Roman Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku

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.

Diocese of Issele-Uku

Dioecesis Isseleukuanus
Location
Country Nigeria
TerritoryAniocha North and Aniocha South, Ika North East and Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South in Delta State
Ecclesiastical provinceArchdiocese of Benin City
Metropolitan
Archbishop of Benin City
Coordinates6°19′11.98″N 6°28′36.65″E
Statistics
Area3,011 km2 (1,163 sq mi)Annuario Pontificio 2012
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2012)
1.153.000
364.000 (31.5%)
Parishes64
Churches22
Schools42
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
RiteLatin Rite
EstablishedJuly 5, 1973 (1973-07-05)
CathedralSaint Paul Cathedral
Patron saintSaint Patrick
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopMost Rev. Dr. Michael Odogwu Elue
Metropolitan ArchbishopArchbishop of Benin City
Vicar GeneralMsgr. Stephen Uzomah
Bishops emeritusMost 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]

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  
198064.312406.00015,82313102.796102113
199099.727358.14227,8353052.849124622
1999240.184715.87833,6554784.366156031
2000245.186734.19933,4605194.086186135
2001254.995785.59432,5675893.805186135
2002275.300883.79031,1655784.235178336
2003283.850905.88431,3665794.300189336
2004292.366951.11730,77666103.8461910136
2006308.596996.41031,08979103.4672811836
2012364.0001.153.00031,510189123015064

Additional statistics
  • Catholic Churches in the Diocese 61
  • Nigerian Diocesan Priests 130
  • Major Seminarians 179
  • Priests on further studies abroad 7
  • Priests on Mission in the USA 18[2]

Special churches

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

Bishops
  • Bishop Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji (07.05.1973 – 11.08.1996), appointed Bishop of Enugu
  • Bishop Emmanuel Otteh (11.08.1996 – 11.14.2003) Bishop Emeritus
  • Rev Michael Odogwu Elue (Apostolic Administrator 11.14.2003 until episcopal ordination on 02.21.2004 see below)
  • Bishop Michael Odogwu Elue (see above 02.21.2004 - )

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

Bishop's house
  • P.O. Box 63
  • Issele-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria
  • Telephone: Office: 048 880 187
  • Asaba Office: 056 280 412
  • Fax 1: 056 280 412
  • Fax 2: 048880 0187
  • GSM: 0803 714 2369

Episcopal regions

[3]

Parishes
  • Map with pointers to parishes and institutions

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
  9. St. Paul's Grammar School, Ebu
  10. St. Brigid's Girls Grammar School, [Asaba Delta State]
  11. St. Martin De Porres Girls Grammar School, [Onicha-Olona]

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.

gollark: Can you happily go out?
gollark: Can you wonderingly go out?
gollark: Can you skeletally go out?
gollark: Can you pathetically go out?
gollark: Can you spiritually go out?

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.
  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
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