Roman Catholic Diocese of Aba explained

See also: Anglican Province of Aba.

Jurisdiction:Diocese
Aba
Latin:Dioecesis Abana
Country: Nigeria
Territory:Abia State
Province:Owerri
Metropolitan:Archbishop of Owerri
Coordinates:5.5261°N 7.4894°W Umuahia
Area Km2:2,494
Population:2,253,090
Population As Of:2005
Catholics:585,021
Catholics Percent:26
Parishes:59
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Rite:Latin Rite
Established:2 April 1990
Cathedral:Christ the King Cathedral in Aba
Patron:Christ the King
Patron Title:Patron
Priests:147
Bishop:Bishop Augustine Ndubueze Echema
Suffragan:for one -->
Archdeacon:for one-->
Map:Nigeria Abia State map.png
Website:Profile

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Aba takes its name from the major commercial city of Aba in Abia State. Aba Diocese was created from Umuahia Diocese on April 2, 1990. Its first diocesan bishop, Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia, CSSp, was installed on 2 July 1990 at Christ the King Church; he was ordained bishop on 1 July 1990 at Mater Dei Cathedral in Umuahia. At the time the Catholic Diocese of Aba was created, there were 24 parishes, 33 Indigenous priests, including those born and bred in Aba, many religious people, and a Catholic population of 227,225. The bulk of the Catholic population was concentrated in Aba Urban and its immediate environs. Ezeonyia died in 2015.

In July 1990 Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia, C.S.Sp. took over the administration of the Catholic Diocese of Aba. At some time after he took over the diocese had 144 priests, with 59 parishes, with several men in seminaries, and women in convents.

The bishop has built many primary and secondary schools. The Diocese has a hospital (St Joseph's Catholic Hospital, Ohabiam, Aba) and some Health Centres/Maternities.

During the Millennium Year 2000 the Diocese celebrated its tenth anniversary. The bishop of the diocese, Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia, the clergy and lay faithful held a diocesan "Synod for True Christian Identity", holding sessions in 2001.

Timeline

  1. Arrival of first Roman Catholic missionaries, 1916
  2. The first resident priest, 1918
  3. Blessing of the first church building, 1929
  4. Erected as a pastoral zone, 1958
  5. Erected as a diocese, 2 April 1990
  6. The first bishop, Most Reverend Doctor V. V. Ezeonyia, C.S.Sp.
  7. First synod of the diocese, "True Christian Identity," 29 May - 3 June 2001
  8. Mass of Dedication of the Cathedral of Mater Dei, 14 December 2002

Statistics

Bishops

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

External links