Yaounde: Archbishop Jean Mbarga to consecrate St. Charles Borromeo Parish Nsimeyong February 8.

Updates on the level of preparation and readiness for the grandiose ceremony was made known by the Parish Priest, Rev Father Simon Pierre Abe. This was during a press conference held within the parish chapel on January 28. 

The priest was accompanied during the presser by the delegated President of the Parish Pastoral Council, Robert Romuald Awono. 

Addressing journalists, Father Abe revealed that the event will mark the completion of a 14-year construction project valued at 400 million FCFA with a seating capacity of 700. 

He further explained that the consecration is more than the opening of a completed building, as it represents a definitive act within Catholic liturgy. According to the parish priest, the rite sets the church apart permanently for worship through specific liturgical gestures.

“The consecration of a church is not a simple inauguration. Through the anointing of the altar and the walls, the proclamation of the Word of God, and the celebration of the Eucharist, the Church affirms that God chooses to dwell among his people. The church thus becomes a permanent place of prayer and worship,” Father Abe stated.

He continued that the consecration comes at the end of a lengthy building process marked by perseverance and commitment. The parish priest recalled that the journey, which began 14 years ago, involved alternating periods of momentum and difficulty.

“Like any long project, there were moments of enthusiasm, but also times of fatigue, financial difficulty, and discouragement,” he said.

He detailed that despite these challenges, the project reached completion through the combined efforts of successive parish priests, parishioners and benefactors.

The total cost of the project has been estimated at 400 million FCFA, covering the main church structure and associated parish facilities. The parish complex includes an oratory open to the public for personal prayer, the priest’s office, a meeting hall nearing completion, a presbytery with three apartments for the parish priest and resident vicars, and a parish secretariat.

St. Charles Borromeo’s socio-urban role

Beyond its religious function, parish leaders highlighted the church’s wider role within the local urban setting. Nsimeyong is characterised by a diverse population, and the consecrated church is expected to act as a point of reference within the community. According to Father Abe, the church is called to be “a place of stability, listening and reference”, contributing to social cohesion and human dignity. 

While presenting the consecration as the start of a renewed phase of activity, Father Abe indicated that the building will support pastoral, educational and social initiatives aimed at serving residents of the area.

“The building is now ready, and it must be brought to life through pastoral, educational, and social action. In this sense, it is truly a consecrated church for a Church that goes forth, attentive to people’s daily realities,” the parish priest noted.

Preparations ahead of February 8

A programme of activities has been drawn up in the lead-up to the consecration to prepare parishioners and visitors. 

From January 29, to February 6, 2026, the parish will hold a nine-day novena of prayer intended to provide spiritual preparation for the event.

On Wednesday, February 4, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Yaounde is scheduled to visit the parish, with conferences and workshops planned around themes of “living together” and “being Church”. 

A large religious music concert will follow on Thursday, February 5, bringing together parish choirs and invited choirs from across the diocese. The sequence of activities will culminate in the pontifical Mass of consecration on February 8.

Call to faithful

Father Abe concluded the press conference with an invitation to Christians, parishioners and Cameroonians more broadly to take part in the celebrations. He described the building as the outcome of 14 years of collective sacrifice and devotion, now intended to serve both the local parish and the wider city of Yaounde.

According to the parish leaders, the consecration represents a shared milestone. In the words of Father Abe, it is “not the end of a mission, but the beginning of a new one”, as the church takes its place as a lasting spiritual and social landmark in Nsimeyong.