposed to Christ and to come to a true knowledge of Him in this setting than in a secular setting where Christianity is routinely disparaged, misrepresented, or absent.  A tailor I have worked with does not work on Sundays and leaves early on Saturdays to go to Bible study (and yes, she is Catholic).  Some of the nurses in the operating room belong to various men’s groups that study the faith together as well as serve the community; these activities take a great deal of time – more than activities in America usually expect.  Obviously the sisters dedicate significant time to prayer, study, and service, feeding not only their own faith but also the faith of others.

On the downside, one of the most disturbing stories I have heard came out of Central Africa on the BBC.  The BBC has no love for Christianity and may well have been trying to present “Christians” in the worst possible light.  There have been stories of extreme generosity and Christian heroism from the CAR as well.  However, in this story, people identified by the BBC as “Christians” were participating in clearly un-Christian behavior.  All Christians choose wrongly sometimes, but only rarely is the wrong behavior intentionally identified with our Christianity.  I do not know if the men in the news story identified themselves as Christians, or if to the BBC reporter, any non-Muslim could be identified as a Christian.  These men were seeking revenge against a Muslim man for atrocities committed against Christians by other Muslims (not this man).  Not only did they desire revenge, but they identified it as an obligation.  Additionally, they were described as wearing amulets which would protect them from harm.  In no aspect of the story did God or Christ have anything to do with their behavior or their motivations.  It is possible that these people had had some exposure to Christianity, but clearly their behavior in this story was not related to their Christian lives.  It would be better if the BBC would simply describe “ethnic violence” rather than to portray this as a religious war.  There are true Christians suffering in the CAR, and probably there are people of traditional religions suffering in the CAR, and there are a few Muslims remaining who are suffering in the CAR, and many refugees from the CAR in other places.  Please pray for all of them; I see little of this in the American news, although if you are praying for Syria you can just add the CAR.

The press has a tendency to present Catholicism as ridiculous.  If I learned about the Church and her doings from the New York Times I certainly might think that the Catholic Church is ridiculous.  It is important not to learn about Christianity from the mainstream press, which has its own agendae (primarily selling advertising, but there are others).  There is much rich and beautiful writing to help us understand the life Christ offers and the grace found through the Church.  In much of Africa, books and the internet are not readily available, so people learn about and celebrate Christianity in many other ways, including cultural practices and beauty.  It is not easy, or necessary, to judge.

From Today’s Liturgy:
I will recount all your wonders, I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.  Ps 9:2-3

25 Years as Capuchins

Today there was a Jubilee Mass for two Italian Capuchin friars celebrating 25 years of priesthood, most of it in Cameroon.  Brothers Angelo Pagano and Agostino Colli, OFM Cap. were ordained in Italy in 1988.  The Mass was celebrated by the Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus Christian Wiyghan Tumi and also concelebrating were the Archbishop of Bamenda, the representative for the Bishop of Kumbo, and 36 other priests.  On a Friday morning, the parish church was completely full including the altar and the balcony, and the Mass and ceremonies lasted over 3 hours and included the usual processions and speeches.  Of course, feasting followed.  While here in Cameroon, Frs. Angelo and Agostino have developed the Capuchins in Cameroon (there are now 57 Capuchins of whom 48 are Cameroonian).  These Capuchins serve the local parish, Sacred Heart, support the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis who run the hospital and cardiac center, support the chaplaincy of the hospital, built a school (see below) and several other apostolates, and I am sure perform many other ministries that go unsung.  They sponsor several patients per year for cardiac surgery and interventional care and for this we are specifically grateful.

St. Anthony of Padua School

There are many schools in the Kumbo area.  However, schools in Cameroon, including government schools, charge tuition.  Students must also obtain their own supplies and uniforms.  Textbooks are not common in many places and most learning occurs in their absence.  As far as I can tell, science labs are also uncommon.  The Capuchins who serve this area have built a school oriented toward educating poor children.  For those of us who know of Franciscans, it is no surprise that they named it St. Anthony of Padua.

This school has recently made tremendous progress.  I visited in November of 2012 and again in November 2013, and the transformation was impressive.  The land was donated in 1993 by the Fon (traditional ruler of the region).  It originally served as an school for single mothers and then as an elementary school.  As children completed elementary school, the need for affordable secondary education became evident.  In 2010 the school opened as a secondary school in which many children pay reduced fees.  As it is a boarding school, there are students from all over Cameroon and the school now has more than 500 students.

