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.
Sister Jane EBSB holding a crucifix donated to the convent chapel.
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, Bamendaedit
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]
Securityedit
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]
Batiboedit
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.
Geitz, Elizabeth I Am That Child: Changing Hearts and Changing the World Morehouse Publishing, 2012. ISBN978-0819227782
Licostie, Nadine, Director The Good Mother of Abangoh. Red Thread Productions, 2008.
External linksedit
The Good Shepherd Home for Children
Video of Founder, Sister Jane
Referencesedit
^. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
^Anglican Religious Life 2012-13, Canterbury Press, Norwich, ISBN978-1-84825-089-5, page 145.
^The community is referenced on the international and interdenominational website 2014-01-25 at the Wayback Machine of the worldwide Benedictine Order.
^Anglican Religious Life 2012-13, Canterbury Press, Norwich, ISBN978-1-84825-089-5, page 200.
^See report here at the Episcopal News Service, USA.
^See report on page 9 of this 2012 newsletter 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine.
October 31, 2023
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Not to be confused with Society of the Sisters of Bethany A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia s content policies particularly neutral point of view Please discuss further on the talk page April 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 Sister Jane EBSB holding a crucifix donated to the convent chapel Contents 1 History 2 The Good Shepherd Home Bamenda 3 Security 4 Batibo 5 See also 6 Media 7 External links 8 ReferencesHistory editThe 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 editSister 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 editFollowing 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 editIn 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 editAnglican Diocese of Cameroon Order of St Benedict Anglican Religion in CameroonMedia editGeitz 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 External links editBenedictine Sisters of Bethany The Good Shepherd Home for Children Video of Founder Sister JaneReferences edit Ihre Homepage A BIT OF HISTORY THE BEGINNINGS Archived from the original on 2016 03 07 Retrieved 2016 03 06 Anglican Religious Life 2012 13 Canterbury Press Norwich ISBN 978 1 84825 089 5 page 145 The community is referenced on the international and interdenominational website Archived 2014 01 25 at the Wayback Machine of the worldwide Benedictine Order Anglican Religious Life 2012 13 Canterbury Press Norwich ISBN 978 1 84825 089 5 page 200 Home goodshepherdhome org See the report of American supporters at this webpage Archived 2013 10 10 at the Wayback Machine Sponsor the Children See report here at the Episcopal News Service USA See report on page 9 of this 2012 newsletter Archived 2016 03 04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benedictine Sisters of Bethany amp oldid 1175322223, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
