It is shortly before half past seven in the morning in Otélé. While the first rays of sunshine illuminate the red clay slopes, the first believers are already gathering in the chapel. A few minutes later, the mass begins. For the people in the village, this start of the day is a matter of course – and for Abbé Martin it has been part of everyday life for many years.
Cameroon is a country of faith: around two-thirds of the population is Christian, a large part of them Catholic. Religion shapes everyday life, structures social life and is a central point of reference for community and cohesion in many villages.
This is also clearly evident in Otélé. There are two Catholic churches in the village: one belongs to the Diocese of Éséka, a rural diocese, the other to the Archdiocese of Yaoundé, based in the capital Yaoundé and correspondingly more urban.
We met Abbé Martin, the pastor of the Bassa parish, and gained insight into his work:
For about a year now, Abbé Martin has been working as a Catholic priest in the village, where our water project is also located. In total, he has been active in the priestly ministry for 24 years. From Tuesday to Sunday, he celebrates mass at 6:30 a.m. The parish has around 2,500 Christians. Part of the liturgy is celebrated in French, such as the Sunday Mass at 7:30 a.m., which is especially popular with young people, while the High Mass at 10:00 a.m. is in the local language. The services are celebrated in the small chapel or the large church, depending on the occasion.
Its tasks extend far beyond the celebration of masses and sacraments such as baptisms or weddings. Abbé Martin manages the church’s tenement houses and is committed to the reforestation of the forest around the church grounds. In addition, after the renovation, the solemn consecration of the church is imminent.
The community is particularly important to him. For example, he organises religious education for children, wants to provide young people with a computer for practising and creates meeting places for the village with sports and music events. At the same time, it is an important point of contact for many people, whether for a personal conversation, support in difficult life situations or a joint prayer.
When asked what particularly fulfills him about his work, Abbé Martin answers simply: “I feel like I’m part of a family here.” His greatest wish is that this strong sense of community will be maintained for a long time to come.
