Yaounde: Archbishop Jean Mbarga consecrates St. Charles Borromeo Parish Nsimeyong.

The mass was attended among others by a college of clergy. 

The priests were led by Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Simon Pierre Abe. Hundreds of worshipers and well-wishers also lived the event. 

Archbishop Jean Mbarga who also used the gathering to administer the sacrament of confirmation to over 50 parishioners, tasked worshipers to welcome the parish as a symbol of national unity.

The prelate said the parish is a true representation of the universality of the church as an institution that strives in promoting the word of God and unity in diversity at all levels.

He urged worshipers to accept “that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we come from all points of origin to be able to build together a family: the family of God, the family of the children of God”.

Archbishop Jean Mbarga challenged the worshippers to change their lifestyles by nurturing the spirit of living together in accordance with the will of God and the gospel, to effectively capitalize on the opportunities that the church brings to the Nsimeyong neighbourhood.

“…God has accepted to give us this temple to gather all people together so that, in our diversity, we will grow together building our lives, our families, our nations and our quarters because God is enormous,” the man of God stated.

With the church building put to use, he said, “we count on evolving, no longer in simple sentiment, but towards real resolutions and real directives that will build unity in diversity…”.

This, he insisted, is “thanks to the love God has for each of us and thanks to the universal fraternity that unites us in this cosmopolitan neighbourhood so rich in origins and creativity and which becomes, as its name says, the Land of Nations”. 

Sunday’s consecration ended series of activities that were punctuated among others by a visit of the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Yaounde on Wednesday, February 4. 

There was also a music concert held on Thursday, February 5, and a nine-day novena that was dedicated to provide spiritual preparation for the event. 

The novena spanned Friday, January 29, to Friday February 6. This, was according to a programme that was announced by the Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Simon Pierre Abe.

Fruit of collaboration, perseverance 

Speaking yesterday, the Parish Priests, Rev Fr Simon Pierre Abe, said the church is the fruit of a rich collaboration and perseverance that has reigned at the parish since its creation in 1991. 

He recalled that it was in 2011 when the project to construct the parish complex was brought on board. 

Rev Fr Simon Pierre Abe expressed gratitude to the men and women who contributed in various ways to the success of the work.

The man of God among others, cited the efforts that was made by former Archbishop of Yaounde, His Grace Jean Zoa, who created the parish, his colleague priests, catechists, congregants and other stakeholders.

“This house of God is the visible expression of a Church that walks together in listening, sharing, and co-responsibility. Today, we bless the Lord for all the families of yesterday and today who believed in this project and committed themselves to it wholeheartedly,” Rev Fr. Abe said.

He recounted that they did this “through their contributions and sacrifices”, adding that the event marked the “crowning achievement of the efforts of the Christian community. All the Christians, all our benefactors, everyone who has believed in this project since 2011”.

The President of the Parish Pastoral Council, Robert Romuald Awono, said “for 14 years, we have worked hard to have this church, and we are very happy today for the consecration of this church”.  

The Saint Charles Borromeo Parish Nsimeyong has a main church hall with a sitting capacity of 700 places.

The facility also has an oratory, the priest’s office, a presbytery with three apartments for the parish priest and resident vicars, a parish secretariat as well as a meeting hall that is nearing completion.

Rev Father Abe had said during preparations for yesterday’s event that the project to construct the facility cost some 400 million FCFA. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3699 of Monday February 09, 2026