In May 1994, more than eighteen Christian men of the Anglophone Catholic community of St. Louis Parish, Bonaberi, came together to form what would become the Pioneer Catholic Men Organization (CMO) in Cameroon, inspired by the example of the Christian Men's Fellowship of the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon in nearby Bonamussadi. Many of these men already served together on the Parish Pastoral Council alongside the Catholic Women Association, and recognised that the men of the parish needed a structure of their own to carry out the Council's decisions as effectively as the women already did.

What followed was a year of formation, including Bible study, retreats, parish service, collaboration with the CWA, and the drafting of an original constitution, all under the guidance of the parish priest, Father Anslem Eke, and the newly appointed Spiritual Coordinator, Father Kizito Fobi. The pioneer batch was dedicated as members on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19th, 1995, at St. Louis/St. Joseph Parish, Bonaberi, with their CWF brothers from Bonamussadi present to witness the occasion.

From this single parish, the movement spread steadily. CMO Bonaberi carried out missionary visits to neighbouring parishes across the Mungo, while the transfer of founding members to other regions, most notably Pioneer President Brother Emmanuel Oteh's posting to Bamenda, helped establish branches throughout the North-West Region. By the early 2000s, the association had grown to more than twenty-six branches across Cameroon, and the Bishops agreed that the name Catholic Men Organization (CMO) should be modified to Catholic Men Association (CMA), the name it carries today. The Bonaberi branch's Second Batch of CMA members was dedicated in 1997, with Brother William Gana taking over as branch president, and the association has since extended its reach abroad, with CMA branches established in Washington DC, Houston, Baltimore, and Virginia.

The Catholic Men Organization (now CMA) was founded in 1994 by a pioneer group of seventeen Christian men of St. Louis/St. Joseph Parish, Bonaberi, who were dedicated as members on March 19th, 1995. They are remembered as follows: Brother Emmanuel Oteh (Founding President), Brother Ernest Anoma (Founding Vice President, later Acting President), Brother Fritz Tabe Tambi (Secretary), Brother Mike Njenku (late), Brother Boniface Nasah, Brother Jerry Ongue Abey, Brother John Fru Williams, Brother Athanasius Niba (late), Brother Francis Tankoh, Brother Christian Ngah (late), Brother Arthur Anderson (late), Brother Donatus Akie (late), Brother Ivo Youngbang (late), Brother Vincent Feko (late), Brother Peter Ngwa, Brother Barnabas Ndiforchu (late), and Brother Kidze Anthony. Also honoured among the founders are Brother Raymond Ngen, who died two months before the dedication, and Brother Patrick Ndifor, who was later dedicated separately at St. Joseph Parish, Mvog-Ada, Yaoundé.

• To play a vital role in the growth of the Church, making disciples of all nations (John 20:21).
• To emulate the life of St. Joseph as evidenced in his obedience to God, loyalty and service to the Holy Family of Nazareth, and commitment to his work.
• To help all men to return to Christ, to His Church and to the Sacraments.
• To promote a fraternal spirit among members irrespective of their ethnic origins, class in society, language, cultural background and/or political inclinations.
• To contribute to the ecumenical movement through exemplary moral and Christian living that permeates society.
• To provide a solid conjugal spirituality in the lives of its members and their families.
• To assume a leadership role in the promotion of family life modelled after the Holy Family under the guidance of St. Joseph.
• To promote participation in the Church's mission of evangelisation, by providing training in spiritual, doctrinal and pastoral formation.
• To promote the spirit of brotherly love, service and solidarity among members and their families, sharing in their joys and sorrows.
• To create opportunities for discussing the ever-emerging events and phenomena that pose challenges to the Catholic faith.
• To enrich and foster Christian growth through Bible study, continued education in the Catholic Doctrine, and the practice of Christian living through group prayers and good works.
• To protect and support the clergy, the Religious and Catechists.
• To encourage and spread devotion to St. Joseph, the Universal Patron of the Church.
• To encourage and carry out corporal works of mercy.
• To defend the Doctrine of the Catholic Church against all forms of profanation from within and without.
• To encourage Catholic Education by causing our children and those of others to attend Catholic institutions.

Members of the Catholic Men Association — St. Joseph the Worker Parish

The Catholic Women Association of St. Joseph the Worker Parish has deep roots in the earliest days of the Anglophone Catholic community in Bonaberi. As recorded in the Parish history, the CWA was established in 1997, making it one of the first formal associations to be organised within the nascent Anglophone Catholic Group. Dynamic women such as Mrs. Peychu, Mrs. Julie Neba, and Mrs. Fru were among its founding locomotives, building a fellowship that combined deep faith with practical charity from the very beginning.

The CWA was built on the dedication and vision of a remarkable group of women whose commitment to faith and community laid the foundation for everything the association is today.

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The CWA is organised into fourteen branches, each named in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, reflecting the Marian spirituality that is at the heart of the association's identity:

• To achieve a true renewal of the spirituality of its members founded on Baptism, in answer to the universal call to holiness.
• To translate this spirituality into action through works of the apostolate, such as initiatives for evangelisation, works of piety and charity, and those which animate the temporal order with a Christian spirit.
• To enable members to model their lives after the lifestyle of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• To provide special education and training for members in social development activities and family life, in order to enhance their contribution to the integral development of the person and of society.

Members of the Catholic Women Association — St. Joseph the Worker Parish