Bafoussam (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Paul Lontsié-Keuné, Bishop
Dieudonné Watio, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 5 February 1970
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Douala
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Cameroon
Square Kilometers: 13,000 (5,021 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Eveche, B.P. 263, Bafoussam, Cameroun
Telephone: 699.00.31.39

Past and Present Ordinaries

Denis Ngande † (5 Feb 1970 Appointed - 28 Feb 1978 Died)
André Wouking † (15 Mar 1979 Appointed - 27 Nov 1998 Appointed, Archbishop of Yaoundé)
Joseph Atanga, S.J. (22 Jun 1999 Appointed - 3 Dec 2009 Appointed, Archbishop of Bertoua)
Dieudonné Watio (5 Mar 2011 Appointed - 19 Mar 2021 Retired)
Paul Lontsié-Keuné (27 Nov 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
5 February 1970	Erected	Diocese of Nkongsamba (Bamoun, Mifì, Baboutos, Menoua, and Ndé)	Diocese of Bafoussam (erected)
18 March 1982	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Bafoussam (from Yaoundé)

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

1980 156,500 921,000 17.0% 19 21 40 3,912 26 76 26 ap1981

1990 233,000 1,164,000 20.0% 35 20 55 4,236 23 84 27 ap1991

1999 262,035 1,590,700 16.5% 58 24 82 3,195 31 97 41 ap2000

2000 266,200 1,610,000 16.5% 63 25 88 3,025 41 119 41 ap2001

2001 269,000 1,629,000 16.5% 69 24 93 2,892 70 69 50 ap2002

2002 300,000 1,600,000 18.8% 73 21 94 3,191 53 146 51 ap2003

2003 300,000 1,600,000 18.8% 74 24 98 3,061 66 147 51 ap2004

2004 300,000 1,800,000 16.7% 78 25 103 2,912 82 141 63 ap2005

2006 310,800 1,864,000 16.7% 83 26 109 2,851 62 170 67 ap2007

2012 291,000 2,249,000 12.9% 97 34 131 2,221 79 195 79 ap2013

2015 314,300 2,419,000 13.0% 114 35 149 2,109 127 219 91 ap2016

2018 306,245 2,103,680 14.6% 114 33 147 2,083 84 195 94 ap2019

2020 301,770 2,074,813 14.5% 121 39 160 1,886 79 214 95 ap2021

2022 301,130 2,179,630 13.8% 127 44 171 1,760 79 211 97 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1980	156,500	921,000	17.0%	19	21	40	3,912	26	76	26	ap1981
1990	233,000	1,164,000	20.0%	35	20	55	4,236	23	84	27	ap1991
1999	262,035	1,590,700	16.5%	58	24	82	3,195	31	97	41	ap2000
2000	266,200	1,610,000	16.5%	63	25	88	3,025	41	119	41	ap2001
2001	269,000	1,629,000	16.5%	69	24	93	2,892	70	69	50	ap2002
2002	300,000	1,600,000	18.8%	73	21	94	3,191	53	146	51	ap2003
2003	300,000	1,600,000	18.8%	74	24	98	3,061	66	147	51	ap2004
2004	300,000	1,800,000	16.7%	78	25	103	2,912	82	141	63	ap2005
2006	310,800	1,864,000	16.7%	83	26	109	2,851	62	170	67	ap2007
2012	291,000	2,249,000	12.9%	97	34	131	2,221	79	195	79	ap2013
2015	314,300	2,419,000	13.0%	114	35	149	2,109	127	219	91	ap2016
2018	306,245	2,103,680	14.6%	114	33	147	2,083	84	195	94	ap2019
2020	301,770	2,074,813	14.5%	121	39	160	1,886	79	214	95	ap2021
2022	301,130	2,179,630	13.8%	127	44	171	1,760	79	211	97	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Denis Ngande † (Bishop: 5 Feb 1970 to 28 Feb 1978)
Gabriel Simo † (Priest: 27 Mar 1966 to 26 Jan 1987; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Nov 1994 to 14 Sep 2013)
André Wouking † (Priest: 9 Apr 1961; Bishop: 15 Mar 1979 to 27 Nov 1998)

Source(s)

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 758, and Page 759
Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 666, and Page 667

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Diocese of Bafoussam

Dioecesis Bafussamensis