Roman Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan explained

Jurisdiction:Diocese
Kafanchan
Latin:Dioecesis Kafancanus
Country: Nigeria
Territory:southern portion of Kaduna State
Province:Kaduna
Metropolitan:Archbishop of Kaduna
Coordinates:9.5833°N 8.3°W
Area Km2:11,340
Population:1,080,247
Population As Of:2004
Catholics:250,000
Catholics Percent:23.1
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Established:July 10, 1995
Cathedral:Saint Peter Claver Cathedral in Kafanchan
Suffragan:for one -->
Archdeacon:for one-->
Map:Nigeria Kaduna State map.png
Website:www.CatholicDioceseofKafanchan

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan (Latin: Kafancan(us)) is a diocese located in the city of Kafanchan in the ecclesiastical province of Kaduna in Nigeria.

History

Special churches

The Cathedral is St Peter Claver's Cathedral in Kafanchan.

Leadership

Persecution and insecurity

Due to its location, the Diocese of Kafanchan has been subjected to cases of persecution or violence committed against its faithful and members of the clergy. In 2022 a priest was murdered following a kidnapping. Fr Mark Cheitnum was the communications director for the diocese and was kidnapped along with Fr Donatus Cleopas. According to Cleopas, who managed to later escape his abductors, Fr Mark was finding it difficult to keep up with the group as they were being taken into the bush, and was shot dead by his kidnappers.[1]

Two more priests from Kafanchan diocese were kidnapped in 2022. Fr Emmanuel Silas and Fr Joseph Shekari were both eventually released.

On 7 September 2023, suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked and set fire to the rectory of St. Raphael Parish. The parish priest and his assistant were able to escape, but a seminarian, Na'aman Danlami, who was staying with them was burned to death.[2]

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ACN . 2022-07-21 . Another priest killed in Nigeria . 2022-11-18 . ACN International . en-US.
  2. Web site: ACN . 2023-09-08 . A seminarian brutally murdered and another kidnapped in Nigeria . 2023-10-25 . ACN International . en-US.