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Benedictine Sisters of Bethany

Not to be confused with Society of the Sisters of Bethany.
Sister Jane EBSB holding a crucifix donated to the convent chapel.

The Benedictine Sisters of Bethany (EBSB) is a religious order for women within the Anglican Church in Cameroon, West Africa. Its mother house (main convent) is in Bamenda. Its principal work is the care of orphaned street children.

History

The community's history begins with the Emmanuel Sisterhood,[1] an order of nuns in the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon. One of the sisters of this order, Sister Jane Mankaa (1960 - 2021), who joined the community aged 16, felt a strong calling years later to convert to the Anglican Communion and start new work with homeless street children.[2] She did so, but with the permission of the Bishop of Cameroon, she remained living under vows and adopted the Benedictine Rule. After studying convent management in the United States for one year and living with the Episcopal Community of St John Baptist in Mendham, New Jersey, Sister Jane returned to Cameroon. Women gathered around her to learn from her and the Benedictine Sisters of Bethany were born. The order became Cameroon's first Anglican religious community.[3] The community is called the "Benedictine Sisters of Bethany" (BSB), but sisters use the post-nominal initials EBSB, in which the "E" is a reference to "Emmanuel", the sisterhood in which Sr Jane first took vows.[4]

In Bamenda, a convent and dormitory with chapel and refectory have been constructed. Redeemer Nursery School is in operation on the compound. The Roberto Rovere Health Clinic is under construction on site to meet the needs of the children and area villagers. Plans are currently underway to construct Good Shepherd Academy, Anglican, a co-ed secondary/high school for 600 residential students in Bafut, Cameroon.[5] There are future plans to construct a residential home and hospice for children with AIDS.

The Good Shepherd Home, Bamenda

Sister Jane felt a strong call to care for the many homeless children of Cameroon, some of whom were orphans (often due to their parents having died of AIDS), whilst others were simply more than their parents (with over-large families) could care for. The Good Shepherd Home in Bamenda, Cameroon now cares for 100 children who would otherwise be homeless.[6] They are given a loving family life, food, shelter, and protection from the sometimes violent life of the city. Today, the Home has four self-sustaining projects - a chicken farm, pig farm, bakery and three vegetable farms. In addition, Good Shepherd Home relies on donations of food from local people and donations of money from overseas supporters.[7]

Security

Following a series of robberies and attacks that culminated in a raid by armed robbers who threatened to kill the sisters, a security system has been installed to alert the local neighbourhood if the convent is attacked.[8]

Batibo

In 2010 the community opened a second convent and orphanage at Batibo, Cameroon, for special needs orphans, expanding the outreach and care provided. The Sisters of Bethany now care for approximately 150 orphaned children across the two sites, as well as many others who are fed or supported with medical care.[9] A second bakery and a store are the two self-sustaining projects of the Batibo home.

See also

Media

  • Geitz, Elizabeth I Am That Child: Changing Hearts and Changing the World Morehouse Publishing, 2012. ISBN 978-0819227782
  • Licostie, Nadine, Director The Good Mother of Abangoh. Red Thread Productions, 2008.

References

  1. ^ "Ihre Homepage - A BIT OF HISTORY: THE BEGINNINGS". Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  2. ^ Anglican Religious Life 2012-13, Canterbury Press, Norwich, ISBN 978-1-84825-089-5, page 145.
  3. ^ The community is referenced on the international and interdenominational website Archived 2014-01-25 at the Wayback Machine of the worldwide Benedictine Order.
  4. ^ Anglican Religious Life 2012-13, Canterbury Press, Norwich, ISBN 978-1-84825-089-5, page 200.
  5. ^ "Home". goodshepherdhome.org.
  6. ^ See the report of American supporters at this webpage Archived 2013-10-10 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ "Sponsor the Children".
  8. ^ See report here at the Episcopal News Service, USA.
  9. ^ See report on page 9 of this 2012 newsletter Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine.
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