Diocese of

Ebolowa

Cameroon

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Ebolowa / Ebolouan(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Yaoundé

Neighbouring Dioceses: Kribi (←), Edéa (↖), Mbalmayo (↗), Sangmélima (→), Oyem (↘), Ebebiyín (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1991.05.20: Established as Diocese of Ebolowa–Kribi / Ebolouan(us)–Kriben(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Douala and Diocese of Sangmélima and became suffragan of Yaoundé)
2008.06.19: Renamed as Diocese of Ebolowa / Ebolouan(us) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Diocese of Kribi)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2016.10.22 – ...):

Bishop Philippe Alain Mbarga (58)

Vice-President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon

Ordinaries

Bishops of Ebolowa (Roman Rite)

Bishop Philippe Alain Mbarga (58)
(2016.10.22 – ...)

Bishop of Ebolowa (Cameroon)
Vice-President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon

Mysterium fidei

Born:	1968.01.28 (Obout, Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1994.12.10
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.12.08

Priest of Mbalmayo (Cameroon) (1994.12.10 – 2016.10.22)

Bishop of Ebolowa (Cameroon) (2016.10.22 – ...)

Vice-President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (2022.04.30 – ...)

Archbishop Jean Mbarga (69)
(Apostolic Administrator 2014.11.29 – 2016.10.22)

Bishop Jean Mbarga (69) (later Archbishop)
(2008.06.19 – 2014.10.31)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Yaoundé (Cameroon)

J’aime le Christ et je bâtis son église

Born:	1956.05.18 (Ebolmedzo, Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1981.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.12.05

Priest of Yaoundé (Cameroon) (1981.12.05 – 2004.10.15)

Bishop of Ebolowa–Kribi (Cameroon) (2004.10.15 – 2008.06.19)

Bishop of Ebolowa (Cameroon) (2008.06.19 – 2014.10.31)

Apostolic Administrator of Yaoundé (Cameroon) (2013.07.29 – 2014.10.31)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Yaoundé (Cameroon) (2014.10.31 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Ebolowa (Cameroon) (2014.11.29 – 2016.10.22)

Bishops of Ebolowa–Kribi (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jean Mbarga (69) (later Archbishop)
(2004.10.15 – 2008.06.19)

(see above)

Bishop Raphaël Marie Ze
(Apostolic Administrator 2002.03.15 – 2004.10.15)

Bishop Jean-Baptiste Ama
(1991.05.20 – 2002.03.15)

Born:	1926.08.20 (Koundou, Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1955.06.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.02.02
Died:	2004.02.29 († 77)

Titular Bishop of Accia (1974.12.12 – 1983.07.22)

Auxiliary Bishop of Yaoundé (Cameroon) (1974.12.12 – 1983.07.22)

Bishop of Sangmélima (Cameroon) (1983.07.22 – 1991.05.20)

President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (1991 – 1994)

Bishop of Ebolowa–Kribi (Cameroon) (1991.05.20 – 2002.03.15)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Sainte-Anne et Saint-Joachim, Abang, South

Kribi (←), Edéa (↖), Mbalmayo (↗), Sangmélima (→), Oyem (↘), Ebebiyín (↓)

Statistics (2020.12.31)

Area: 9,970 km²

Population: 153,000 Catholics (47.8% of 320,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 54 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 62 priests (55 diocesan, 7 religious), 67 religious (20 brothers, 47 sisters), 70 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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