Fr. Marcellus Bekong Buried

By Walter Wilson Nana

The remains of Rev. Father Marcellus Bekong Morfaw, who died Sunday, March 19, in Buea, were buried Wednesday, March 29, at the Regina Pacis Cathedral Cemetery, Small Soppo, after a concelebrated funeral mass with Archbishop Emeritus Paul Verdzekov of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province as Chief Celebrant.

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He was assisted by Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua with over 50 other Priests. Taking the homily, Fr. George Nkuo, Buea Diocesan Catholic Education Secretary, said Priests were no strangers to suffering. "Fr. Marcellus had his own share of the suffering during his sickness.

Pain is an imperative call from God. Suffering makes us holier," he said.
He enjoined other Priests to accept the cross when it is laid on their shoulders. "If you want to be my disciple, take up your cross and follow me," Fr. Nkuo said, with inspiration from Christ.

Fr. Nkuo saw in the deceased a teacher, curator and a passionate football fan. "Fr. Marcellus had a passion for football. His students in Bishop Rogan Minor Seminary, Buea, will remember him for being a formidable coach," he said.

According to Fr. Nkuo, no two Priests express in identical ways, the Priesthood of God. "We are different but remembered in the oneness of the Priesthood of Christ," he said.
Fr. Nkuo highlighted what he said was the perishable nature of humanity. "Nothing is certain. We live in a rapidly changing world. Since we shall all die one day, we should look at how we live our lives," he advised.

"Fr. Marcellus died at 45, very young! In the month of March, typical with Priests at the Buea Diocese. Though I do not want to be superstitious," he said.Earlier on, Monsignor James Toba had described Fr. Marcellus as a diligent Priest.

On behalf of the Morfaw Family, Magistrate Maureen Chibili, thanked all and sundry for the support shown to the family.Fr. Lawrence Ofon, on behalf of Priests in the Buea Diocese, expressed gratitude to the Southwest Church Province for the solidarity shown to them following the death of their kind.

Fr. Marcellus celebrated his last public mass on Wednesday, March 1 (Ash Wednesday), 2006 at the Regina Pacis Cathedral, Small Soppo, Buea.

Biography

The late Priest was born on March 25, 1961 in Mankon, Bamenda, to Mr John and Mrs Marie Bekong-Ncho Morfaw, both of blessed memory. He hailed from Bellah in Fontem and was the only son of the six children of his parents. He attended Saint Anthony Catholic School, Buea Town and later got admission into Bishop Rogan Minor Seminary, Small Soppo, Buea in 1974.

After secondary and high school education, he entered the Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Bambui, where he read Philosophy and Theology.He was out for pastoral experience as a teacher in his alma mater, Bishop Rogan Minor Seminary, in the 1984/85 academic year. In 1988, he was ordained Deacon and on Sunday, April 2, 1989, Bishop Pius Suh Awa ordained him Priest.

Until his death, Fr. Marcellus was teaching at the Bishop Rogan Minor Seminary. Prior to his Bishop Rogan stop over, Fr. Marcellus worked in the following Parishes and institutions: Mamfe -July-October 1989, Bishop Rogan Minor Seminary-1989-90, Bangem-1990-91, Tiko-1991-93, Baseng-December 1993-April 94, Muyuka Parish Priest-1994-99, Kumba Town Parish Priest-1999-2003 and Bishop Rogan Minor Seminary 2003 till death.

St. Joseph statue - 12 inch A wood resin reproduction of a well-detailed, masculine statue of St. Joseph with his tools.

Comments

[LungluehMangieh]

May your soul RIP

[Cheongwa N. Wanzie]

God giveth, God taketh. We thank God for Him. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

[rexon]

Man of God, RIP. Your mission on earth has been fulfilled. So you should sleep peacefully where you are. Your very good work will be rewarded in heaven. So RIP. You did a very good job to train young children and planted your christian and god fearing values on them. Though we would have loved to receive your teachings for many more years, God wanted you in heaven so you should rest in peace there.

[FONJONG]

MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE. AMEN

[Ashwell]

Fonjong and Cheongwa, which God are you guys writing about? Human beings die. It is the same thing that is going to happen to you and me. The earlier you accept death as a necessarily part of our evolution, the easier it would be for you to accept the death of relatives and friends. There is absolute nothing wrong in dying. At least not for us the living to pity the dead. Or even venerate them. It is moving on, and we should look forward to it.

[Augustine Uzor]

The death of my former Kumba town Parish priest came to me like a thunderbolt rendering me speechless for days.He asked for forgiveness when he wronged people.I recall when he used Sirach 19, 13-17 to solve a very serious problem that almost polarised our parish.I shall never forget the special blessing he gave me in church a day before a left kumba for Europe.We members of Precious Blood of Jesus Christ Kumba Town Parish and our brothers in Nigeria will always miss him.He was our spiritual propagator and the brain behind the formation of the movement.We love you but God loves you more.May your soul rest in eternal peace.
Augustine Uzor,Germany and Mrs Anastasia Forka on Behalf of Members of Precious Blood of Jesus, St John's Parish Kumba-Town.

[Tways]

He was a good man,May his good soul rest in the hands of the lord Almighty. Amen

[Don man]

My his soul rest in perfect peace

[Loh. s.]

Rev.Marcellus, May your soul rest in peace with the Lord.
Amen.

[susunna]

May your soul rest in perfect peace.

