Garoua celebrates 70 years of faith and consecrates its cathedral
70th anniversary of the canonical establishment of the Archdiocese of Garoua and consecration of its Cathedral dedicated to Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
The event marks an important milestone in the history of the Church in Cameroon.
The Archdiocese of Garoua was buzzing with celebrations on October 4, 2025, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary and the consecration of the Cathedral of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. It was a historic moment for the Church in Cameroon, marked by the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Archbishop José Avelino BETTENCOURT.
Presiding over the Eucharistic celebration, Archbishop BETTENCOURT hailed “the wonderful culmination of a history of Christian faith” in the northern region of Cameroon, and conveyed to the faithful the closeness and blessing of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.
An Eclectic Assembly for a Major Event
The event brought together more than five thousand people, including some fifteen bishops, nearly 200 priests and 300 religious, representatives of civil society, and political, cultural, and religious figures. The Apostolic Nuncio expressed his deep respect for the traditional and religious leaders of northern Cameroon, emphasizing the importance of concord, harmony, and mutual acceptance in building peace in the country.
To the priests and religious, some of whom work in very difficult conditions, risking their lives every day to serve the Lord, the Nuncio said: “How fortunate we are to have you among us. Thank you for your witness to the love of Christ.”
To the lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Garoua: “Now it is your turn,” said Archbishop BETTENCOURT. "The Holy See, sensitive to the needs of evangelization in Cameroon, decided in 1946 to entrust responsibility for the north of the country to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Missionaries. We pay tribute to them and to all the other Missionaries, religious men and women who joined them later. The construction of this cathedral is a sign of your deep Christian commitment, of your desire to elevate your souls and sanctify your lives."
Seventy years later, the Archdiocese of Garoua, led by Bishop Faustin AMBASSA NDJODO, is composed of vast lands with multiple ethnic groups, each with its own language. Structures have developed, Eucharistic stations, missions, health centers, schools have been created, many catechists have been trained, priests, men and women religious, and lay faithful are committed to proclaiming the Good News.
To consecrate the new cathedral, the Archbishop of Garoua, Monsignor AMBASSA NDJODO, brought the relics of Saint Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who evangelized the northern region of Cameroon, and the relics of Saint Vincent Pallotti, founder of the Pallottine Missionaries, who established the Catholic Church in Cameroon.
"For the past three years, we have dreamed of the completion of this cathedral. We have worked hard to make this day happen. We are therefore overjoyed and pray that the Lord will give us his light so that we may discern the next steps to take in continuing to lead the people of God in Garoua. And we are happy to welcome the representative of the Holy Father, the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Archbishop José Avelino BETTENCOURT," said the Archbishop of Garoua.
Commenting on the liturgical texts of the day, the Nuncio urged the people of God to worship beyond ritual, that is, “to worship with the heart, guided by the Holy Spirit. This worship is honest and transparent,” he insisted.
It should be noted that Garoua was established as an Apostolic Vicariate in 1953; it became a diocese in 1955 and an archdiocese in 1982. Together with the dioceses of Ngaoundéré, Yagoua, and Maroua-Mokolo, it forms the Ecclesiastical Province of Garoua.
This celebration comes during the Holy Year of the Jubilee of Hope, 40 years after Pope Saint John Paul II's first visit (1985) to Cameroon via Garoua, and 30 years after his second visit, marked by the signing of the Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa in Yaoundé. “These historical events and documents remind us that the Church is one family, and that Africa is at the heart of the Church,” emphasized the Nuncio.
Mgr José Avelino BETTENCOURT concluded his homily by inviting the faithful to grow in hope while imploring the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace and Mother of all graces.
Sr Paule Valérie, VATICAN RADIO