Roman Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku

Diocese of Issele-Uku
Dioecesis Isseleukuanus
Location
Country  Nigeria
Territory Aniocha North and Aniocha South, Ika North East and Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South in Delta State
Ecclesiastical province Archdiocese of Benin City
Metropolitan
Archbishop of Benin City
Coordinates 6°19′11.98″N 6°28′36.65″E / 6.3199944°N 6.4768472°E
Statistics
Area 3,011 km2 (1,163 sq mi)Annuario Pontificio 2012
Population
- Total
- Catholics		 (as of 2012)
1.153.000
364.000 (31.5%)
Parishes 64
Churches 22
Schools 42
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Latin Rite
Cathedral Saint Paul Cathedral
Patron saint Saint Patrick
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Michael Odogwu Elue
Metropolitan Archbishop Archbishop of Benin City
Vicar General Msgr. Michael Mozia
Emeritus Bishops Most Rev. Emmanuel Otteh
Map

Diocese of Issele-Uku is the northern portion of Delta State which is shown in red.
Website
www.Issele-UkuDiocese.org
[1]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku (Latin: Isseleukuan(us)) is a diocese located in the city of Issele-Uku, Delta State in the Ecclesiastical province of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It lies on the west bank of the Niger River between Benin City to the west and Onitsha to the east. The diocese comprises six local government areas in the northern portion of Delta State. The Archdiocese of Onitsha borders it on the east and the Archdiocese of Benin City borders it on the west. The Diocese of Uromi is to its north and the Diocese of Warri borders it on the south.

History

The first Mass in the diocese was celebrated on March 5, 1888 and the first missionary was Fr. Carlo Zappa. The Diocese of Issele-Uku was created on July 5, 1973 from the territory which was once part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City. It now covers the northern part of Delta State west of the River Niger and the state capital, Asaba including the following six Local Government Areas of Nigeria: Aniocha North and Aniocha South, Ika North East and Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South, and has a land mass of 3,011 square Km. The diocese has grown from the initial eight parishes with which it began to 44 parishes and 18 independent stations in 2011.

Diocesan statistics

The diocese at the end of the year 2006 had a population of 996,410 people, including 308,596 baptized Catholics, constituting 31% of the population. Statistics are taken from the Annuario Pontificio.

Year Population Priests Deacons Religious Parishes
  baptised total % number secular regular baptised
per priest		   men women  
1980 64.312 406.000 15,8 23 13 10 2.796 10 21 13
1990 99.727 358.142 27,8 35 30 5 2.849 12 46 22
1999 240.184 715.878 33,6 55 47 8 4.366 15 60 31
2000 245.186 734.199 33,4 60 51 9 4.086 18 61 35
2001 254.995 785.594 32,5 67 58 9 3.805 18 61 35
2002 275.300 883.790 31,1 65 57 8 4.235 17 83 36
2003 283.850 905.884 31,3 66 57 9 4.300 18 93 36
2004 292.366 951.117 30,7 76 66 10 3.846 19 101 36
2006 308.596 996.410 31,0 89 79 10 3.467 28 118 36
2012 364.000 1.153.000 31,5 101 89 12 30 150 64

Additional statistics

Special churches

St. Paul Cathedral in Issele-Uku. See picture of cathedral:

