Help for the training of 42 young Carmelites

Even as a child, Jean-Thierry Ebogo had nurtured a secret dream – to be like Jesus! And to do so, he planned to become a priest. It was the year 2003 when as a young man, he finally entered the Carmelite monastery of Nkoabang in Cameroon. He longed to follow the “Little Way” of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus) – the way of holiness and perfect childlike trust in God’s mercy. Which is why he added to his chosen religious name the words “of the Child Jesus and of the Passion.”

It was not long before he was to experience this passion in his own body, for just a year after entering the convent, he was diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his right knee. His leg had to be amputated and he underwent a course of chemotherapy, which unfortunately did not have the desired effect. Nevertheless, he endured the intense suffering with exceptional courage, and joy, leaving even the doctors astounded. His only concern was that he might never be able to become a priest after all. “I only wish to be healed so that I can become a priest,” he said.

On December 8, 2005, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, he received permission to take his final vows early. One month later, on January 5, 2006, he passed away, at just 24 years old. So his desire to become a priest remained unfulfilled, and yet to this day, the holiness of his life and death continues to move the hearts of countless people. Thousands came to his funeral. And the cause of his beatification is now also proceeding.

Before his death, Jean-Thierry had promised to implore from heaven a “downpour of strong and holy priestly and religious vocations” for the Carmelite family in Africa, and today it looks as though he has kept his word. In his own home country of Cameroon especially, and in the neighbouring Central African Republic, the Discalced Carmelites are rejoicing in a wealth of new vocations, with 42 young men currently in the various stages of their formation. Thirty-three of them are from the Central African Republic and a further nine are from Cameroon.

The Carmelite Friars in these two neighbouring countries are working closely together in the formation of these young novices. The theology centre is in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, while Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, is the place where they pursue their philosophy studies. There are close links between them, and the young Friars live and study together in the various Carmelite religious houses of the two countries.

But of course, these vocations, while undoubtedly a reason for great rejoicing, also represent a heavy financial burden on the Carmelite Order. The Central African Republic in particular is one of the poorest countries in the world today, and in Cameroon, the Church also faces all kinds of challenges. We have therefore promised a total of $36,750 to support the formation of the 33 young men from the Central African Republic and the 9 from Cameroon.