Brief History of Jopasit
The origin of the St. John Paul II Institute of Theology Buea was nursed on Tuesday 30th of January, 2007 after the Mass of the installation of the new Bishop of Buea, members of one of the tables spent most of their time discussing the point about a school of Theology for the lay faithful. One person mentioned in the course of the conversation that some Christians were already descending every weekend to the Archdiocesan School of Theology for the Laity in Douala which was then in its second years of existence. The new Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Immanuel Bushu responded saying; “In the near future it will not be necessary to go to Douala; we will study the possibilities of having a Theological school in Buea.”
Meetings about a Theological school for the laity in Buea started in February 2007, and the effective takeoff of the Advisory Board of the Institute took place in March 30th, 2007 at 9:30am, at the Bishop’s House in Soppo. The eight members of the Board were all present at the meeting and based their arguments on the church’s life and teaching; since all the baptized must learn in order to acquire this knowledge.
Canon 217, treats the right to Catholic Formation where each member of the faithful has the responsibility to acquire and improve his Christian formation with the aim of realizing his or her vocation in the most efficacious way. For this reason he or she has the right to have access to schools of the church in order to obtain the appropriate academic degrees. After prolonged deliberations the Board supported the idea of an eventual Institute of Theology for all Christ’s faithful in the Diocese of Buea.
The Formal opening of the St. John Paul II Institute of Theology, Buea was done on Saturday the 29th of September 2007 with the motto “Veritatis Splendor” meaning the Splendour of Truth and St. John Paul II was the patron saint, and the Institute has as its main aim true knowledge and love and service of Jesus Christ.
During the inauguration Mass of the Institute on the 29th September 2007, the sum of 4.235.000frs cash and 5.645.000frs as pledges were realized as contributions made which was to start immediately the construction for the Administrative block and classroom of an ultra modern Institute with a two storey building.
Nevertheless, after the Inauguration of the Institute, classes started on the first Monday of October, 2007 at 4pm, with the first lecturer being the Bishop and the subject was Philosophy and logic with about seventy-six students present and these classes took place at the Library hall in Molyko. The pioneer students were very supportive with their contributions in class, maturity and support to the Institute.
This dream and vision of the Bishop came true on the 29th of December, 2007 on the occasion of the Laying of foundation stone of the Institute on the land in Molyko which was approved and donated by the state through the Ministry of Housing and Town Planning to construct this Institute. SOWEDA through their General Manager provided their machines free in order to get the premises prepared for this great day of laying of the foundation stone and TMG London was represented by Dr. Asaah who have opted to coordinate JOPASIT projects in the United Kingdom.