Christians of the All Anglophone Parish of the Roman Catholic Church in Simbock, Yaounde, have raised FCFA 15 million to support the upcoming 75th anniversary of Cameroon’s oldest Diocese, the Diocese of Buea.
The Buea Diocese announced on its website that Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi was in Yaounde on August 11 for the fundraising which aimed to galvanize funds for the upcoming celebration and ongoing Diocesan projects.
The 75th Anniversary celebration of the Buea Diocese was officially launched on April 18, 2024.
As part of the preparations, the Diocese has embarked on construction projects in anticipation of the anniversary, which will take place in April 2025.
In light of these preparations, Bishop Bibi, along with his collaborators, visited the St. Peter and Paul Parish in Simbock, Yaoundé, for a fundraising event, during which they raised over FCFA 15 million to support the construction works.
The theme for the 75th anniversary of the Buea Diocese is, “Proclaim The Good News; I am with you Always (Mt. 28:20).”
Bishop Bibi has been closely overseeing the construction progress at the two main project sites: The Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral in Molyko-Buea and the Bishop Pius Awa Memorial Pastoral Centre.
The Co-Cathedral, now 61 percent complete, is an impressive structure that will accommodate up to 5,000 people upon completion.
The Buea Diocese holds a significant place in Cameroon’s Catholic history, as it was the first diocese to be established in the country.
It was created on April 18, 1950, by Pope Pius XII, with Mgr. Peter Rogan serving as its first bishop.
Until October 1, 1961, the date of West Cameroon’s political independence, Buea was a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria. Today, it is part of the Bamenda Archdiocese.
The Buea Diocese, which previously covered the entire South West Region of Cameroon, now covers just Fako Division.
Over the years, the Diocese has given rise to two other Dioceses: Mamfe in 1999 and Kumba in 2016.
