Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo explained

Latin:Dioecesis Ondoensis
Country: Nigeria
Territory:Ondo State
Province:Ibadan
Metropolitan:Archbishop of Ibadan
Coordinates:7.25°N 5.195°W, Akure
Area Km2:15,518
Population:3,674,692
Population As Of:2004
Catholics:198,722
Catholics Percent:5.4
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Rite:Latin Rite
Established:18 April 1950
Cathedral:Sacred Heart Cathedral in Akure
Bishop:Most Rev. Jude Ayodeji Arogundade
Suffragan:for one -->
Archdeacon:for one-->
Map:Nigeria Ondo State map.png
Website:www.ondodiocese.org

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo (Latin: Ondoën(sis)) is a diocese located in the Ondo State in the ecclesiastical province of Ibadan in Nigeria. The cathedral and diocesan secretariat are located in Akure.

History

On 12 January 1943 the Vicariate of Ondo-Ilorin, consisting of the Civil Provinces of Ondo and Ilorin, was carved out of both the Vicariate of Asaba-Benin and the Vicariate of the Bight of Benin. Bishop Thomas Hughes S.M.A. was the vicar apostolic. In 1950, this Vicariate of Ondo-Ilorin became the Diocese of Ondo. Bishop Hughes, S.M.A., was appointed bishop of this new diocese. On his death in 1957, he was succeeded by Dr. William R. Field, S.M.A., consecrated bishop on 27 April 1958.

On 6 December 1960, the Prefecture of Ilorin was carved out of the Diocese of Ondo with Bishop William Mahony, SMA, as its first bishop. On 10 October 1971, Dr. Michael O. Fagun became the first auxiliary bishop of Ondo Diocese and when the Diocese of Ekiti was detached from the Diocese of Ondo on 10 October 1972, he became first diocesan bishop of Ekiti. On 21 April 1974, Dr. Francis F. Alonge was ordained the auxiliary bishop of Ondo Diocese, and on the retirement of Bishop Field, he became the diocesan bishop and his episcopal enthronement took place in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Akure, on 22 August 1976.

On 6 May 2010, Dr Jude Arogundade was consecrated bishop and was appointed as a co-adjutor to Dr. Francis Alonge in the Diocese of Ondo. Upon the acceptance of the letter of resignation of Bishop Alonge by Pope Benedict XVI on 26 November 2010, Bishop Jude succeeded Bishop Alonge and was enthroned as the bishop of the diocese on 14 January 2011 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. The Diocese of Ondo, as it is today, is within Ondo State. The number of parishes, Mass centers and priests has grown tremendously over the years. Today, the diocese has fifty parishes and Mass centers, and the diocese has over ninety priests serving within and outside the diocese. The diocese has an area of 15,518 sqm. With a population of about 3,225,255 of whom 265,000 are Catholics. The diocesan headquarters is Akure, the Capital City of Ondo State.

Special churches

Bishops

The list above includes a coadjutor who served in 2010.

Auxiliary bishops

Persecution and insecurity

Although removed from the Middle Belt and North of Nigeria, where most incidents of persecution take place, Ondo witnessed a tragic massacre, carried out by unknown gunmen, in St. Francis Xavier Church in Owo, on 5 June 2022, during Pentecost Sunday celebrations.[1] The attack left over 50 people dead.

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ACN . 2022-06-07 . ACN statement about the Pentecost massacre in St. Francis Xavier Church in Owo, Nigeria . 2022-11-18 . ACN International . en-US.

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