Priest celebrates 9th Anniversary with "no regret"

Rev Fr Romeo Nghemteu has stated that although he has celebrated his ninth anniversary as a priest, he has no regrets choosing that path.

Ordained on December 30, 2006, in Bafoussam by the then Bishop of Bafoussam His Lordship Joseph Atanga, Rev Fr Romeo Nghemteu is a religious priest among the Piarist Fathers who are well known around the Northwest as Calasanzian Fathers.

His ninth year as a priest of the Catholic Church was on December 30, 2015. There were the constant exchange of best wishes to the Priest at the St. Michael’s Parish Futru Nkwen where he is currently serving. During his ordination, he was the youngest Calasanzian priest.

On Sunday, January 3, 2016, which happened to be the first Sunday after the anniversary gave the priest the opportunity to celebrate with his parishioners, most of them children.

After saying his Sunday Masses, the Priest was welcomed at his house by both adults and children and an anniversary cake from a parishioner. In a celebratory mode, the priest shared his cake with all those who showed up at his doorstep.

After his ordination, Fr Romeo was sent to Congo Kinshassa where he served for some time before returning to Cameroon to live with the Menteh and then Futru community.

While serving as Delegate of the Fr General for Africa, Rev. Fr, Romeo was in April 2015 elected Assistant Provincial in charge of Pastoral Vocation and Initial formation.

During his Ordination in 2006, he chose “do this in memory of me” as his motto with an explanatory image of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Quizzed on the significance of this to him after these nine years as a priest, Fr. Romeo explained: “that has been the source of my joy. I have been following that advice by celebrating the Eucharist and by being at the service of the people.

As to whether he would backtrack on his decision as a priest if given the opportunity he replied, “I don’t regret it. If I had a choice to change my life, I will choose this way of life (as a priest) over and over again.”