By Frankline Elad
Rev. Father Aloysius Fondong Abangalo is now the new Bishop of Mamfe Diocese in Cameroon’s Southwest Region.
He was appointed by the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, on Tuesday, February 22.
The appointment conferring Rev. Aloysius as Bishop was related to him by clergies headed by the Arch Bishop of Bamenda, His Grace Andrew Nkea.
This was during a meeting held at the St. Joseph Cathedral Mamfe on Tuesday, February 22.
The appointment of Aloysius has relinquished Andrew Nkea as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese, though he is the Archbishop of the Bamenda Catholic Diocese.
The new bishop of the Mamfe is coming one year after Andrew Nkea was promoted and transferred to Bamenda as Archbishop.
Bishop Aloysius is coming at a time when the Mamfe is still witnessing security challenges due to the crisi in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon.
Some months back, the Vicar General of the Diocese was kidnapped by unidentified armed men and was only released afterwards.
Also, Queen of the Holy Rosary College, Okoyong, Mamfe, was burned down by alleged separatist fighters barely two weeks before the Bishop’s appointment.
Who Is Rev. Aloysius Fondong Abangalo?
Rev Aloysius Fondong was born on June 5, 1973, in Limbe, which is under the Diocese of Buea.
He studied philosophy and theology at St. Thomas Aquinas Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Bambui, in Bamenda. As a student, he also served as a minister in the St. Peter and Paul Parish in Simbock.
He was ordained as a priest on April 20, 2006, in the Diocese of Buea. He held some positions as Vicar of the Holy Family Parish of Limbe 2006,2007; Dean of Our Lord OF Grace 2007/2009; Diocesan Treasurer and member of the consultors 2009/ 2011; Teacher and trainer at St. Thomas Aquinas major seminary in Bambui and Defender of the bond at the inter diocesan Tribunal of Bamenda 2014/2019.
He also holds a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Universite Catholique D’Afrique Centrale UCAC 2011/2014. Since 2019, he has been in Italy for a Doctorate in Canon Law at the pontification Urbanian University.