Chronology of Catholic Dioceses:Notes on the Diocese of Zaria, 2000
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has created (December 5, 2000) the diocese of Zaria (Nigeria) with territory taken from the archdiocese of Kaduna and from the diocese of Makurdi, making it suffragan of the same Metropolitan Church.
The new diocese of Zaria (Nigeria) will include ten "local government areas" Zaria, Sabon Gari, Soba, Ikara, Makarfi, Kubau, Kudun, Giwa, Birnin Gwari and Igabi (with the exclusion of the districts of Rigasa and Rigachukun).
The reason for the creation of the new diocese is mainly pastoral: the division of the territory of Kaduna archdiocese will strengthen the Churchs presence in the region and facilitate the work of evangelization.
Here are the statistics regarding the mother archdiocese and the new diocese of Zaria:
| Kaduna before | ZARIA | Kaduna now | |
Area |
35.094 sq km |
18,000 sq km |
17,094 |
Population |
3,913,000 |
1,750,000 |
2,163,000 |
Catholics |
318,443 |
64,941 |
253,502 |
Parishes |
45 |
10 |
35 |
Priests (diocesan) |
73 |
20 (including ordained deacons) |
53 |
Priests (religious) |
10 |
- |
10 |
Sisters |
22 |
- |
22 |
Seminarians major |
48 |
12 |
36 |
Seminarians minor |
278 |
86 |
192 |
Schools |
12 |
5 |
7 |
Charitable inst. |
8 |
3 |
5 |
Mission stations |
618 |
107 |
511 |
The diocese of Zaria will border to the west with the prefecture apostolic of Kontagora, to the east with Kano diocese, to the north with the dioceses of Sokoto and Kano, to the south with the mother archdiocese of Kaduna and the dioceses of Kafanchan and Minna.
The new Bishop will have his see at Zaria and the parish church dedicated to Christ the King will be the cathedral.
Source: Fides, January 5th, 2001
-CNy