Chronology of Catholic Dioceses:Notes on the Diocese of Lafia, 2000
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has created (December 5, 2000) the diocese of Lafia (Nigeria) with territory taken from the archdiocese of Jos and from the diocese of Makurdi, making it suffragan of the Metropolitan Church of Abuja.
The new diocese of Lafia (Nigeria) will include all the territory of the new civil state of Nasarawa, (established on October 1996 with territory taken from Plateau state,) and it will have thirteen "local government areas": Akwanga, Nasarwa,Eggon, Wamba, Karu, Keffi, Lafia, Obi, Awe, Doma, Nasarawa, Toto, Keana and Kokona.
The creation of the new diocese will facilitate evangelization especially in these years almost forgotten for many years, but where at last there is hope for proclaiming the Gospel. It will also help to boost pastoral work among the Igbo living in the larger towns and among the Tiv farmers many are Catholics, in the southern part of the State near the River Benue. The Alago and Gwari peoples also show interest for the Gospel.
Here are the statistics of the two circumscriptions and the new diocese of Lafia.Makurdi | Jos | LAFIA | Makurdi now | Jos now | |
Area |
47,650 sq km |
30,395 sq km |
28,500 sq km |
23,150 sq km |
26,395 sq km |
Population |
3,805,000 |
2,780,000 |
1,510,000 |
2,510,000 |
2,560,000 |
Catholics |
1,124,855 |
656,000 |
72,000 |
1,072,855 |
636,000 |
Parishes |
64 |
34 |
13 |
53 |
32 |
Priests (dioc.) |
151 |
72 |
19 |
139 |
67 |
Priests (Relig.) |
13 |
14 |
8 |
6 |
14 |
Sisters |
96 |
69 |
21 |
78 |
66 |
Seminarians |
70 |
49 |
9 |
62 |
46 |
School |
593 |
14 |
6 |
588 |
13 |
Charitable inst. |
10 |
9 |
3 |
7 |
8 |
The new diocese will border to the west with the archdiocese of Abuja and the diocese of Lokoja, to the east with the archdiocese of Jos and the diocese of Jalingo, to the north with the archdiocese of Kaduna and the diocese of Kafanchan and to the south with the diocese of Makurdi and the diocese of Otukpo.
The new Bishop will have his see at Lafia where the parish church dedicated to St William will be the cathedral.
Source: Fides, January 5th, 2001
-CNy