The prior of the community, and responsible for formation in Cameroon, is Fr. Ubaldo Panni from the Italian Province. Both he and Fr. Nazareno, a member of the community also from the Italian Province, have great experience of missions. Both have spent many years in the Democratic Republic of Congo and, more recently, Fr. Ubaldo spent some time in Burkina Faso to help the Betica Province set up their mission. Another member of the community, Fr. Nestor from Congo (Italian Province) is parish priest of the nearby parish and also assists in the work of formation. There are eight novices, one of whom is from Kinshasa (Congo) and belongs to the Italian Province. There are also seven postulants in the community.

The Solemnity of St. Joseph was a busy day. We went to the nunciature in Yaounde, about one hour car journey, for Mass at 7.00 a.m. followed by breakfast with the newly appointed Nuncio, who comes from the village of Caravaggio in Northern Italy. We returned to the novitiate for Mass at mid-day followed by a celebration meal. Two Discalced Carmelite friars attended the celebration. In the afternoon we returned to Yaounde to bless the ceremonial foundation stone of the new building for the simply professed students. It was the first opportunity I had to meet them. Altogether there are ten simply professed members of the Lower German Province, three of whom study in Kinshasa (Congo). There is also a solemnly professed brother from Congo studying theology in Cameroon. At present the students are living in another religious house until the new building is completed. Unfortunately it has not been possible to find a formator as yet. It is hoped that at least part of the building will be completed by September to allow the seven simply professed and, if God wills, the seven newly professed, to have a home for the beginning of the new academic year. As part of the agreement with the Archbishop of Yaounde, the Lower German Province is committed to opening a parish in the rural part of the archdiocese by 2006.

The Sunday was a day of special celebration for the local parish as it bears the name of St. Joseph. One of the lecturers from the regional seminary, and a former member of the parish, came along to celebrate the Mass in the local language. I preached in French. The very lively celebration was followed by a great feast. In the afternoon we had a meeting and celebration of the Eucharist with the Donum Dei Fraternity. There were about 100 members present and, we were informed, that this was only about a quarter of the total number of people who are attached in various ways to the Donum Dei community. After the Mass there was a buffet meal and a presentation of singing and dancing.