Bamenda : Archbishop Emeritus Paul Verdzekov is no more …

Remains are at the mortuary of St. Elizabeth hospital Shisong as condolence book opens.

Catholic Christians and the North West one bereaved with the sudden death of 79-year-old Archbishop Emeritus, Paul Verdzekov in the afternoon of Tuesday, January 26, 2010 in his retirement home in the neighbourhood of Ntasin, Bamenda. Mourners are filing out at the Archbishop’s house in Bamenda where a condolence book is available for tributes to the late Minister of the Church who served with humility and dedication.

Rev Fr. Ignatius Waindim, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bamenda who also served with late Paul Verdzekov as Vicar General conveyed the remains of the Archbishop Emeritus to the mortuary of St Elizabeth’s catholic hospital Shisong told Cameroon Tribune yesterday that the late man was preparing towards a meeting in Rome and attending the ordination of new Bishops in Cameroon when he collapsed and died. Late Paul Verdzekov served the Catholic church as the Archbishop of the Bamenda Archdiocese to January 2006. His Priestly life started on December 20,1961. His service as a Bishop spanned about 40 years and he was appointed Archbishop in 1982.

He is remembered for dedication to the mission of winning souls for Christ. Rev. Fr. Ignatius Waindim says the “late Archbishop Emeritus was very fatherly, and had great concern for all under his sherperdship, lived a prayerful and saintly life and had concern for his priests and their upkeep”. He was humble and unassuming and credited as a great writer. The Archbishop of the Bamenda Archdiocese, His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua who is out in Rome is expected to confirm the funeral program of late Fr. Paul Verdzekov.