FAKO NEWS CENTRE

Late Fr. Anthony Somsi Fontegh remembered

By Emmanuel W. Verdzeka (Originally published on L'Effort Camerounais)

Late Fr. Fontegh

Members of four divisions of Kumbo Catholic Women's Association, CWA, and for the first time, the Catholic Men's Association, CMA, late Fr. Fontegh’s relatives and some Christians converged on St. Augustine's College, Nso on Ascension Thursday, to pray for Late Fr. Fontegh.

  Fr. Fontegh was killed in cold blood 20 years ago when he was principal of St. Augustine College, Nso. Since he died CWA members and Christians of Kumbo pray for him on Ascension Thursday, the day he was found dead in the college campus.

The solemn event started with a Holy Mass, which Kumbo Vicar General and principal of St. Augustine’s College, Mgr. Roland Berngeh, and Kumbo Catholic Education Secretary, Rev. Fr. Zephrynus Mbuh, officiated.

In his homily Rev. Fr. Mbuh described Fr. Fontegh's assassins as Jews who killed Jesus thinking they were carrying out a Holy duty. He said Fr. Fontegh was killed because he stood for the truth. He noted that the Holy Spirit inspires all but does not inspire people to do what is wrong, but rather what is right. He therefore urged Christians to use the Holy Spirit’s inspiration to speak the truth, bear witness to the truth and to lead lives built on truth.

As a step towards filling the vacuum Fr. Fontegh’s death left, a special offertory was organised during the Mass to encourage more vocations in St. Aloysius Minor Seminary.

At the end of Mass, Kumbo CWA vice diocesan president, Christiansia Banadzem thanked the officiating ministers, the CWA, the CMA and those who attended the Mass, for sacrificing time to remember Late Fr. Fontegh and other priests who have slept in the Lord. She echoed the need to stand for the truth and called on CWA members to work towards ensuring peace and reconciliation in the association.

Rev. Fr. Roland Berngeh hailed the massive turn out, stating that it testifies people are finding their path to salvation. While describing priests as the bridge between God and Christians, he exhorted Christians to pray continuously for priests to be holy.

Prayers were also said at the oratory where Fr. Fontegh was found dead. A wreath was also placed on Fr. Fontegh’s tomb at the Kumbo Cathedral Cemetery.