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Auchi Diocese
| Province: |
Benin |
| Website: |
http://www.catholicdioceseofauchi.org |
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| Contact: |
Solium Davidica, Old Igarra Rd.
P. O. Box 425, Auchi Edo State
Tel: 08033938873, 052255605,08045066252
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| Ordinary: |
Gabriel Dunia > Bishop
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| History: |
The Catholic Church in Afemai land or what is now the Diocese of Auchi dates back to the later part of the 19th century when the first Roman Catholic missionaries arrived at Agenebode in the present Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State and opened a mission station there. The team was led by Rt Revd Monsignor Carlo Zappa who took over as the Prefect of the Upper Niger in 1894, with headquarters at Asaba. As a Prefect, Monsignor Zappa successfully gained access into the interior and established parish stations throughout the territory now known as Benin ecclesiastical province. In Etsako, he opened a parish station at Agenebode in 1897 (the first parish station in the then Archdiocese of Benin City with Fr Peter Pioten as the first parish priest. From Agenebode, other parish stations were opened at Ivianokpodi, Iviukwe, Okpekpe and Apana.
In 1908, he established the first Major Seminaiy in Nigeria - St Martin's Seminary - at Ivianokpodi. The seminary was later transferred to Asaba in 1927 by Bishop Broderick. Among the seminarians who moved from the seminary at Ivianokpodi to Asaba was the late Fr Paul Emechete, the first Nigerian priest, and the late Rt Revd Monsignor Joseph Agbodio Erameh, a native of Anegbette in South Uneme Clan in present Etsako Central Local Govermnent Area of Edo State.
With the death of Bishop Broderick in 1933, Bishop Leo Taylor was appointed his successor in 1934. Bishop Taylor, who came to Asaba-Benin Vicariate from Lagos where he was the principal of St Gregory's College, created Uzairue Parish in 1935, with Fr J.J. Healyas the first parish priest. Bishop Taylor ordained the first Edo priest who was also the second indigenous priest of the Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria in the person of the late Rt Revd Monsignor Joseph Agbodio Erameh at Asaba on 20th December, 1936 and transferred the major seminary there to Benin City in 1938. Bishop Taylor was succeeded in the Asaba-Benin Vicariate by Bishop Patrick Joseph Kelly in the same year. The Catholic Church in Etsako, during the episcopacy of Bishop P.J. Kelly, established four secondary schools: Our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi, St John's College, Fugar, St Angela's Girls' Grammar School, Uzairue and St Peter's College. Agenebode, which were taken over by Government in 1973.
In the same 1973, Bishop Kelly retired and handed over the Diocese of Benin City to Bishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu (now Archbishop Ekpu). Conscious of the fact that the task of evangelizing the diocese was onerous, Archbishop Ekpu worked very hard to see that many more indigenous priests were ordained and new parishes created. As at 30th December 2002, there were ten (10) parishes in Etsakoland.
As at the date of the proclamation of its creation on 4th December, 2002 the Diocese of Auchi had a total population of 723,905 out of which, 63,480 (8.8%) were Catholics, 39 priests, 37 of whom were diocesan and 2 religious 38 female religious and 14 parishes. St Thomas Moore Parish, Sobe was later added, bringing the total number of parishes to 15.
Erection of the Diocese.. 02/ 22/ 2002
First Bishop Rt Revd Dr G G Dunia |
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| Statistics: |
Population of Diocese ………723,905
Catholic Population …81,212(11.2%)
Nigerian Priests …………………….49
Missionary Priests …………………..2
Nigerian Sisters …………………….33
Major Seminarians………..……….. 50
VICAR GENERAL
Very Revd Fr John Onimhawo
PASTORAL VICAR
Very Revd Fr Charles B. Nasamu
JUDICIAL VICAR
Very Revd Fr Benedict Etafo
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR
Very Revd Fr Anselm Jimoh
VOCATIONS DIRECTORS
Revd Fr John Awaebe
Revd Fr Fabian Eghiabumhe
DIOCESAN SECRETARY
Revd Fr Fabian Eghiabumhe
PARISHES
Agenebode:
Sacred Heart's
Afuze-Emai:
St Jude's,
P0 Box 168,
Afuz Edo State
Auchi:
St Vincent's Pro-Cathedral,
PO Box 606,
Auchi, Edo State
Avianwu:
St Theresa's
Azukhala/Ugbekpe:
SS Peter and Paul's
Eme-Ora:
St Joseph's,
P O Box 20,
Eme-Ora, Edo State
Fugar:
St Theresa's
P O Box 27, Fugar,
Edo State
Ibillo:
St Peter's,
Igarra:
St John the Apostle's,
P0 Box 3,
Igarra, Edo State
Igiode:
Holy Family,
P O Box 150,
Igidoe, Edo State
Iviukwe: St Mary's
P.O. Box 114,
Iviuwe
Jattu:
St Philip's,
P.O. Box 200,
Jatu
Okpekpe:
Mary, Mother of God,
P.O. Box 33,
Okpekpe
Okpella:
St Vincent's,
Okugbe-Okpella
Ososo:
St Anne's,
P.O. Box 82,
Ososo,
Edo State
Sobe:
St Thomas Moore's,
P.O. Box 150, Sobe,
Edo State
Uzaime:
Holy Rosary,
P.O. Box 2,
Uzairue,
Edo State
Udaba:
Assumption Parish,
Udaba Ekperi
MASS CENTRE
Auchi:
St James'
Old Igana Road,
Water Board,
c/o P O Box 425,
Auchi
Ayogwiri:
St Matthew's
Elele:
St Dominic's
Enwan:
St Patrick's
Igaewo:
St Patrick's
Iyerekhu:
St Paul's
Ogbona:
St John's
CHAPLAINCIES
Agenebode:
St Anthony's,
195 Battalion Barracks,
Agenebode
Auchi:
St Augustine's,
Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi
Nichoho Barracks:
St Paul's
MALE RELIGIOUS HOUSE
The Holy Ghost Fathers,
St Vincent Catholic Church,
OKugbe-Okpella
FEMALE RELIGIOUS HOUSES
Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur,
Agenebode
Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur,
Central House,
P.O. Box 381, Jattu
Sisters of Notre Dame DeNamur,
P.O. Box 438,
Uzarirue
Sisters of Notre Dame Dc Namur,
Postulant Formation House,
Fugar
Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(Black Madonna Convent),
Eme-Ora
Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Iddo II,
Okpella
Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
St Mary's Margaret Convent,
Auchi
Sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus, Home for the Needy,
Ivioghe,
Agbenebode
CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Sacred Heart College,
P.O. Box 1,
Agenebode
St Margaret Mary's High School,
P.O. Box 453,
Iddo I Okpella
St Philip's Secondary School,
P. O. Box 200,
Jattu-Uzarirue
NURSERY /PR SCHOOLS
Christ Child
Nursery/Primary School,
Eme Ora
Holy Cross
Nursery/Primary School,
Imoga
Mary Mother of God
Nursery/Primary School,
Okpekpe
Mater Dei
Nursery/Primary School,
P.O. Box 168,
Afuze
Mater Misricordiae
Nursery/Primary School,
Ogbona
Mother of Good Counsel
Nursery/Primary School,
Fugar
Regina Angelorurm,
Nursery/Primary School,
P.O. Box 14,
Iviukwe-Agenebode
Revd Fr Grace Memorial
Nursery/Primary School,
P.O. Box 606,
Auchi
Revd Fr Piotin
Nursery/Primary School,
Agenebode
Sacred Heart
Nursery/Primary School,
P. O. Box 453,
Iddo II, Okpella
St Anne's
Nursery/Primary School,
Ososo
St Anthony
Nursery/Primary School,
Imiegba
St Jude
Nursery/Primary School,
Ihievbe, c/o Box 168,
Afuze
St Philip's
Secondary School,
Jattu
HEALTH INSTITUTIONS
Sancta Maria
Catholic Hospital,
P O Box 14 Uzairue
Sancta Maria
Catholic Medical Centre
Agenebode
DIOCESAN PAPER
The Promise Newspaper - a publication of the diocesan Directorate of Social Communications.
PRIESTS OF THE DIOCESE
S/N NAME OF PRIESTS DATE OF ORD.
S/N NAME OF PRIESTS YEAR OF ORD.
1 Msgr Thomas Oleghe 1967
2 Very Revd Fr Benedict Etafo 1976
3 Rev. Fr. Adoganieh Paul 1976
4 Rev. Fr. Adorolo Lawrence 2003
5 Rev. Fr. Adukus Thaddeus 1991
6 Rev. Fr. Akhibi Mark 1994
7 Rev. Fr. Alokwe Markin 2004
8 Rev. Fr. Alumiasunya A. 1989
9 Rev. Fr. Anaweokhai V. 2005
10 Rev. Fr. Anelu James 2001
11 Rev. Fr. Attah Lawrence 1966
12 Rev. Fr. Awaebe John 1992
13 Rev. Fr. Ayala Peter 1997
14 Rev. Fr. Balogun Lawrence 1964
15 Rev. Fr. Bobokhai Silas 2003
16 Rev. Fr. Bossey Isaac 1980
17 Rev. Fr. Ebakhaye Philip-Neri 2006
18 Rev. Fr. Ede Stan-William 2006
19 Rev. Fr. Eghiabuinhe Fabian 2004
20 Rev. Fr. Egielewa Peter 2003
21 Rev. Fr. Ekhelar Anseim 1989
22 Rev. Fr. Emodogo Francis 2006
23 Rev. Fr. Enegbuma Martins 2005
24 Rev. Fr. Enegbuma Richard 1980
25 Rev. Fr. Erual Jeremiah 1976
26 Rev. Fr. Gimah Emmanuel 2004
27 Rev. Fr. Ignatius Omunagbe 2006
28 Rev. Fr. Ikhane Callistus 2005
29 Rev. Fr. Ikiebey Godswill 1978
30 Rev. Fr. Imokhai Charles 1968
31 Rev. Fr. Iranaeus Ikhane 2001
32 Rev. Fr. Itakpe Godwin 1999
33 Rev. Fr. Iyamah Joseph 1999
34 Rev. Fr. Jimoh Anselm 1994
35 Rev. Fr. Nasamu Charles 1978
36 Rev. Fr. Obanado Gregory 1997
37 Rev. Fr. Obasanmi Pius 2003
38 Rev. Fr. Odemokpa Pascal 1979
39 Rev. Fr. Ogbenika Gregory 1995
40 Rev. Fr. Ogumah Stephen 1993
41 Rev. Fr. Okhifo Innocent 2005
42 Rev. Fr. Omokhekhe Philip 1994
43 Rev. Fr. Omonokhua Cornelius 1990
44 Rev. Fr. Onmihawo John 1980
45 Rev. Fr. Oshomah Peter 2000
46 Rev. Fr. Shaba Godrick 1999
47 Rev. Fr. Ugiovhe Romanus 2003
48 Rev. Fr. Ulokoaga Callistus 1992
OTHER PRIESTS WORKING IN THE DIOCESE
1. Rev. Fr Barth Ofegbu CSSp 14/02/89
Non erit impossibile apud Deum - Nothing is impossible with God
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