Happenings

On December 7 the first Northwest Region Anesthesia Meeting was held here in Shisong.  It was well attended and well received by English speaking anesthetists from the region and beyond.  If there was a flaw, it was in trying to do too much but there was a variety of topics and speakers.  The organizers are to be congratulated and I am sure that more conferences will be held in the future.

On December 9 I attended the horse races in Tobin, the administrative center of Kumbo.  They even had ice cream (or some sort of cold treat).

 Valentina is an Italian physician who remained in Shisong after the San Donato mission to do some database work at the cardiac center.  Before she left, she and Dr. Charles and I had a cut-throat Ping-Pong tournament.  I will not say publicly who won.

 On December 15 I traveled to Yaounde with Sr. Jethro, Brother Boniface, and Sr. Terese to extend my visa and pay some Christmas visits to various offices in Yaounde that work with the Cardiac Center.  While there, I met Maria and Brad Festen who work with SIL International in the Central African Republic.  They are in Cameroon due to the current troubles in the CAR and they generously hosted all of us for dinner.  We also took Sr. Terese on her first elevator ride and visited with Sr. Apollonia who is in Yaounde working on a communications degree.  I promised I would not post her picture in her kitchen-work clothes so instead I am posting this one of Sr. Jethro crushing pumpkin seeds with a stone.

 

After returning from Yaounde, of course, it was time to prepare to celebrate Christmas.  There is a large Catholic population and a significant Protestant population here in Kumbo, and the non-Christians also wish everyone well at this time.  The ICU staff had a Christmas party at a local hotel, which coincided with the Cameroon Cup championship football (soccer) match, so in addition to good food and drinks, we were able to celebrate the win of the Bamenda team over the Yaounde team.  The hospital also held parties for numerous groups of staff complete with Christmas caroling.

 Christmas trees look a little different here but the idea is there.  I’m sure that Logan and Eric did eventually decorate their tree!  I went there to help but had to leave before we actually hung anything on the tree.

The novices of the Tertiary Sisters put on a Christmas play on Christmas Eve before Mass.  It was very well done, beginning with Adam and Eve and their choice to reject God’s love, then walking us through the (very enthusiastic) prophets, and taking us through the birth of Christ with (very enthusiastic) angels and shepherds, one reluctant goat, and wise men visiting a conniving Herod.  A newborn from the maternity ward played the part of Jesus.  All of this revelry was followed by a beautiful Christmas Vigil Mass and a celebratory Christmas Day.

 

Following Christmas Kumbo holds a “Cultural Week.”   The palace, villages, and family groups participate in traditional dances and other activities.

Thanksgiving

Several people were concerned that I might miss out on Thanksgiving, or at least on turkey.  To be honest, I can do without the turkey, but I did not have to do without either.  As it turns out, there are a  number of Americans in Kumbo for various reasons, and we had a gathering for Thanksgiving, complete with football.  As at home, it is easy to be thankful in Shisong, so I thought I would take a cue from Eric Horne’s blog and include some of the things for which I am thankful.

The Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis:  I am grateful for their spirituality, hospitality, and generosity.  In the face of many challenges, they support hospitals in a poor region of the world that provide dignified and professional medical and nursing care.  They also work with volunteers and missions from many cultures and witness great love to all of us, as well as allow us to witness to them.

The Hornes: It has been wonderful to have people from my own culture with whom to share and process, as well as spend some time with.  I am grateful for their generosity and their witness, not to mention sharing their home and food!  Their blog is here: http://hornefamilymission.blogspot.com.

My supportive department and department chair.  I am blessed to have both a department and a mission willing to work on creative solutions.

Friends and family, both at home and in Cameroon, including Mission Doctors Association and especially my dad, for whom this venture is very challenging and who is going out of his way to be prayerful and supportive. 

Running water, a water heater, and the people who cook for me at the hospital canteen.  Every time I go out walking I see people carrying water for their homes, carrying firewood, or carrying materials for their farm.  This way of living is difficult and time-consuming, yet carried out with joy and gratitude.  It is a constant lesson to me.

Religious freedom.  There are many Muslims and Christians here that live peacefully and as good neighbors.  Worldwide, many Christians and Christian missionaries live with great difficulty and persecution in worship and in living their faith.

There are two teams at St. Elizabeth’s from Belgium.  I will write about them soon.