AFRICA/CAMEROON - Bishop of Yagoua appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on May 31, 2008, appointed Monsignor Barthélemy Yaouda Hourgo, of the clergy of Maroua-Mokolo and Apostolic Administrator of Yagoua, as Bishop of Yagoua (Cameroon).
Monsignor Barthélemy Yaouda Hourgo was born January 31, 1964 in Mayo-Ouldémé, then part of the Diocese of Garoua, now the Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo. He completed elementary and middle school studies in the Province of Adamaoua and high school studies in the Minor Seminary of Glompwi and the Minor Seminary of Douvangar, in northern Cameroon. He completed ecclesiastical studies at the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saints Apôtres of Otele, Yaoundé and later in the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saint Augustin of Maroua. He was ordained a deacon on June 16, 1996 and a priest on November 8, 1997 for the Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo. He has since ministered as follows: 1997-1999: Pastor; 1999-2003: pastor of Sainte Famille in Makulahé; 2003-2007: Vicar General and Pastor of the Cathedral; since 2007: Apostolic Administrator of Yagoua.
The Diocese of Yagoua, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Garoua, was erected in 1982. It covers an area of 22,062 km sq, with a population of 1,234,862, of which 86,850 are Catholics. There are 25 parishes, 24 diocesan priests, 19 religious priests, 90 religious sisters, and 30 major seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 3/6/2008)