The late Mama Ancela Veye , mother of Sr. Linda Kiven of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) and Sr. Anna Kiven, Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis (TSSF), who had generously offered her two daughters to the Lord, has been laid to rest.
Late Mama Ancela is also the biological Sister of Sr. Alphonsa Kiven of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis.
In a homily during the November 28, 2025 Wake keep Mass of the deceased at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Tobin, in the Diocese of Kumbo, North West Region of Cameroon, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Mbeh, Parish Priest of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Pastoral Zone, Njavnyuy, who had known Mama Ancela from his youth likened her to Abraham, our Father in Faith, who not only sacrificed her child, but two of her daughters to the Lord, as a sign of her faith and dedication to God.
According to him, because Mama Ancela imitated “one big holy man of the church, Abraham” by offering her two daughters, the mourners should mourn her loss, as echoed in the Book of Sirach, in the First Reading, but mourn “in a Christian way, because we know where she is,” he declared, adding that Mama will be well received by Abraham whom she emulated.
Fr. Mbeh praised the late Mama Ancela for her large-hearted generosity, which was reflected in the way she always carried goats, fowls among others during Harvest Thanksgiving. She was not only generous with material things, but with her time, which she shared cheerfully in the service of God. He urged others to learn her example.
Reflecting on the Second Reading from the Book of Revelations talking about end time, the homilist charged all present to make conscious efforts to always check their pages in the Book of Life, where all deeds are recorded, and make amends well ahead of end time, so that when the time comes, they will not be found wanting, but taken to where they rightfully belong, that is to be with God.
To be ready at all times, the priest urged the faithful to be Christians not only by name but in word and deeds. They should do everything possible to receive the sacraments of the Church that will accompany them to their rightful places, and they must learn to forgive, after the example of Christ who pardoned and prayed for even those who had crucified him. “That is what we are called to do, so that something good can be written in our own page in the book of life,” he challenged.
Fr. Mbeh, who hails from Nkar just like late Mama Ancela, shared the firm belief that the Lord has come to take Mama to where she belongs, to be with Him, stating that during her life on earth, she lived the Gospel, being ready at all times. She always began her day with Holy Mass, never missed Stations of the Cross during Lent, and was a devoted member of the Bona Mors Society, a group dedicated to praying for a happy death, to which many are not attracted due to fear of death.
She was also a member of the Catholic Women Association (CWA).
He urged the children and relatives of Mama Ancela never to forget their mother, for “all is not ended,” but to always remember her as someone who is dear to them and who has gone to prepare a place for them.
The Wake keep Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Pontianus Tardzenyuy, Principal of St. Augustine College, Nso and concelebrated by three other Priests. Present at the Mass were family members, friends and well-wishers including the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, who had come all the way from Bamenda, the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis, Sisters of St. Anne, among others.
The wake keep featured a “Crydie” dance on the Church compound after the Mass, in anticipation for the removal of mortal remains and burial the day after.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR- Sister Communicator
