ARCHBISHOP PAUL VERDZEKOV: Cardinal Arinze asked why we haven't started the process to canonize Bernard Fonlon

In a recent Interview granted the Cameroonian Catholic Bi-Monthly, L'Effort Camerounais, His Grace Archbishop Paul Verdzekov of Bamenda, talked, among other things, about his early days in the priesthood and the impact that Bernard Fonlon had on his life. Excerpts:

Tell us about the seminary you attended.

I attended the minor seminary at Sasse. When I finished studies in Bambui, in late 1950, Bernard Fonlon, who had ended his studies in philosophy, came to Kumbo. He asked if I still wanted to become a priest but I told him that I felt it was a little late, and hoped to be integrated into any church community that could accept me as a Reverend Brother. Shortly thereafter, he went to the Rector of the minor seminary at Sasse, and told him I was a qualified primary school teacher, who wanted to enter the seminary. That is how I got there a year after.

You have cited Bernard Fonlon, who is known to many Cameroonians, and who seems to have marked people by his charisma.

I can say after our Lord Jesus, I owe my vocation to Bernard Fonlon. At times, I ask myself, if the Church ordained me, why not Bernard? Like an ignorant man, I said God wanted him to receive this training, but needed him elsewhere, in secular life. When he was leaving the seminary, without the ordination, a priest told him “I know why you must leave. Do all in your power to have such an education that when you speak, they will stop to listen.”

Your Grace, do you think that some day we shall be able to venerate Bernard?

His hearing has not begun yet, for all I know, but it’s a pity, we are not doing enough to provide the information that the Congregation for the Cause of the Saints demands. Personally I think Bernard merits it. Someone who knew him well in Nigeria, Cardinal Arinze, has asked me, why we haven’t started the canonizing process of Bernard.

Who should initiate his cause for canonization, Your Grace?

It is the particular Church that baptized him, and in which he grew up. It is not the Holy See that begins such a cause. It is that local Church that must carry out its duty. Just like for Fr. Baba Simon, a priest of what is now the diocese of Edea, formerly the diocese of Douala. Then he worked in North Cameroon, what is now the diocese of Maroua- Mokolo. They have done their work as a local Church, at the end they submit the matter to the Holy See, with all the documentation and all that they know. If there is a cult for that Christian, the Church then asks its members to pray for that canonization.

Click here to read original interview

Comments

[Budzee Solomon]

please ,I am young man who only knew Dr Fonlon so well after he had died.Infact he is my model in life and from what I know about him ,I strongly believe that the process to canonise him has really delayed. I guess something should be done about this.He deserves just that for GOdly sake.

[Budzee Solomon]

please ,I am a young man who only knew Dr Fonlon so well after he had died.Infact he is my model in life and from what I know about him ,I strongly believe that the process to canonise him has really delayed. I guess something should be done about this.He deserves just that for GOdly sake.

[Eammunel Ngang]

I read much about prof Fonlon,during my university days and after. Though not a Roman Catholic, i strongly feel that Profs local church should do its best to provide the information needed for the process as the Bishop has rightly said.
He was and remains a GREAT man that Cameroonians should always pay respect to.
The English community should go to work .