Diocese of

Nkongsamba

Cameroon

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Nkongsamba / Nkongsamben(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Douala

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1914.04.28: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Adamaua (from Apostolic Vicariate of Cameroun, Apostolic Vicariate of Khartoum and Apostolic Prefecture of Oubangui Chari)
1923.06.11: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Foumban / de Foumban (Latin)
1923.06.12: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Buéa
1932.02.03: Gained territory from Apostolic Vicariate of Khartoum
1934.05.28: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Foumban / de Foumban (Latin)
1940.05.28: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Berbérati
1942.04.28: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Niamey
1947.01.09: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Fort-Lamy and Apostolic Prefecture of Garoua
1955.09.14: Promoted as Diocese of Nkongsamba / Nkongsamben(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Yaoundé)
1970.02.05: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Bafoussam
1982.03.18: Became suffragan of Douala
2012.05.26: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Bafang

Present Prelates

Bishop (2012.05.26 – ...):

Bishop Dieudonné Espoir Atangana (67)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Nkongsamba (Roman Rite)

Bishop Dieudonné Espoir Atangana (67)
(2012.05.26 – ...)

Bishop of Nkongsamba (Cameroon)

Mane nobiscum Domine

Born:	1958.03.20 (Ngongo, Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1986.06.21
Consecrated Bishop:	2012.07.14

Priest of Yaoundé (Cameroon) (1986.06.21 – 1987.07.03)

Priest of Obala (Cameroon) (1987.07.03 – 2012.05.26)

Bishop of Nkongsamba (Cameroon) (2012.05.26 – ...)

Bishop Dieudonné Watio (79)
(1995.04.01 – 2011.03.05)

Bishop emeritus of Bafoussam (Cameroon)

Que tous soient un

Born:	1946.03.18 (Mbouda, Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1975.07.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.06.10

Bishop of Nkongsamba (Cameroon) (1995.04.01 – 2011.03.05)

Apostolic Administrator of Bafoussam (Cameroon) (2010.03 – 2011.03.05)

Bishop of Bafoussam (Cameroon) (2011.03.05 – 2021.03.19)

Bishop André Wouking (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1993 – 1995.04.01)

Bishop Thomas Nkuissi
(1978.11.15 – 1992.11.21)

Taapu’ Yeso musungedi

Born:	1928.07.07 (Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1958.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.04.15
Died:	2011.03.16 († 82)

Titular Bishop of Luperciana (1973.01.29 – 1978.11.15)

Apostolic Administrator of Nkongsamba (Cameroon) (1973.01.29 – 1978.11.15)

Bishop of Nkongsamba (Cameroon) (1978.11.15 – 1992.11.21)

Bishop Thomas Nkuissi
(Apostolic Administrator 1973.01.29 – 1978.11.15)

Bishop Albert Ndongmo
(1964.06.16 – 1973.01.29)

Born:	1926.09.26 (Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1955.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1964.08.16
Died:	1992.05.29 († 65)

Bishop of Nkongsamba (Cameroon) (1964.06.16 – 1973.01.29)

Bishop Paul Bouque, S.C.I.
(1955.09.14 – 1964.06.16)

Born:	1896.07.06 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1925.07.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1934.11.21
Died:	1979.08.15 († 83)

Prefect Apostolic of Foumban (Cameroon) (1930.10.28 – 1934.05.28)

Titular Bishop of Vagada (1934.05.28 – 1955.09.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Foumban (Cameroon) (1934.05.28 – 1955.09.14)

Bishop of Nkongsamba (Cameroon) (1955.09.14 – 1964.06.16)

Titular Bishop of Abbir Germaniciana (1964.06.16 – 1976.08.11)

Vicars Apostolic of Foumban (Roman Rite)

Bishop Paul Bouque, S.C.I.
(1934.05.28 – 1955.09.14)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Foumban (Roman Rite)

Fr. Paul Bouque, S.C.I. (later Bishop)
(1930.10.28 – 1934.05.28)

(see above)

Fr. Joseph Donatien Plissonneau, S.C.I.
(1923.06.11 – 1930)

Prefect Apostolic of Adamaua (Cameroon) (1920.02.07 – 1923.06.11)

Prefect Apostolic of Foumban (Cameroon) (1923.06.11 – 1930)

Prefects Apostolic of Adamaua (Roman Rite)

Fr. Joseph Donatien Plissonneau, S.C.I.
(1920.02.07 – 1923.06.11)

(see above)

Fr. Gerhard Lennartz, S.C.I.
(1914.04.29 – 1919)

Prefect Apostolic of Adamaua (Cameroon) (1914.04.29 – 1919)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale de l’Immaculée Conception, Nkongsamba, Littoral

Kumba (↙), Bafang (↗), Douala (↓)

Statistics (2017.12.31)

Area: 4,057 km²

Population: 178,000 Catholics (22.2% of 803,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 67 parishes, 3 missions

Personnel: 81 priests (65 diocesan, 16 religious), 84 religious (29 brothers, 55 sisters), 53 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.04.02

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