AFRICA/CAMEROON - Diocese of Kribi erected, first Bishop appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on June 19, 2008 erected the Diocese of Kribi (Cameroon), with territory taken from the diocese of Ebolowa-Kribi, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan church of Yaounde. He appointed Msgr. Joseph Befe Ateba, vicar general of Yaounde, as first bishop of the new diocese.
The first Bishop of Kribi Joseph Befe Ateba was born April 25, 1962 in Nkoabe, Yaounde. He studied Philosophy and Theology in Cameroon, at the “Immaculée Conception” Major Seminary in Nkolbison and in Nigeria (August – December 1987), at the il Media Service Centre of Kaduna, where he earned a degree in Communications. He later earned a degree from the School of Higher Learning for Science and Information Technology and Communications, in Yaounde. He was ordained a priest on June 20, 1987 for the Archdiocese of Yaounde. He has since ministered as follows: 1987-1989 Vicario parrocchiale nella Cattedrale; 1989-1991: founding pastor in Kondengui; Head of communications for the diocese; 1991-1994: studies at the “Ecole Supérieure des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information et de Communication” (ESSTIC), in Yaoundé; 1994-1997: Editor-in-Chief of the journal “Nleb-ensemble”; 1995-1997: National Secretary for the National Bishops’ Commission for Communications; Regional Secretary for the Regional Bishops’ Commission for Communications; Information Technology and Communications professor at the “Saint Cyprien di Ngoya” Major Seminary (Cameroon); 1997-1998: Formator at the “Ste Thérèse” Minor Seminary; 2001-2006: Consul for the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. 1998-2003: Press Director for the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SCEAM); Communications professor at Saint Paul’s Major Seminary, Accra, Ghana; 2004-2005: Chancellor of the Archdiocese. Since 2005, he has served as Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Yaoundé.
The new diocese of Kribi includes the Department of “Ocean” with its 7 administrative parts (Kribi, Mvengue, Akom II, Campo, Lolodorf, Bipindi, Niete). It borders to the north, with the Dioceses of Edea and Eseka, to the northeast with the Diocese of Mbalmayo, to the west with the Atlantic Ocean, to the east with the Diocese of Ebolowa, and to the south with Equatorial Guinea. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Yaounde. The current parish Church of St. Joseph in Kribi will be the Diocese’s new Cathedral. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 19/6/2008)