Cameroon

Cameroon became a German colony in 1884 and was divided between the British and the French following the First World War.  French Cameroon became independent in 1960 and the British colony was incorporated into the Federal Republic of Cameroon the following year.

Missionaries brought the Catholic Faith to Cameroon beginning in 1890.  The Church saw its most rapid growth between 1920 and 1960.  Cameroon’s 29 million people are mostly Christian.  About 38 percent are Catholic, 26 percent are Protestant, and 6 percent are other Christians, including Orthodox and Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Muslims account for about 23 percent.  Although religious beliefs are dispersed throughout the country, most Catholics live in the south and west, Protestants in the west, and Muslims in the north.  There are five Catholic ecclesiastic provinces—Bamenda, Bertoua, Douala, Garoua, and Yaounde.  Maronite-rite Catholics are under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of the Annunciation in Ibadan, Nigeria.  

Province of Yaounde

The province consists of the civil provinces of South and most of Centre in southern Cameroon.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Yaounde began as an apostolic prefecture in 1890, became an apostolic vicariate in 1905, and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1955.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victories in Yaounde was built between 1952 and 1955 and is large enough to accommodate 5,000 worshippers.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has six suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Mbalmayo was established in 1961.
• The Diocese of Sangmelima was established in 1963.
• The Diocese of Bafia was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1965 and became a diocese in 1968.
• The Diocese of Obala was established in 1987.
• The Diocese of Ebolowa was established in 1991.
• The Diocese of Kribi was established in 2008.

Province of Bamenda

The province consists of the civil provinces of Northwest and Southwest in western Cameroon.  The Diocese of Bamenda was established in 1970 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bamenda in 1982. 

St. Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda was established as a parish in 1935.  The current cathedral was built shortly after Bamenda became a diocese in 1970.

From a local website.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Buea was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1923, became an apostolic vicariate in 1939, and a diocese in 1950.
• The Diocese of Kumbo was established in 1982.
• The Diocese of Mamfe was established in 1999.
• The Diocese of Kumba was established in 2016.

Province of Douala

The province consists of the civil regions of Littoral, West, and part of Centre in western Cameroon.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Douala was created in 1931, became an apostolic vicariate in 1932, a diocese in 1955, and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1982.

The Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Douala was built by French Spiritan priests in 1936.  The building has a dome and twin towers and employs Byzantine and neo-Roman styles.

All the pictures are from Wikipedia, except the middle one, which is from a local website.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Nkongsamba was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1914, became an apostolic vicariate in 1934, and a diocese in 1955.
• The Diocese of Bafoussam was established in 1970.
• The Diocese of Edea was established in 1993.
• The Diocese of Eseka was established in 1993.
• The Diocese of Bafang was established in 2012.

Province of Garoua

The province consists of the civil provinces of North, Far North, and Adamawa in northern Cameroon.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Garoua was created in 1947, became an apostolic vicariate in 1953, a diocese in 1955, and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1982.

The Cathedral of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus is in Garoua. 

From a local website.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1968 and became a diocese in 1973.
• The Diocese of Yagoua was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1968 and became a diocese in 1973.
• The Diocese of Ngaoundere was established in 1982.

Province of Bertoua

The province consists of the civil province of East in southeastern Cameroon.  The Diocese of Bertoua was established in 1983 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1994.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Family is in Bertoua.

Pictures are from Facebook and Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Doume-Abong Mbang was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1949, became a diocese in 1955, and acquired its current name ibn 1983.
• The Diocese of Yokadouma was established in 1991.
• The Diocese of Batouri was established in 1994.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also missionary jurisdictions below the level of a diocese, including apostolic prefectures and apostolic vicariates.

Most Catholics in the world belong to the Latin or Roman rite.  Rite refers to liturgical practices, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage.  Many Catholics belong to one of two dozen Eastern rite churches.  Eastern rite churches trace their heritage to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.