Leadership

Bishop's house

Episcopal regions

  1. St. Paul's Cathedral, Issele-Uku
  2. St. Raphael's, Akwukwu-Igbo
  3. St. John the Evangelist, Illah
  4. St. Theresa's, Ebu
  5. St. Andrew's, Ezi
  6. St. Matthew's, Idumuje-Unor
  7. Our Lady of Lourdes, Onicha-Olona
  8. All Saints, Onicha-Ugbo
  9. St. James, Ubulu-Okiti
  10. Sacred Heart, Obomkpa
  11. St. Michael's Onicha-Uku
  12. St. Anthony, Ogbe-Ofu, Issele-Uku
  13. St. Lawrence, Issele-Mkpitime
  1. St. Joseph's, Asaba
  2. St. Patrick's, West End, Asaba
  3. St. Patrick's, Cable Point, Asaba
  4. Our Lady of Assumption, Asaba
  5. St. Brigid's, Asaba
  6. St. Augustine's, Ibusa
  7. St. Monica's, Ibusa
  8. St. Michael's, Okpanam
  9. St. Theresa's, Okwe
  10. St. Michael's, Oko
  11. Ss. Peter and Paul, Issele-Azagba
  12. St. Benedict's, Akwu-Ebolo, Asaba
  13. St. John Bosco, Asaba
  14. Ss. Peter and Paul, Ugbolu
  15. Sacred Heart, Bonsaic
  1. St. John the Baptist, Agbor
  2. St. Joseph's, Agbor
  3. St. Patrick's, Azu-Owa
  4. St. Patrick's Agbor-Obi
  5. St. Mark's, Alisimie
  6. St. Dominic's, Boji-Boji Owa
  7. Holy Rosary, Abavo
  8. St. John the Evangelist, Ewuru
  9. St. Columba's, Agbor
  10. St. Benedict's, Agbonta
  11. All Saints, Alihami
  • Umunede Region
  1. Sacred Heart, Umunede
  2. Immaculate Heart, Umunede
  3. St. Dominic, Otolokpo
  4. St. Augustine, Ute-Ogbeje
  5. St. Joseph, Akumazi
  6. St. Luke, Emuhu
  7. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Ute-Okpu
  8. St. Louis, Ekuku-Agbor
  9. St. Martin's, Igbodo
  10. St. Francis Xavier's, Idumesah
  11. St. Jude, Owa-Oyibo
  1. Mary Immaculate, Ogwashi-Uku
  2. St. Patrick's, Ogwashi-Uku
  3. St. Charles, Ubulu-Uku
  4. St. Michael's, Ubulu-Uku
  5. Holy Trinity, Ewulu
  6. St. Joseph's, Nsukwa
  7. Immaculate Conceptini, Ishiagu
  8. Ejeme-Aniogor Independent Station
  9. St. John the Baptist, Ubulu-Unor
  10. St. Theresa's, Obior

[3]

Parishes

  1. Abavo: Holy Rosary Parish, P.O. Box 88, Abavo
  2. Abavo: St. Patrick's Parish, Azu Owa, P.O. Box 70, Abavo
  3. Agbor: St. Columba's Parish, P.O. Box 1051, Agbor
  4. Agbor: St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 749, Agbor
  5. Agbor Boji-Boji: St. John the Baptist Parish, P.O. Box 1600, Boji-Boji, Agbor
  6. Agbor Obi: St. Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 1725, Agbor-Obi.
  7. Akumazi: St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 336, Umunede
  8. Akwu-Ebolo: St. Benedict's Parish
  9. Akwukwu-Igbo: St. Raphael Parish
  10. Asaba: Church of Assumption Parish, Asaba
  11. Asaba: St. Brigid Parish
  12. Asaba: St. John Bosco Parish
  13. Asaba: St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 25, Asaba.
  14. Asaba Cable Point: St. Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 793, Asaba
  15. Asaba West End, St. Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 997, West End, Asaba
  16. Ebu: St Theresa's Parish
  17. Ekuku-Agbor: St Louis Parish, P.O. Box 63, Ekuku-Agbor
  18. Ewulu: Holy Trinity Parish, P.O. Box 137, Ogwashi-Uku
  19. Ezi: St Andrew's Parish, PO Box 20, Ezi
  20. Igbuzor (Ibusa): St Augustine's Parish, P.O. Box 93, Ibusa
  21. Igbuzor (Ibusa): St Monica's Parish, P.O. Box 414, Ibusa
  22. Igbuzor (Ibusa): St Thomas Parish
  23. Idumesah: St Francis Xavier Parish, P.O. Box 77, Idumesah
  24. Idumuje-Unor: St Matthew's Parish
  25. Illah: St John the Evangelist Parish, P.O. Box 18, Illah
  26. Isheagu: Immaculate Conception Parish, P.O. Box 16, Isheagu
  27. Issele-Uku: St Paul's Cathedral, P.O. Box 26, Issele-Uku
  28. Nsukwa: St Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 16, Nsukwa
  29. Ogwashi-Uku: Mary Immaculate Parish, P.O. Box 4, Ogwashi-Uku
  30. Ogwashi-Uku: St Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 28, Ogwashi-Uku
  31. Okpanam: St Michael's Parish, P.O. Box 155, Okpanam
  32. Okwe: St Theresa's Parish
  33. Onicha-Olona: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, P.O. Box 40, Onicha-Olona
  34. Onicha-Ugbo: All Saints Parish, P.O. Box 57, Onicha-Ugbo
  35. Otolokpo: St Dominic's Parish, P.O. Box 281, Umunede
  36. Owa-Boji: St Dominic's Parish, P.O. Box 8, Owanta, Boji-Boji
  37. Ubulu-Okiti: St James Parish, P.O. Box 72, Ubulu-Okiti
  38. Ubulu-Uku: St Charles' Parish, P.O. Box 42
  39. Ubulu-Uku: St Michael's Parish, P.O. Box 96
  40. Umunede: Immaculate Heart Parish
  41. Umunede: Sacred Heart, P.O. Box 7, Umunede
  42. Ute-Ogbeje: St Augustine's Parish, P.O. Box 9, Umunede

Independent stations

  1. Agbor-Nta: St. Benedict Catholic Church
  2. Alisimie: St. Mark Catholic Church
  3. Alihami: All Saints Catholic Church
  4. Asaba: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bonsiac
  5. Ejeme-Aniogor: St. Felix Catholic Church, P.O. Box 174
  6. Emuhu: St Luke Catholic Church
  7. Ewuru: St John the Evangelist, P.O. Box 1053
  8. Igbodo: St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church
  9. Issele-Azagba: Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church, P.O. Box 78
  10. Issele-Mkpitime: St. Lawrence Catholic Church
  11. Issele-Uku: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Ogbe-Ofu
  12. Obior: St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church
  13. Obomkpa: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O. Box 27, Issele-Uku
  14. Oko: St. Micheal Catholic Church
  15. Onicha-Uku: St. Michael Catholic Church
  16. Owa-Oyibu: St. Jude Catholic Church
  17. Ubulu-Unor: St. John the Baptist, P.O. Box 96
  18. Ugbolu: Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
  19. Ute-Okpu: Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Higher institutions chaplaincy

  1. College of Education, Agbor
  2. Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba
  3. Federal College of Education Technical, Asaba
  4. St. John's, Alihagu

Nurseries and primary schools

  1. Holy Infant International School, Agbor
  2. Regina Mundi Nursery/Primary School, Asaba
  3. St. Mary Anne Nursery/Primary School, Ebu
  4. Mercy Nursery/Primary School, Ibusa
  5. St. Maria Gorretti School, Illah
  6. Immaculate Conception Nursery/Primary School, Ishiagu
  7. Holy Child School, Issele-Uku
  8. Divine Love Nursery/Primary School, Ogwashi-Uku
  9. Holy Child School, Onicha-Olona
  10. Divine Love School, Ubulu-Uku
  11. Sacred Heart Nursery/Primary School, Umunede
  12. St. Augustine Nursery/Primary School, Ubulu-Okiti

Secondary schools

  1. Dominican Vocational School, Agbor
  2. Holy Infant Secondary School, Agbor
  3. Madonna Comprehensive Secondary School, Akwukwu-Igbo
  4. St John's Secondary School, Alihagu
  5. Mercy Girls' Secondary School, Aliokpu Agbor
  6. Juniorate Girls' Secondary School, Issele-Uku
  7. Divine Love Secondary School, Ubulu-Uku
  8. St. Patrick's College, Asaba

Institutions

  1. Madonna School for the Handicapped, Okpanam
  2. Regina Mundi Computers, Ogwashi-Uku

Hospitals and maternities

  1. Catholic Health Centre, Ewulu
  2. Catholic Maternity and Hospital, P.O. Box 98, Ekuku-Agbor
  3. St Anthony's Catholic Maternity, P.O. Box 206, Ubulu-Uku
  4. St Elizabeth's Catholic Maternity, P.O. Box 43, Umunede
  5. St John's Hospital, P.O. Box 1896, Agbor
  6. St Joseph Hospital, P.O. Box 911, Asaba
  7. St Mary's Hospital, P.O. Box 38, Ogwashi-Uku
  8. St Theresa's Hospital, P.O. Box 63, Issele-Uku

Special homes

  1. Pro Labore Dei, Asaba
  2. Home for Old People, Asaba
  3. Home for Destitutes, Agbor
  4. Home for Destitutes, Umunede

Special institutions

  1. Pastoral Centre, Issele-Uku
  2. School of Evangelization, Issele-Uku
  3. Leprosaria, Abor Ogwashi-Uku
  4. Leprosaria, Ute-Enugu

Female religious houses

  1. Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Okpanam
  2. Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Box 121, Umunede
  3. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Akwukwu-Igbo
  4. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Box 63, Issele-Uku
  5. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Gbenoba, Agbor-Obi
  6. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Illah, c/o St John’s, Box 18, Illah
  7. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Ubulu-Uku
  8. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy , Aliokpu
  9. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Convent, Box 60, Issele-Uku
  10. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Convent, Igbuzor
  11. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, Onicha-Olona
  12. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, Ubulu-Uku
  13. Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine,, , Agbor-Obi
  14. Franciscan Sisters, Ogwashi-Uku
  15. Immaculate Heart Sisters, Okpanam
  16. NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, , Agbor
  17. NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, Box 63, Issele-Uku
  18. NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, Box 72, Ubulu-Okiti
  19. NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, Ogwashi-Uku
  20. OLA Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles,, Box 2170, Agbor
  21. OLA Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles Convent, Box 54, Asaba
  22. SSL Sisters of St Louis (in Nigeria), Ewulu

Male religious houses

  1. OSA Order of Saint Augustine, Box 32, Igbuzor
  2. OP Order of Preachers, St Patrick’s Church, Agbor-Obi, Box 1725, Agbor
  3. SMA Society of African Missions, St Patrick's Church, Cable Point, Asaba, Box 793, Asaba

Priestly formation

Politics

The diocese is located in the northern area of Delta State which is structured according to political divisions known as local government areas (L.G.A.s). There were in 1991 twelve LGAs, then nineteen and now there are 25 LGAs. The Diocese of Issele-Uku now covers six of the local government areas: Aniocha North and Aniocha South, Ika North East and Ika South, and Oshimili North and Oshimili South, and with a land mass of 3,011 square Km.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Annuario Pontificio 2012, p.319
  2. ↑ Diocesan Directory and Liturgical Calendar 2010, Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku. ATCOM Press. p.6.
  3. ↑ Diocesan Directory and Liturgical Calendar 2010, Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku. ATCOM Press. pp.35-37.

External links

  1. official website of the diocese, www.issele-ukudiocese.org
  2. Map showing cities and towns where the diocese and Catholic ministries are serving the people
  3. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria
  4. Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria
  5. Catholic Hierarchy
  6. Issele-Uku Landmarks including picture of the Catholic Cathedral
  7. Saints Peter and Paul Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
  8. All Saints Major Seminary, Edo State, Nigeria
  9. About Delta State showing map of local government areas and giving economic and political descriptions
  10. Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy
  11. St Louis Sisters in Nigeria
  12. Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles
  13. New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help