WINSTON-SALEM — Father Melchesideck Yumo is the newest member of the small club of canon lawyers within the diocese.
While pursuing his degree, he balanced his priestly duties as the parochial administrator of St. Benedict the Moor Church and Good Shepherd Mission in King.
He graduated from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, with a master's in canon law and his ecclesiastical licentiate in canon law.
He will receive his certificate in January and is invited to walk in the graduation ceremony this June.
The ordinarily two-year program took him four to complete.
“Since I was serving in the parish and doing it online, I took the extended version,” he said.
Each year he would make a mandatory in-person trip to the college for 10 days.
He completed his last class in Rome, where he met Pope Leo.
“He greeted me,” Father Yumo said. “It was such a great honor to meet him.”
Father Yumo initially enrolled in the program because he felt compelled by his parishioners back in the Diocese of Buea, Cameroon.
“I was motivated by the fact that there are many couples back in my home country who have been waiting for annulments. But they are unable to have them because the process takes too long,” Father Yumo said. “They do not have tribunals in every diocese. Before coming here, I was serving at the Family Life Office, so I encountered many of those situations. I felt that studying Canon Law would provide the tools I need to help in that direction.”
Father Yumo expressed his gratitude to his many well-wishers, including his old friends at St. Mark Church in Huntersville - where he served as parochial vicar - his communities at St.
Benedict the Moor and Good Shepherd, The Knights of Columbus, The Ancient Order of the Hibernians and Mary’s Women of Joy. They have all have supported him through this journey for years and have showered him with congratulatory cakes, parties and love since his graduation.
“They contributed so much to make it so I could achieve this,” he said. “I especially would love to thank Dr. Dennis and Monica Golden, who I consider my parents over here.”
If anyone knows Father Yumo, they will agree this would be a great time to belt out his favorite saying, “God is good… All the time!”
Congratulations, Father Yumo!
— Lisa M. Geraci