In a communiqué signed on 12 September 1997 by Christian Wigan Cardinal Tumi, then Archbishop of Douala archdiocese, St Joseph Parish, Bonaberi, was erected. He later in a verbal statement placed it under the patronage of St Joseph the Worker with insistence on her feast day which is shall be 1st May. The Post Office Box is 179, Douala and telephone contact numbers are233 392 875 and 671 188 814.The same communiqué appointed Fr Anselm Kentus Eke, MSP, Parish Priest of the new Parish. This Parish had actually been created back in 1990 as ‘Paroisse sociologic pour les Anglophones de Bonaberi Centre’ by Bishop Thomas Nkuissi of Nkongsamba in Decision D/08/90 signed in Nkongsamba on the 24th December, 1990 in a further step in the reorganization of Bonaberi deanery he began in 1988(Decision D/02/88 signed 27 June 1988) to remove the obstacles responsible for the backward nature of the Deanery which normally would have been among the leading deaneries of the diocese.. At that time Nkongsamba diocese extended to Bonaberi – Douala.
The Parish is situated at about 500 meters off to the right from the National Road No. 1, 5km from Bekoko Junction,in asuburb called Bepelle (quarter III), adjacent to Brasseries du Cameroun Stores Department –former ‘Societe Industrielle d’ Afrique Centrale’(SIAC) brewery. Upon erection it was assigned temporal residence in St Louis Parish, Bonaberi.
The group had a mass on Sundays said in a language it understood better- Pidgin English. Alongside these negotiations, a few other members of the group had begun singing in English during the French masses. These choristers became constituted into a choir –The St. Cecilia’s Choir – still going strong today and which rightly can be called ‘the Mustard Seed’ for it was around her that a veritable English-speaking community progressively grew, was the first choir created in the community; both in numbers and in strength with the aim of creating an Anglophone Parish in Bonaberi.. The choir leader was Mr Joseph (of blessed memory) and Mr Vitalis a lead singer. The group blossomed and became known as Anglophone Catholic Group which in 1993 was constituted into the Anglophone Catholic Community (ACC) along the lines of a quasi-Parish under St Louis Parish.
In 1987, with increasing membership, a second pious groupwas started – the Catholic Women Association (CWA) – with some dynamic women like Mrs Peychu & Mrs Julie Neba joining Mrs Fru as the locomotives of the group.
A third group, made up of young students, sprang up with a lot of success. It is the St Bernadette Choir. It was not only a choir but also a ‘place’ for West Cameroon teenagers to grow together and in the service of the Lord. With the help of the CWA and very special effort of a young girl, Theresa, from Mrs. Geraldine Apah’s house, the Cadets of Mary were formed. The next group that came into being was St Jude Apostolate prayer group. It began without a hitch and grew steadily. The Anglophone Group now became a strong congregation in St LouisParish and its activities revived the Parish:
Some members of the AG led by Mr Ilodube approached Fr Fodjo to ask for the creation of an Anglophone Parish. He gladly welcomed the idea which he latter submitted to the Bishop, Monsignor Thomas KUISSEU, who approved the request and in Decision D/08/90 signed 24/12/90 created ‘Une Paroise Sociologique pour les Anglophones a Bonaberi.
This capacious one-storey building was embarked upon immediately the church got to a satisfactory stage for Holy Mass to be celebrated conveniently in 1998 because the PP was paying rents to St Louis (as requested by the Archbishop himself) and the enormous distance separating ‘home’ from ‘office’, the sacristy being temporally accommodated in Palms Cottage, next door for one year. An ‘upstairs” design was agreed upon so that, because of the heat, Priests could live closer to air. It has a large pallor, a fitted kitchen and 4 self-contained rooms upstairs. The ground floor has a large pallor, 2 offices and 2 stores (could equally serve as rooms) and a garage. The Parish Priest moved in on 30th November, 1999. It was furnished by Aunty Kate Kanyi Tometi. It has received a lot of security additives in reinforcement after the armed robbery attacks. Its external walls have also been beautifully tiled in recent years
The Kanyi Tometi Family (of Tole, Small Soppo-Buea) 3 of them founding members of the Parish designed and built the grotto located alongside the church in front of the Presbytery. It is a jewel built in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the glory of God, in Evergreen Memory of their late mother, Mama Bridget Engome Kanyi-Tometi, fondly called “Sweet Mother” in gratitude for the blessings she received during her lifetime through devotion to Our Lady. It was blessed by His Eminence Christian Cardinal TUMI, Archbishop of Douala; Fr William EGEDEGBE, MSP, and Fr Christian ACHINIVU, MSP, being Parish Priest and Curate respectively. The interior design was modified under the supervision of Late Fr Linus Egbeji with the introduction of furniture- polished wooden pews built on the original concrete sitting slabs amongst other fine finishing touches for the comfort of users and security’ especially of the blessed sacrament which is reposing in it permanently.
This hall is dedicated in honour of the Emeritus Archbishop of Douala, His Eminence Christian Cardinal TUMI for all his Incalculable Fatherly support and blessings. It is the most expensive single project the Parish has carried out and it also took the longest time to complete. Its construction began under the Pastorate of Fr William EGEDEGBE, MSP, the 2nd Parish Priest; continued by his successor, Fr Linus EGBEJI, MSP, (RIP) and completed by Fr Alphonse Mario CHUKWUNENYE, MSP, 4th Parish Priest. It was blessed on Sunday, 14th April, 2013 by Christian Cardinal TUMI under the pontificate of Francis and during the episcopate of Msgr Samuel KLEDA. It was inaugurated also by the very person to whom it is dedicated: Christian Cardinal WIGAN TUMI on 22nd day of February 2013 during his pastoral visit. It is an architectural masterpiece; fully air-conditioned with a mezzanine, and can accommodate about 1,500. It is used for Parish general meetings and parties and is also on hire, when appropriate, for wedding and other similar receptions.
This Parish Bookshop is dedicated in loving memory and honour of late Fr. Linus Abang EGBEJI, MSP. He was the 3rdParish Priest from November, 2007 until his untimely death in a road traffic accident on Friday evening, 23rd February, 2012. He began the building and it was completed by Fr Alphonse Mario Chukwunenye, MSP, his Assistant who became PP after him. It was inaugurated by the Superior of the Missionaries of St Paul (MSP) leading a powerful Nigerian delegation from Abuja during the one-year memorial death celebration on Saturday, 23rd February, 2013..
It is an outdoor place of worship and a place for meetings of several groups. It houses the altar during open air masses often during Parish feasts when there is only one mass, during crusades and during the first part of Holy Saturday celebration. It is the only building left widely open without a door. This small structure is built like a shed helmed on the boundary wall at the far angle of the Parish land.
