The Apostolic Nunciature in Cameroon announced this Friday, February 13, 2026, the appointment of Reverend Father John Berinyuy Tata as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bamenda.
A priest of the clergy of Bamenda, Reverend Father John Berinyuy Tata was born on December 18, 1975, in Mbuluf-Shisong, in the diocese of Kumbo. Coming from a devout Christian family, he completed his primary (1981-1989) and secondary (1989-1996) education before entering the Saint John Mary Vianney Spirituality Center in Bafut (1996-1997).
He then pursued studies in philosophy (1997-2000) and theology (2001-2005) at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Bambui, Bamenda, after a year of pastoral internship (2000-2001).
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Ordained a priest on March 30, 2005, he served as parish vicar of Saint Joseph in Bafut (2005-2006), then as parish priest of Saint Patrick in Babanki-Tungo (2006-2010). In parallel, between 2006 and 2008, he deepened his training in spirituality at the Dominican Monastery of Bambui.
Wishing to enrich his theological training, he went to Rome where he obtained a doctorate in theology, with a specialization in Christian anthropology, from the Pontifical Faculty of Theology Teresianum (2010-2015).
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Upon his return to Cameroon, Father John Berinyuy Tata held several responsibilities in the teaching of spiritual theology. He notably served as spiritual director and professor at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Bambui, while also serving as chaplain for the diocesan Charismatic Movement.
Until his episcopal appointment, he held the position of Rector of the Catholic University of Cameroon in Bamenda.
A polyglot, he speaks English, French, and Italian, and has knowledge of German, Spanish, and Latin, in addition to local languages.
This appointment strengthens the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Bamenda and marks a new stage in the ministry of this priest, recognized for his academic and spiritual commitment.
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