The Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo, in northwest Cameroon, celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 1, and as a birthday present, the inhabitants got a new cathedral.
Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo, Cameroon
Newsroom (07/11/2023 21:50, Gaudium Press) Next Saturday, July 8, the diocese of Maroua-Mokolo, in northwest Cameroon, will gain a new cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Bishop Bruni Ateba Edo, Bishop of Maroua-Mokolo, expressed his joy and happiness at the inauguration of the cathedral, which is “a sign of the unity of all people”, as he told Aid to the Church in Need.
The realization of this project was only possible thanks to the contributions of the inhabitants coming from different religions. The diocese has about 2 million inhabitants, of whom 30% are Catholics, 40% are Muslims, and 30% practice local religions.
The city, which has more than 600 mosques, will now have a cathedral that, through its architecture, places the figure of Mary as central.
Our Lady is the main figure represented by the cathedral: the outer outline of the cathedral represents the mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which protects the faithful.
In addition to this architectural feature, the internal columns of the building are arranged in the shape of Mary’s “M”. The columns that support the upper part of the building are made in the shape of a star, and their arrangement represents the Assumption of Our Lady.
The interior paintings of the church are done in local style and represent the crucifixion of Christ, the Assumption of the Virgin, and the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Both Our Lady and the apostles are represented with African physical features.
The new church will have 3,500 seats so that people can attend Eucharistic celebrations and religious ceremonies. Previously, the faithful gathered in a small church or under trees when the number of participants was too large.
The diocese borders Nigeria and Chad and has been the target of terrorist attacks several times in recent years. In addition, the diocese is located in one of the poorest areas of the country and hosts numerous Nigerian refugees fleeing persecution from Boko Haram, an Islamist terrorist group in Nigeria. (FM)
Compiled by Dominic Joseph
