Nkongsamba (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Dieudonné Espoir Atangana, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 14 September 1955
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Douala
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Cameroon
Square Kilometers: 4,057 (1,567 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Évêché, B.P. 333, Nkongsamba, Cameroun
Telephone: 233.49.11.60

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Adamaua
- Latin Name: de Adamaua
- Erected: 28 April 1914
- Country: Cameroon
Prefecture Apostolic of Foumban
- Latin Name: de Foumban
- Name Changed: 11 June 1923
- Country: Cameroon
Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban
- Latin Name: de Foumban
- Territory Added: 3 February 1932
- Vicariate
- Country: Cameroon

Past and Present Ordinaries

Gerhard (Thomas) Lennartz, S.C.I. † (29 Apr 1914 Appointed - 30 Dec 1919 Resigned)
Joseph Donatien Plissonneau, S.C.I. † (7 Feb 1920 Appointed - 1930 Resigned)
Paul Bouque, S.C.I. † (28 Oct 1930 Appointed - 14 Sep 1955 Appointed, Bishop of Nkongsamba)
Paul Bouque, S.C.I. † (14 Sep 1955 Appointed - 16 Jun 1964 Resigned)
Albert Ndongmo † (16 Jun 1964 Appointed - 29 Jan 1973 Resigned)
Thomas Nkuissi † (15 Nov 1978 Appointed - 21 Nov 1992 Resigned)
Dieudonné Watio (1 Apr 1995 Appointed - 5 Mar 2011 Appointed, Bishop of Bafoussam)
Dieudonné Espoir Atangana (26 May 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Adamaua
28 April 1914	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Cameroun Vicariate Apostolic of Khartoum Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari	Prefecture Apostolic of Adamaua (erected) (Adamawa)
12 June 1923	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Adamaua (Area under English control) Vicariate Apostolic of Cameroun (Area under English control)	Prefecture Apostolic of Buéa (erected) (Victoria, Kumba, Manfe, and Bamenda)
Prefecture Apostolic of Foumban
11 June 1923	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Adamaua Vicariate Apostolic of Cameroun (North-western part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Foumban
Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban
3 February 1932	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Khartoum (Area North of Foumban)	Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban
28 May 1934	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Foumban	Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban
11 July 1939	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban (Bafia)	Vicariate Apostolic of Yaoundé
28 May 1940	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari	Prefecture Apostolic of Berbérati (erected)
28 April 1942	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban Prefecture Apostolic of Ghardaïa nel Sahara Prefecture Apostolic of Jos Prefecture Apostolic of Kaduna Vicariate Apostolic of Khartoum Vicariate Apostolic of Ouagadougou	Prefecture Apostolic of Niamey (erected)
9 January 1947	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban (Northern region)	Prefecture Apostolic of Garoua (erected)
9 January 1947	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Berbérati Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban Vicariate Apostolic of Khartoum	Prefecture Apostolic of Fort-Lamy (erected) (Chad)
9 January 1947	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban (Region between Chad, Cameroon, and Western Logone River)	Prefecture Apostolic of Berbérati
26 May 1950	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Douala (Ntem, Kribi, Sanaga maritime, and parts of Mungo and Wouri (left bank)) Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban (Bamoun, Bamileke, and parts of Mungo and Wouri (right bank)) Vicariate Apostolic of Yaoundé (Nyong, Sanaga, and Mbam)
Diocese of Nkongsamba
14 September 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban	Diocese of Nkongsamba
5 February 1970	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nkongsamba (Bamoun, Mifì, Baboutos, Menoua, and Ndé)	Diocese of Bafoussam (erected)
18 March 1982	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Nkongsamba (from Yaoundé)
12 March 1993	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nkongsamba (Bonaberi (La Sous-Prefecture Douala IV))	Archdiocese of Douala
22 March 1993	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Douala (Sanaga Maritime) Diocese of Nkongsamba (Nkam)	Diocese of Edéa (erected)
26 May 2012	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nkongsamba (Nkam and Haut Nkam)	Diocese of Bafang (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Nkongsamba

