Benedictine 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.

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.

External links

References

^ "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.

[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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v t e Religious orders and communities of the Anglican Communion
For men	Alton Abbey Brotherhood of the Ascended Christ Brotherhood of Saint Gregory Community of the Resurrection Company of Mission Priests Ewell Monastery Franciscan orders Korean Franciscan Brotherhood Little Brothers of Francis Melanesian Brotherhood Oratory of the Good Shepherd Benedictine orders Order of the Holy Cross Order of the Teachers of the Children of God Salisbury Priory St Gregory's Abbey Society of the Holy Cross Society of St. Francis Society of St John the Evangelist Society of St. Paul
For women	Augustinian orders Benedictine Sisters of Bethany Chama Cha Mariamu Mtakatifu Chita che Zita Rinoyera Chita che Zvipo Zve Moto Christa Sevika Sangha Community of All Hallows Community of Christ the King Community of Jesus' Compassion Community of Nazareth Community of St. Andrew Community of St. Clare Community of St. Denys Community of St. Francis Community of St. John Baptist Community of St. John the Divine Community of St. John the Evangelist Community of St. Laurence Community of St. Mary Community of St. Mary at the Cross Community of St. Mary the Virgin Community of St. Mary of Nazareth and Calvary Community of St. Michael & All Angels Community of St. Paul Community of St. Peter Community of St. Peter, Horbury Community of the Blessed Lady Mary Community of the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd Community of the Good Shepherd Community of the Holy Cross Community of the Holy Family Community of the Holy Name (Europe & Africa) Community of the Holy Name (Australia) Community of the Holy Spirit Community of the Resurrection of Our Lord Community of the Sacred Name Community of the Sacred Passion Community of the Servants of the Cross Community of the Sisters of Melanesia Community of the Sisters of the Church Community of the Sisters of the Love of God Community of the Transfiguration Congregation of the Sisters of the Visitation of Our Lady Daughters of St. Francis Fikambanan'ny Mpanompovavin l Jesoa Kristy Franciscan orders Malling Abbey Order of St. Anne Order of St. Anne at Bethany Order of St. Benedict Order of St. Helena Order of the Holy Paraclete Order of Julian of Norwich Order of Women (South India) Sisterhood of St. John the Divine Sisterhood of St. Mary, Bangladesh Sisterhood of the Epiphany Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity Sisters of Charity Sisters of the Good Shepherd Sisters of the Incarnation Sisters of Jesus Way Sisters of St Francis (Korea) Society of All Saints Sisters of the Poor Society of Our Lady of the Isles Society of Our Lady St. Mary Society of St. John the Divine Society of St. Margaret Society of the Franciscan Servants of Jesus & Mary Society of the Holy Cross Society of the Holy Trinity Society of the Precious Blood Society of the Sacred Advent Society of the Sacred Cross Society of the Sisters of Bethany
Mixed	Anglican Order of Preachers (Dominican) Community of the Glorious Ascension Community of the Holy Transfiguration Community of the Servants of the Will of God Companions of Saint Luke (OSB) Franciscan orders Mucknell Abbey Order of Christ the Saviour (OCS Dominicans) Benedictine orders Society of the Sacred Mission St Mark's Abbey
Related articles	Topics closely related to active religious orders: Former religious orders in the Anglican Communion