Friday, June 27, 2025, the Bishop of Buea, Most Rev. Michael Bibi performed the admission to candidacy of seven acolytes of the Diocese of Buea, hours before they receive the Sacrament of Holy order.
In the Roman Catholic Church, admission to candidacy comes shortly before incardination which refers to the situation of a member of the clergy being placed under the jurisdiction of a particular bishop or other ecclesiastical superior. Its antonym, excardination, denotes that a member of the clergy has been freed from one jurisdiction and is transferred to another. The purpose of incardination is to ensure that no cleric, whether deacon or priest, is acephalous or freelance, that is, without a clear ecclesiastical superior to whom he is responsible.
In his homily during the Mass to admit the acolytes as candidates for ordination, Bishop Michael Bibi told the acolytes that the rite is an official recognition of their vocation and should mark a deepening of their commitment to service.
The Rite of candidacy opened with the calling and profession of faith of the Candidates. In an expression of total submission to God and complete reliance on His grace, the candidates professed their faith and trust in God, publicly declaring their belief in the Church’s teachings and promising to uphold them in their ministry.
After taking the oath of fidelity, the ordination of the seven acolytes as deacons takes place Saturday, June 28, 2025 at the Divine Mercy Co-cathedral, Molyko, Buea at 9 a.m. The acolytes to be ordained deacons include: Clifford Zong Che, Cyril Nkeh Foguh, Victor Suliy Banseka, Serge Ngassa, Evans Njuabe, Evaristus Mukong and Karl John Killi.
