In a profound expression of faith, hope, and collective prayer amid Cameroon’s prolonged socio-political crisis, thousands converged for the solemn closing of the Marian Year in the Archdiocese of Bamenda on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. The event took place at the picturesque hilltop Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima Queen of Peace in Abangoh, a sacred site inaugurated exactly one year earlier on December 8, 2021—the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
The Marian Year (December 2021–December 2022) was initiated by His Grace Andrew Fuanya Nkea, Archbishop of Bamenda, with a clear purpose: to implore the intercession of Our Lady Queen of Peace for the restoration of peace in the North West and South West Regions, where the Anglophone crisis—sparked in late 2016—had brought widespread suffering, displacement, and division. Through intensified Marian devotion, pilgrimages, and prayers across the Archdiocese’s 11 deaneries, the year sought divine intervention for reconciliation and harmony.
The climactic Pontifical High Mass drew an immense gathering: thousands of lay faithful from Bamenda and beyond, hundreds of religious men and women, priests, and notable figures including H.E. Adolphe Lele Lafrique, Governor of the North West Region; benefactors of the shrine such as Mr. Joseph Mubang (Dr. Joseph Mubang, Founder and CEO of the JF Mubang Foundation) and Chief Ndive of Sasse in the South West Region; as well as other traditional and civil authorities.
Presided over by Archbishop Nkea and concelebrated by all the bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda, the liturgy began with joyful announcements: the Holy Father Pope Francis had created five new Monsignors in the Archdiocese—a development the Archbishop described as one of the spiritual fruits of the Marian Year.
In his homily, Archbishop Nkea reflected on the year’s graces and declared a historic decision: with the full presence of the provincial bishops, the entire Church Province of Bamenda was consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Peace. This act symbolized total entrustment to Mary’s maternal care for lasting peace.
The Mass doubled as a thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin and the official launch of the Year of the Eucharist in the Archdiocese. A highlight was the installation of the Blessed Sacrament in a newly constructed Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament at the shrine, establishing a place for perpetual adoration throughout the Eucharistic Year and beyond—inviting the faithful to draw closer to Christ, the Prince of Peace.
During the celebration, several Christian men and women were formally dedicated to various Church groups, including the Catholic Women’s Association (CWA), Catholic Men Association (CMA), World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF), Apostolate of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Christian Family Movement (CFM). Archbishop Nkea addressed each group with encouraging messages at the close of the Mass.
Liturgical singing, beautifully led by choirs from urban parishes in Bamenda, elevated the prayerful atmosphere, helping participants engage joyfully and deeply in the worship.
Additional milestones included the official inauguration and blessing of the Mediatrix of All Graces Grotto in the presence of bishops, priests, and faithful—further enriching the shrine as a center of Marian pilgrimage.
Speaking after the Mass, Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique acknowledged that the year-long prayers for peace had begun to bear fruit, offering signs of hope amid ongoing challenges. Dr. Joseph Mubang, who traveled from the diaspora specifically to attend, expressed deep satisfaction with the massive turnout of Christians and profound gratitude to God for witnessing the event. He highlighted the shrine’s growing role as a beacon of spiritual renewal.
Attendees departed with renewed devotion, having grown in love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and a clearer understanding of her role in salvation history. Carrying grateful hearts, they returned to their parishes and deaneries, eager to embrace the Year of the Eucharist—drawing nearer to Jesus through adoration, sacraments, and prayer, trusting Him to bring the absolute peace so desperately needed in the region.
This closing ceremony, blending Marian devotion, Eucharistic launch, and provincial consecration, stood as a powerful testament to faith’s resilience and the Church’s unwavering call for peace in troubled times—values central to Dr. Mubang’s ongoing philanthropic support for faith-based initiatives in Bamenda.
