After a demanding and exhausting festive season, the Mill Hill Missionaries came together in Bamenda for our Annual General Assembly—a moment of pause, renewal, and fraternity. We began this important gathering on a deeply meaningful note with a recollection led by Fr. Tatah Mbui on the theme “Contemporary Challenges to Evangelization in Cameroon.”
Fr. Tatah Mbui spoke not only from books, but from life. A living fruit of the early Mill Hill missionaries, and with over forty years of faithful priestly service behind him, he brought wisdom shaped by sacrifice, struggle, and grace. Still actively involved in the formation of young priests, he was truly the right voice for us at this critical moment.
With honesty and courage, he invited us to look at how our ministry has changed over time. In the past, missionaries served simple, poor, and largely uneducated communities, where the priest was seen as a father figure and final point of reference. Today, however, we minister in a very different reality. We now serve educated, politically conscious, skilled, wealthy, and highly intelligent Christians. Many desire influence and control, and when dialogue and reason fail, some resort to power, money, gifts, or even manipulation to have their way. This reality weighs heavily on the heart of the modern priest.
Fr. Tatah did not shy away from naming the deep challenges confronting priesthood in the 21st century. He spoke passionately about the dangers of avarice and materialism—the silent pull toward money, possessions, and domination. He warned us about unchecked appetites for food, drink, and sex, which slowly erode our inner freedom and spiritual integrity. With visible concern, he lamented the neglect of youth ministry, noting that in the pursuit of money and impressive parish structures, the young—who are the future of the Church—are often left behind. He also reminded us of the power and danger of the media, stressing that what we post or share online never truly disappears and can easily compromise our witness and vocation.
In closing, his words touched us deeply. He reminded us that priesthood and brotherhood are not careers or achievements, but sacred calls from God. No one takes this honor for himself; it is entrusted to us by grace. He urged us to remain sensitive to sin—within ourselves and in our relationships with others—and to constantly examine our hearts through the five essential questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I? What am I called to do? When am I called to act?
If we allow these questions to guide us honestly, he assured us, we will remain faithful to our calling—with right intentions, humble efforts, and God always walking beside us.
Innocent Akum Wefon, MHM
