Response of Jacques TEERENSTRA, the bishop of Doumé, Cameroon, to Vatican II’s Antepreparatory Commission

Eminentissime Pater,

Litterae quas mihi misisti in Dioecesim meam Dumensem, ad obtinendum consilium pro futuro Concilio Oecumenico, mihi pervenerunt in hisce diebus in Hollandia, ubi iam sum per tres menses.

Tempus ideo breve est et circumstantiae vitae meae in patria tales sunt ut mihi valde impossibile sit profunde tractare quaestiones quas cognoscere desiderat Summus Pontifex Ioannes XXIII.

Impossibile mihi est uti consilio virorum qui consultores mei sunt dioecesani.

Rogo ergo Te, Eminentissime Pater, ut me excuses in hisce circumstantiis.

Communicare volo tamen quaedam desideria mea (brevissime):

1) Ut extendatur in Sacra Liturgia et in distributione Sacramentorum facultas utendi lingua vernacula, ita ut populus maximam utilitatem habeat.

2) Ut quintum annum theologiae pro religiosis missionariis aboleatur. Experientia (quamvis brevis) usque nunc probat hoc annum difficile esse ad exsequendum eiusque utilitas non magna videtur.

Quaestiones meae, Eminentissime Pater, parvae et non multae sunt, iterum rogo excusationes pro hac vice. 

Eminentiae Tuae Rev.mae
addictissimus
+ IACOBUS TEERENSTRA 
Episcopus Dumensis

Most Eminent Father,

The letter which you sent me for my diocese of Doumé, to obtain a proposal for the upcoming Ecumenical Council, reached me these days in Holland, where I have been for three months now.

Therefore, time is short, and the circumstances of my life in my country are such that it is very impossible for me to delve deeply into the questions which the Supreme Pontiff John XXIII desires to know.

It is impossible for me to use the counsel of the men who are my diocesan consultors.

Therefore, I ask you, Most Eminent Father, to excuse me in these circumstances.

However, I want to communicate some of my desires (very briefly):

1) That the faculty to use the vernacular be extended in the Sacred Liturgy and in the distribution of the Sacraments, so that the people may have the greatest benefit.

2) That the fifth year of theology for religious missionaries be abolished. Experience (although little) thus far proves that this year is difficult to accomplish, and its utility does not seem great.

My questions, Most Eminent Father, are trifling and not many. Once again, I apologize for this plight. 

Your Most Reverend Eminence’s 
very devoted
+ JACQUES TEERENSTRA 
Bishop of Doumé