HISTORY OF MINNA DIOCESE

The Catholic Diocese of Minna started in 1911, as an outstation of Lokoja. Historically, Minna Diocese was administered by the Vicar Apostolic of Asaba. The first Missionary to plant the seed of evangelization was Rev. Fr. Leon Bourge of the Society of Africa Missions (S.M.A) Rev. Fr. Leon De Bourge, made the historic trip through the Niger to Baro in 1911, where he celebrated the first Mass. On August 6 th 1911, Fr. De Bourge had the first Baptism at Baro, while the first of such in Minna was on 18 th April, 1912.

Following the need to meet the spiritual demands of the growing population resulting from railway construction, the first priests (Mission) house was build at No. 2 station road (Now St. Joseph Parish) in 1919, while St. Stephen's Church was built also in 1919, on the now Keterin Gwari Road. The site is now occupied by Dr. Farouk Bahago Primary School (formally St. Stephen Primary School ), Minna.

The Minna outstation which later expanded into a Mission Territory was served by S. M. A. Fathers between 1911 and 1962. During this period, the S.M.A Fathers worked tirelessly building schools and churches in the area.

The first primary school was established at Guni in 1940, while the first post primary school was St. Theresa Training College also established at Guni in 1943. This was subsequently transferred to Bosso in 1948, Masuga in 1948, Zuru in 1950 and St. Michael Minna in 1952. All of these were relinquished to the government at the take-over of schools in the early 1970s.

The S.M.A Fathers were assisted in their work by our Lady of apostles (O.L.A) sisters, who came to the area in the late 1940's and the Sisters of St. Louis who came in 1952. The Sisters did tremendous work both in education and medical apostlate, including the founding of the St. Louis post primary school for girls in Minna, in 1952.

October 1962 brought the arrival of the St. Patrick Fathers the (Kiltegans). The early arrivals include - Rev. Frs. C. Napier, J. Kiely, and J. Noonan. The St. Patrick Fathers S.P.S worked with the S.M.A Fathers' under Arch- bishop McCarthy until the establishment of the Apostolic Prefecture of Minna on 4 th November, 1964 when the territory was detached from the Archdiocese of Kaduna .

As a result, the St. Patrick Fathers S.P.S took over affairs of the Prefecture, with then Monsignor Edmund Fitzgibon (formerly Bishop of Port-Harcourt and Warri, now Bishop Emeritus), as Prefect Apostolic.

The personal drive of Monsignor Fitzgbon along with the St. Patrick Fathers saw to the establishment of the following educational institutions - Fatima Secondary School , Minna, 1966, Zuru Secondary School 1967 and Maryamu Girls Secondary School , Bida 1968.

Still under the St. Patrick Fathers efforts were also made to establish health institutions to meet the basic health care needs of the people. Under the direction of the Alexian Brothers, a health clinic was established at Kafin-Koro, while another clinic was established at Zungeru by the Sisters of the Medical Missionary of Mary (M.M.M) who have earlier arrived the Prefecture in 1968.

The Prefecture also recorded a steady growth in the pastoral needs of the faithful. Thus a number of parishes were established - Kontagora - 1967, Nanati - 1970, Zungeru - 1970 and Bwari (now in the Archdiocese of Abuja) 1971.

On September 17, 1973 , the Apostolic Prefecture of Minna was raised to the status of a Diocese and on 30 th December 1973 , Rt. Rev. Dr. Christopher Abba was ordained first Bishop of the Diocese of Minna.

Pastoral involvement was the special priority of Bishop Christopher Abba with the main objective of building a self supporting, self reliant church. His efforts yielded its first fruit with the ordination of the first indigenous (Gwari) Diocesan Priest, in the person of late Rev. Fr. Clement Mallam in December 1976. Starting with an all expatriate apostolic team, Bishop Abba vigorously pursued the task of having local (Nigerian) Priests. By 1996, no less than twenty (20) Priests were ordained by him.

Bishop Abba's episcopate witnessed an era of both spiritual as well as physical growth of the Diocese. Inheriting about eight (8) Parishes he left behind twenty three (23).

Bishop Abba's episcopate also saw the establishment of the Leadership Training Centre (now Pope Paul II Institute of Pastoral Affairs) at Nanai, in 1975. This year also brought the arrival of the Irish Sisters of Mercy to the Diocese.

In 1980, the Sisters of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Mercy (DMMM) arrived the Diocese, to establish a base in St. Joseph 's Parish Minna, from where they have carried out their apostolate in the area of education and evangelization. At about the same time, M.M.M. Sisters also established a primary health care centre at Gussoro, where they are doing a marvelous work.

In 1986, Bishop Abba embarked upon the building of a befitting Cathedral for the Diocese. The beautiful edifice, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Arch-Angel was dedicated on Saturday, 15 th September 1996, by Arch-Bishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the then papal Pro-Nuncio to Nigeria.

After twenty-three (23) years of meritorious service, Most. Rev. Dr. Christopher Abba was transferred to the Diocese of Yola by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and on 30 th November 1996 , Most. Rev. Dr. Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu was ordained second Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Minna.

Development in the Diocese has been multi-dimensional, consequent to the Uzoukwu Episcopate. Virtually all facets of life have been affected by his youthful and energetic drive. New churches are being built while old ones are being completed. As a direct answer to the dearth of Priests in the Diocese, the Christ the King Junior Seminary was established in Gwada in 1998. At about the same period, a school of Evangelization was been established at Gawu Babangida, under the auspices of the New Evangelization Sisters. (NES).

In addition to the existing Religious Congregations, there has been an influx of a number of Religious Congregation into the Diocese. The Sisters of St. Louis (SSL), made a re-entry into the Diocese after some years of absence. Other congregations making their presence felt on various apostolates include - Sisters of the Sacred Heart (SSH), Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ), New Evangelization Sister (NES), Sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus (EHJ) and Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters (IHM).

The Diocese has affected the lives of the rural populace with a view to alleviating suffering and improving their living standard. This has informed the establishment of the Divine Mercy Clinic and Maternity, Dutsen-Kura, Minna, The Health Centre in Gussoroand the Health Centre at Fuka under the (HHCJ) and (MMM) Sisters respectively. Presently the Diocese has completed the construction of Health Centre in Erena and HIV/AIDS Counseling Centre Dutsen Kura Minna.

At the inception of the Diocese, it covered all of Niger State , parts of the Federal Capital Territory , (FCT), and what was formerly Zuru division in present day Kebbi State . In 1971, Bwari was carved out, following the creation of the Independent Mission of Abuja (now Archdiocese of Abuja).