[Asafor simon]

It is with deep and profound sorrow that i am getting the news of the sudden death of Fr Marcelus. Its a pity Buea Diocese is lossing all its priests to the cold hands of death jsut when they need them most. I am sure God has a risen for this. I have got little to say but in such moments nothing comforts than a word of prayer for the repose of his soul. Fr. Max was a priest of a style and carried his minstry with utmost pride and honour. The good God he served all his 45yrs on earth will surely reward him with eternity in his heavenly bosom. May your soul rest in peace mon pere. Adieu
My deep sympathy to the diocesan clergy of Buea as well as His Lordship Bishop Pius Awa and the Christian community of Soppo Parish. We share in your grief from nearby Nigeria. It moments like this we need nothing than Prayers especially in this great season of lent. His death gives us a better chance to prepare ourselves for our turn.

[Asafor simon]

R I P Fr. Max B

[J-A Etonge]

It came as a shock to me but God knows better than us. RIP Father.

[Fon Lawrence]

You have run the race,you have won it.RIP Fr.

[Benard Bwang]

I was very sad when I learnt of the death of Fr. Marcellus.May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Fr. Marcellus was a priest of the people.Yaweh, the most High has called him to eternity.
The last time I had contact with him was about two years ago, when I was the principal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel College, Muea. Bishop Rogan College, Small Soppo had a football encounter with Mount Carmel.On that day, I saw his strong passion for football.
May his soul rest in the LORD, the giver of life.
Benard Bwang ( U.S.A.)

[Ndateh]

FR,prepare the way for all of us. Well done good and faithful servant.Come and share thy masters joy.May your soul rest in perfect peace.
ndateh

[Nsai Evaristus]

He was a good teacher and above all very kool.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE

[Paul Molokwa Iboh]

Fr Marcellus was a very good priest and indeed a good one. Even though he taught me only for a year in Bishop Rogan College (2003-2004), he was very friendly especially to me. I will ask every one who read this to pray atleast a "Hail Mary" for his soul to rest in peace. Good bye father till we meet again.I say this with a lot of nostalgia.May your soul rest in peace. We love you but God loves you Most. Adeu father Adeu. Your student and friend Paul Iboh Molokwa

[Charles Eyombo School of Law ,University of Limerick Ireland]

Father Marcellinus as a Catholic Christian in St Joseph,s Parish Muyuka . I am really shock to learn of your passing away. We love you more but God loved you most. Father we will meet one. Pray for us where ever you are..Bye Father infact l,m in tears on my desk at UL... Charles Eyombo Ireland.

[Richard Njoh Fominyen]

Father's sudden death on Sunday 19th March at 12:25a.m, left the entire community of Bishop Rogan College and the Diocese of Buea speechless. He was indeed a priest of simplicity and humility. We missed a teacher and priest.
May God who sent him to share in the ministerial preisthood of Christ, grant him eternal rest in his Kingdom.
May his soul rest in peace.

[Gilgard Frank Okosodo]

Gilgard Orpahange Primary School, Edo state Nigeria.

Gilgard Primary School serves over 850 children in the Soweto Slum of Edo state Nigeria. Students at Gilgard are orphans or children from extreme poverty. Without Galilee, most of these children would not receive an education.
We are hereby apealing for fund in order for us to finance the institution, these children need your help.
This institution is a Non Governmental organisation (NGO), it was set up to help the orphans and the less privelledge children who cannot not afford education and other neccessary amenities.
Our main objectives is to make sure that we help those orphans and the less privilledge ones who are in need. Many children are dying here as a result of high poverty and negligence.
Gilgard orphanage Primary school was set up to make a changs in the life of the orphans, and we have been facing difficult chanleges on the running of the institution. We have been having a hectic situation here because many children have been taken into the institution, so we have approximately 1,000 student now, and we employ more workers to the institution.
The school exists through the support of sponsors for the children. Sponsorship provides money necessary to hire teachers, pay rent for the school buildings, purchase supplies, etc. Not all of the children at Gilgard have a sponsor. This means classes have 50-100 children, there are not enough textbooks, and desks built for 3 frquently have 5 students. Through your sponsorship, you can help change the lives of 1000 children for whom education is the only way to a better future. Some children need a little more help than others. While it is our goal for all of the children to be sponsored, the ones with the greatest need are included in the sponsorship program first. These children may not have enough food to eat at home due to the families financial situation. As a sponsor you will receive an updated photo of your child and a letter from your child three times per year (once each term). Your child will receive a lunch at the school to insure they receive at least one meal a day, and school supplies they need to succeed. With these sponsorships you will also be able to write letters and send extra gifts to your sponsored child. You can make a tremendous difference in the life of one of these children for $100 per month. Help one of these little ones by starting your sponsorship today.
It was written in the bible that we should help one another, most especially the ones that need help. Nigeria is a developing country and is over populated with poor people.

WE will appreciate your sponsorship of children in the institution today. These children need your help.
for contact please call +2348039472543 or Email us via;gilgardorphanage_carehome@yahoo.com

Your kindly contribution will be higly appreciated
Thanks.
THESE KIDS NEEDS HELP.....
I tried to scan the pics but it did not show on this page

[Terryl]

It has taken me a long time to accept that Rev Fr. Marcellus Bekong Morfaw is gone never to return. I remember how much help he was to me when in 1989 as a prospective seminarian I arrived at the BIROCOL.I also remember that as he was the one who paid my transport fare from Mamfe to Buea to attend the interviews. He took me under his wings as he did Orume Ignatius and many others.God gives and he takes back.To the Morfaw family accept my sincere condolences. To Fr Mac you lived the life if a good man. Rest in Peace until we hopefully meet again on the last day.