Dieudonné Espoir Atangana

Dieudonné Espoir Atangana (born 20 March 1958) is a Cameroonian Catholic prelate who serves as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nkongsamba, in Cameroon since 26 May 2012. Before that, from 21 June 1986 until 26 May 2012, he was a priest of the Diocese of Obala. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XIV. He was consecrated by Piero Pioppo, Titular Archbishop of Torcello, on 14 July 2012, at Nkongsamba.

Background and education He was born on 20 March 1958 in Efok, Centre Region in Cameroon. At the time of his birth that location was in the Diocese of Yaoundé, but as of the time of writing, it is in the Diocese of Obala. He is the eldest of six children; five boys and one girl. He attended elementary school in Catholic schools in his home area. He studied at the Saint Joseph Minor Seminary in Akono from 1971 until 1975. He graduated with the Brevet d'Études du Premier Cycle (BEPC) (English: Junior High School Diploma). From 1975 until 1979, he studied for the equivalent of a High School Diploma at the Saint Thérèse Minor Seminary in Mvolye, then continued with studies at the François-Xavier-Vogt College in Yaounde. He studied philosophy and theology at the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary of Nkolbisson from 1979 until 1986. Later, he graduated from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy with a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology.

Priesthood On 22 June 1985, Adalbert Ndzana, Coadjutor Bishop of Mbalmayo ordained him a deacon at Mokolo, Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Yaoundé, on 21 June 1986 by Jean Zoa, Archbishop of Yaoundé. When the Diocese of Obala was erected on 3 July 1987, Father Dieudonné Espoir Atangana was incardinated in the new diocese. He served as a priest until 26 May 2012. While a priest, he served in various roles and locations, including: