Roman Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku


The Roman Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku 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.

Additional statistics

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

Bishops

  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
  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, Isheagu
  8. Ejeme-Aniogor Independent Station
  9. St. John the Baptist, Ubulu-Unor
  10. St. Theresa's, Obior

    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. Asaba:St. John Mary Vianney Asaba
  17. Asaba: Emmanuel the Savior Church Asaba
  18. Ebu: St Theresa's Parish
  19. Ekuku-Agbor: St Louis Parish, P.O. Box 63, Ekuku-Agbor
  20. Ewulu: Holy Trinity Parish, P.O. Box 137, Ogwashi-Uku
  21. Ezi: St Andrew's Parish, PO Box 20, Ezi
  22. Igbuzor : St Augustine's Parish, P.O. Box 93, Ibusa
  23. Igbuzor : St Monica's Parish, P.O. Box 414, Ibusa
  24. Igbuzor : St Thomas Parish
  25. Idumesah: St Francis Xavier Parish, P.O. Box 77, Idumesah
  26. Idumuje-Unor: St Matthew's Parish
  27. Illah: St John the Evangelist Parish, P.O. Box 18, Illah
  28. Isheagu: Immaculate Conception Parish, P.O. Box 16, Isheagu
  29. Issele-Uku: St Paul's Cathedral, P.O. Box 26, Issele-Uku
  30. Nsukwa: St Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 16, Nsukwa
  31. Ogwashi-Uku: Mary Immaculate Parish, P.O. Box 4, Ogwashi-Uku
  32. Ogwashi-Uku: St Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 28, Ogwashi-Uku
  33. Okpanam: St Michael's Parish, P.O. Box 155, Okpanam
  34. Okwe: St Theresa's Parish
  35. Onicha-Olona: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, P.O. Box 40, Onicha-Olona
  36. Onicha-Ugbo: All Saints Parish, P.O. Box 57, Onicha-Ugbo
  37. Otolokpo: St Dominic's Parish, P.O. Box 281, Umunede
  38. Owa-Boji: St Dominic's Parish, P.O. Box 8, Owanta, Boji-Boji
  39. Ubulu-Okiti: St James Parish, P.O. Box 72, Ubulu-Okiti
  40. Ubulu-Uku: St Charles' Parish, P.O. Box 42
  41. Ubulu-Uku: St Michael's Parish, P.O. Box 96
  42. Umunede: Immaculate Heart Parish
  43. Umunede: Sacred Heart, P.O. Box 7, Umunede
  44. Ute-Ogbeje: St Augustine's Parish, P.O. Box 9, Umunede

    Independent stations

  45. Agbor-Nta: St. Benedict Catholic Church
  46. Alisimie: St. Mark Catholic Church
  47. Alihami: All Saints Catholic Church
  48. Asaba: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bonsiac
  49. Ejeme-Aniogor: St. Felix Catholic Church, P.O. Box 174
  50. Emuhu: St Luke Catholic Church
  51. Ewuru: St John the Evangelist, P.O. Box 1053
  52. Igbodo: St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church
  53. Issele-Azagba: Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church, P.O. Box 78
  54. Issele-Mkpitime: St. Lawrence Catholic Church
  55. Issele-Uku: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Ogbe-Ofu
  56. Obior: St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church
  57. Obomkpa: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O. Box 27, Issele-Uku
  58. Oko: St. Micheal Catholic Church
  59. Onicha-Uku: St. Michael Catholic Church
  60. Owa-Oyibu: St. Jude Catholic Church
  61. Ubulu-Unor: St. John the Baptist, P.O. Box 96
  62. Ugbolu: Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
  63. Ute-Okpu: Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

    Higher institutions chaplaincy

  64. College of Education, Agbor
  65. Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba
  66. Federal College of Education Technical, Asaba
  67. St. John's, Alihagu

    Nurseries and primary schools

  68. Holy Infant International School, Agbor
  69. Regina Mundi Nursery/Primary School, Asaba
  70. St. Mary Anne Nursery/Primary School, Ebu
  71. Mercy Nursery/Primary School, Ibusa
  72. St. Maria Gorretti School, Illah
  73. Immaculate Conception Nursery/Primary School, Ishiagu
  74. Holy Child School, Issele-Uku
  75. Divine Love Nursery/Primary School, Ogwashi-Uku
  76. Holy Child School, Onicha-Olona
  77. Divine Love School, Ubulu-Uku
  78. Sacred Heart Nursery/Primary School, Umunede
  79. St. Augustine Nursery/Primary School, Ubulu-Okiti

    Secondary schools

  80. Dominican Vocational School, Agbor
  81. Holy Infant Secondary School, Agbor
  82. Madonna Comprehensive Secondary School, Akwukwu-Igbo
  83. St John's Secondary School, Alihagu
  84. Mercy Girls' Secondary School, Aliokpu Agbor
  85. Juniorate Girls' Secondary School, Issele-Uku
  86. Divine Love Secondary School, Ubulu-Uku
  87. St. Patrick's College, Asaba
  88. St. Paul's Grammar School, Ebu
  89. St. Brigid's Girls Grammar School,
  90. St. Martin De Porres Girls Grammar School,

    Institutions

  91. Madonna School for the Handicapped, Okpanam
  92. Regina Mundi Computers, Ogwashi-Uku

    Hospitals and maternities

  93. Catholic Health Centre, Ewulu
  94. Catholic Maternity and Hospital, P.O. Box 98, Ekuku-Agbor
  95. St Anthony's Catholic Maternity, P.O. Box 206, Ubulu-Uku
  96. St Elizabeth's Catholic Maternity, P.O. Box 43, Umunede
  97. St John's Hospital, P.O. Box 1896, Agbor
  98. St Joseph Hospital, P.O. Box 911, Asaba
  99. St Mary's Hospital, P.O. Box 38, Ogwashi-Uku
  100. St Theresa's Hospital, P.O. Box 63, Issele-Uku

    Special homes

  101. Pro Labore Dei, Asaba
  102. Home for Old People, Asaba
  103. Home for Destitutes, Agbor
  104. Home for Destitutes, Umunede

    Special institutions

  105. Pastoral Centre, Issele-Uku
  106. School of Evangelization, Issele-Uku
  107. Leprosaria, Abor Ogwashi-Uku
  108. Leprosaria, Ute-Enugu

    Female religious houses

  109. Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Okpanam
  110. Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Box 121, Umunede
  111. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Akwukwu-Igbo
  112. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Box 63, Issele-Uku
  113. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Gbenoba, Agbor-Obi
  114. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Illah, c/o St John’s, Box 18, Illah
  115. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Ubulu-Uku
  116. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy , Aliokpu
  117. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Convent, Box 60, Issele-Uku
  118. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Convent, Igbuzor
  119. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, Onicha-Olona
  120. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, Ubulu-Uku
  121. Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine,, , Agbor-Obi
  122. Franciscan Sisters, Ogwashi-Uku
  123. Immaculate Heart Sisters, Okpanam
  124. NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, , Agbor
  125. NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, Box 63, Issele-Uku
  126. NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, Box 72, Ubulu-Okiti
  127. NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, Ogwashi-Uku
  128. OLA Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles,, Box 2170, Agbor
  129. OLA Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles Convent, Box 54, Asaba
  130. SSL Sisters of St Louis, Ewulu

    Male religious houses

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

    Priestly formation

The diocese is located in the northern area of Delta State which is structured according to political divisions known as local government areas. 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.