Sr. Xaveria Ntenmusi hands over baton to Sr. Olive Nga Dzedzemon

An elderly woman remarked on Sunday, March 30, 2014, during Sr. Xaveria Ntenmusi’s send-off Mass in St. Anthony Parish Njinikom that a landslide had occurred in Njinikom. Sr. Xaveria was leaving Njinikom after 14 years of dedicated services as the matron of St. Martin de Porres Hospital, Njinikom.

The massive turn out of people at her thanksgiving Mass and the presentation of an achievement award by “Komrades” in the USA, testified the event’s grandeur.

In his sermon, the Parish Priest, Fr. Cletus Tita presented Sr. Xaveria as a forthright, courageous, hardworking, selfless person and one grounded in her Religious vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. He acknowledged her ability to create and maintain relationships - a talent which has permitted her to take giant strides in her success story in Njinikom.

She was greatly appreciated for all she had done to the people of Njinikom and beyond, the hurdles notwithstanding. He asked those present to cry for joy as Sr. Xaveria is now a member of the Provincial Administration from where she will oversee all the activities of her congregation and not only for Njinikom.

From the way she worked passionately in Njinikom, one may be tempted to conclude that she was motivated by the “daughter of the soil” syndrome. However, Fr. Cletus said she had worked with the same zeal in Gobo in North Cameroon and Mbetta and the people did not want to lose her in these places; just as the ‘Fulanis and Akus attempted stopping Sr. Olive Nga Dzedzemon from leaving Wum.

He challenged Christians to reflect on their lives to see what good they have to offer to Njinikom. Granted that all fingers are not the same, he admonished the people not to expect a duplicate of Sr. Xaveria in Sr. Olive Nga, the new matron.

After the presentation of the award from Afoakom, USA, New York, which reads “Outstanding Achievement in Development Award presented to Sr. Xaveria Nteinmusi in recognition and appreciation of her outstanding years of service as matron of Njinikom Hospital and her decades of dedication to the health of “Komrades” and Cameroonians”, by Dr. Emmanuel Chiabi, in response, Sr. Xaveria thanked the people and told them she worked for all “Komrades” as the proverb goes that “one hand cannot tie a bundle”.

She introduced and thanked her first three benefactors from Holland who have visited Njinikom 29 times in 14 years, followed by Americans and Germans. She called on “Komrades” to nurture the new child – Sr. Olive, to grow just as they did to her. On behalf of the hospital staff and the Tertiary Sisters of Saint Francis, she asked the people to let go of past errors and begin again. The TSSF Provincial Superior’s representative, Sr. Mediatrix Wirba, thanked the community for supporting the Sisters and for recognising the marvels that God has done through Sr. Xaveria. “Sometimes good things come in disguise,” she said. “Let us free our hearts in readiness to let go Sr. Xaveria so that she can also do the good elsewhere,” she added. She called on all to pray for her new mission which extends from the Central African Republic, through Congo-Kinshasa, to Nigeria and Morocco.

After receiving the baton from Sr. Xaveria, Sr. Olive Nga Dzedzemon greeted the congregation in the local dialect, “Itulainma!” This ignited laughter and a hopeful feeling from the people. She said the book Sr. Xaveria had written was being read on that day and that hers is still empty and blank. She concluded on a hopeful note that the collaboration and cooperation which was given to Sr. Xaveria will also be given to her. The Parish Council Chairperson thanked Sr. Xaveria for her connectedness and motherliness and for improving the economy of Njinikom through the foundation of 47 social women’s groups under the canopy of Madam Nell Hubach. He also thanked her for connecting Njinikom to the Internet and for her involvement in the parish’s life.

The Deputy Mayor of Njinikom Rural Council, Julius Tohmaintain, congratulated the outgoing matron on improving the council’s economy and said the new matron is also equal to the task.

Sr. Xaveria has left behind a legacy and the young, energetic and smart matron will continue from there. A powerful delegation from Njinkom accompanied Sr. Xaveria home to Shisong.