1970 104,882 508,000 20.6% 21 24 45 2,330 52 58 27 ap1971

1980 182,292 365,000 49.9% 24 18 42 4,340 37 38 33 ap1981

1990 270,650 663,500 40.8% 43 9 52 5,204 20 47 50 ap1991

1999 315,000 896,115 35.2% 60 8 68 4,632 28 47 40 ap2000

2000 315,000 896,115 35.2% 65 9 74 4,256 29 47 40 ap2001

2001 316,632 897,908 35.3% 65 11 76 4,166 14 15 40 ap2002

2002 319,170 908,867 35.1% 65 13 78 4,091 16 24 56 ap2003

2003 310,817 994,833 31.2% 69 10 79 3,934 15 53 51 ap2004

2004 319,549 667,268 47.9% 66 9 75 4,260 15 51 52 ap2005

2011 365,000 768,000 47.5% 84 11 95 3,842 40 60 79 ap2012

2012 192,547 707,716 27.2% 64 10 74 2,601 56 71 bul:26May2012

2013 255,192 680,873 37.5% 59 11 70 3,645 40 60 57 ap2014

2016 153,436 689,000 22.3% 61 10 71 2,161 23 62 65 ap2017

2019 162,000 730,000 22.2% 64 14 78 2,076 27 55 67 ap2020

2021 170,150 767,400 22.2% 64 14 78 2,181 27 55 67 ap2022

2023 178,000 803,000 22.2% 65 16 81 2,197 29 55 67 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Nkongsamba
1970	104,882	508,000	20.6%	21	24	45	2,330	52	58	27	ap1971
1980	182,292	365,000	49.9%	24	18	42	4,340	37	38	33	ap1981
1990	270,650	663,500	40.8%	43	9	52	5,204	20	47	50	ap1991
1999	315,000	896,115	35.2%	60	8	68	4,632	28	47	40	ap2000
2000	315,000	896,115	35.2%	65	9	74	4,256	29	47	40	ap2001
2001	316,632	897,908	35.3%	65	11	76	4,166	14	15	40	ap2002
2002	319,170	908,867	35.1%	65	13	78	4,091	16	24	56	ap2003
2003	310,817	994,833	31.2%	69	10	79	3,934	15	53	51	ap2004
2004	319,549	667,268	47.9%	66	9	75	4,260	15	51	52	ap2005
2011	365,000	768,000	47.5%	84	11	95	3,842	40	60	79	ap2012
2012	192,547	707,716	27.2%	64	10	74	2,601		56	71	bul:26May2012
2013	255,192	680,873	37.5%	59	11	70	3,645	40	60	57	ap2014
2016	153,436	689,000	22.3%	61	10	71	2,161	23	62	65	ap2017
2019	162,000	730,000	22.2%	64	14	78	2,076	27	55	67	ap2020
2021	170,150	767,400	22.2%	64	14	78	2,181	27	55	67	ap2022
2023	178,000	803,000	22.2%	65	16	81	2,197	29	55	67	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Dieudonné Espoir Atangana (Bishop: 26 May 2012 - )
Jerome Feudjio
Abraham Kome (Priest: 11 Dec 1999 to 26 May 2012)
Dieudonné Watio (Bishop: 1 Apr 1995 to 5 Mar 2011)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Paul Bouque, S.C.I. † (Prefect: 28 Oct 1930; Vicar Apostolic: 28 May 1934 to 14 Sep 1955; Bishop: 14 Sep 1955 to 16 Jun 1964)
Gerhard (Thomas) Lennartz, S.C.I. † (Prefect: 29 Apr 1914 to 30 Dec 1919)
Albert Ndongmo † (Priest: 21 Dec 1955; Bishop: 16 Jun 1964 to 29 Jan 1973)
Thomas Nkuissi † (Priest: 29 Jun 1958; Apostolic Administrator: 29 Jan 1973; Bishop: 15 Nov 1978 to 21 Nov 1992)
Joseph Donatien Plissonneau, S.C.I. † (Prefect: 7 Feb 1920 to 1930)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Adamaua
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 6, Page 234
Prefecture Apostolic of Foumban
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 15, Page 368
Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 295, and Page 296
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 890, and Page 891
Diocese of Nkongsamba
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 113, to Page 119
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 666, and Page 667

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Diocese of Nkongsamba

Dioecesis Nkongsambensis