17 March 2009
The Bamenda ecclesiastical province (which today comprises Bamenda, Buea, Kumbo and Mamfe) has its history apart. As early as June 12, 1923, it was carved out of the Apostolic Vicarate of Cameroon to become the Apostolic prefecture of Buea. On March 15, 1939, was raised to an Apostolic Vicarate. On April 18, 1950, it become the Diocese of Buea . It is Buea which has given rise to the Archdiocese of Bamenda and the dioceses of Kumbo and Mamfe.
In 1950, the Diocese of Buea counted some 52,000 Christians of a population of 465,000 In 1970, the population had grown to 180 000. La atest available statistics indicate a population of 365,000 Catholics run in 22 parishes with some 70 priests and a similar number of female and male religious. The diocese hosts the country's oldest Secondary School -St Joseph's College, Sasse , founded in 1939 as well as other very reputable institutions . The following have served as Bishop. John William Campling (Prefect, 1923-1925)), Peter Rogan ( Prefect, Apostolic Vicar, Bishop ( 1925-1961), Julius Peeters (1962-1970), Puis Awa (1973-2006), Immanuel Bushu (since November 30, 2006).
The Bamenda Archdiocese, erected from Buea in 1970, has about 300,000 Catholic Christians enrolled in 31 parishes and quasi parishes, over 600 missions stations, about 100 diocesan and missionary Priests and over 150 religious. Mgr Paul Verdzekov was first and later Archibishop until 2006 when Mgr Cornelius Fontem Esua succeeded as the shepherd. Prestigious colleges as Sacred Heart, St Bedes-Ashing -Kom, Our Lady of Lourdes are found here.
The Archidiocese is the second highest employer after the State in the area. The Archidiocese has three hospitals in Njinikom and Bamenda as well as many health Centres, it hosts an inter-diocesan Major Seminary with about 50 Seminarians at Bambui The present-day Diocese of Kumbo is an off-shoot of the Diocese of Bamenda which was carved and of the Diocese of Buea in 1970. Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Kumbo on March 18, 1982. The Catholic population today stands at over 80.000. The Diocese of Kumbo has 25 parishes served by 66 diocesan priests. It runs 55 nursery schools, 114 primary schools and 12 colleges.
The Mamfe Diocese, created on February 9, 1999 from the Diocese of Buea, has a surface area of 10,500 square kilometres for a population of 360,000. Of this number, only about 65,000 are Catholic Christians. To shepherd this number, Bishop Lysine is assisted by six focolare, 15 Diocesan and two Nigerian Fidei Donum priests.
.The Mamfe Diocese has 11 parishes: Mamfe, Mbetta ,Nguty, Central Ejagham , Eyumojock, Fontem, Fonjumetaw, Fotabong, Mbeme, Akwaya and M'mouck.. The Diocese has two major hospitals Mary Health of Africa, Fontem and the Saint John of God Hospital, Nguty in addition to minor health units in Akwaya, Fonjumetaw, Mbetta and Mamfe. There are 29 primary and one nursery schools. It runs Seat of Wisdom College at Fontem, the Queen of the Rosary College at Okoyong and the Saint John's Technical College at Nchang. Plans are afoot to create more post-primary institutions in the Diocese in the coming months.
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