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.Diocese of Issele-Uku. "History of the Diocese." Issele-Uku Diocese, https://www.issele-ukudiocese.org/profile/history/. Accessed 5 May 2025. 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.

| 1980 || 64.312 || 406.000 || 15,8 || 23 || 13 || 10 || 2.796 || || 10 || 21 || 13 |- | 1990 || 99.727 || 358.142 || 27,8 || 35 || 30 || 5 || 2.849 || || 12 || 46 || 22 |- | 1999 || 240.184 || 715.878 || 33,6 || 55 || 47 || 8 || 4.366 || || 15 || 60 || 31 |- | 2000 || 245.186 || 734.199 || 33,4 || 60 || 51 || 9 || 4.086 || || 18 || 61 || 35 |- | 2001 || 254.995 || 785.594 || 32,5 || 67 || 58 || 9 || 3.805 || || 18 || 61 || 35 |- | 2002 || 275.300 || 883.790 || 31,1 || 65 || 57 || 8 || 4.235 || || 17 || 83 || 36 |- | 2003 || 283.850 || 905.884 || 31,3 || 66 || 57 || 9 || 4.300 || || 18 || 93 || 36 |- | 2004 || 292.366 || 951.117 || 30,7 || 76 || 66 || 10 || 3.846 || || 19 || 101 || 36 |- | 2006 || 308.596 || 996.410 || 31,0 || 89 || 79 || 10 || 3.467 || || 28 || 118 || 36 |- | 2012 || 364.000 ||1.153.000|| 31,5 ||101 || 89 || 12 || || || 30 || 150 || 64

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 United States: 18Diocesan Directory and Liturgical Calendar 2010, Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku. ATCOM Press. p.6.

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 Augustine Obiora Akubeze, appointed Bishop of Uromi in 2005

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

Issele-Uku Region St. Paul's Cathedral, Issele-Uku St. Raphael's, Akwukwu-Igbo St. John the Evangelist, Illah St. Theresa's, Ebu St. Andrew's, Ezi St. Matthew's, Idumuje-Unor Our Lady of Lourdes, Onicha-Olona All Saints, Onicha-Ugbo St. James, Ubulu-Okiti Sacred Heart, Obomkpa St. Michael's Onicha-Uku St. Anthony, Ogbe-Ofu, Issele-Uku St. Lawrence, Issele-Mkpitime Asaba Region St. Joseph's, Asaba St. Patrick's, West End, Asaba St. Patrick's, Cable Point, Asaba Our Lady of Assumption, Asaba St. Brigid's, Asaba St. Augustine's, Ibusa St. Monica's, Ibusa St. Michael's, Okpanam St. Theresa's, Okwe St. Michael's, Oko Ss. Peter and Paul, Issele-Azagba St. Benedict's, Akwu-Ebolo, Asaba St. John Bosco, Asaba Ss. Peter and Paul, Ugbolu Sacred Heart, Bonsaic

Agbor Region St. John the Baptist, Agbor St. Joseph's, Agbor St. Patrick's, Azu-Owa St. Patrick's Agbor-Obi St. Mark's, Alisimie St. Dominic's, Boji-Boji Owa Holy Rosary, Abavo St. John the Evangelist, Ewuru St. Columba's, Agbor St. Benedict's, Agbonta All Saints, Alihami Umunede Region Sacred Heart, Umunede Immaculate Heart, Umunede St. Dominic, Otolokpo St. Augustine, Ute-Ogbeje St. Joseph, Akumazi St. Luke, Emuhu Immaculate Heart of Mary, Ute-Okpu St. Louis, Ekuku-Agbor St. Martin's, Igbodo St. Francis Xavier's, Idumesah St. Jude, Owa-Oyibo

Ogwashi-Uku Region Mary Immaculate, Ogwashi-Uku St. Patrick's, Ogwashi-Uku St. Charles, Ubulu-Uku St. Michael's, Ubulu-Uku Holy Trinity, Ewulu St. Joseph's, Nsukwa Immaculate Conceptini, Isheagu Ejeme-Aniogor Independent Station St. John the Baptist, Ubulu-Unor St. Theresa's, Obior Diocesan Directory and Liturgical Calendar 2010, Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku. ATCOM Press. pp.35-37.

Parishes Map with pointers to parishes and institutions

Abavo: Holy Rosary Parish, P.O. Box 88, Abavo Abavo: St. Patrick's Parish, Azu Owa, P.O. Box 70, Abavo Agbor: St. Columba's Parish, P.O. Box 1051, Agbor Agbor: St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 749, Agbor Agbor Boji-Boji: St. John the Baptist Parish, P.O. Box 1600, Boji-Boji, Agbor Agbor Obi: St. Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 1725, Agbor-Obi. Akumazi: St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 336, Umunede Akwu-Ebolo: St. Benedict's Parish Akwukwu-Igbo: St. Raphael Parish Asaba: Church of Assumption Parish, Asaba Asaba: St. Brigid Parish Asaba: St. John Bosco Parish Asaba: St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 25, Asaba. Asaba Cable Point: St. Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 793, Asaba Asaba West End, St. Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 997, West End, Asaba Asaba:St. John Mary Vianney Asaba Asaba: Emmanuel the Savior Church Asaba Ebu: St Theresa's Parish Ekuku-Agbor: St Louis Parish, P.O. Box 63, Ekuku-Agbor Ewulu: Holy Trinity Parish, P.O. Box 137, Ogwashi-Uku Ezi: St Andrew's Parish, PO Box 20, Ezi Igbuzor (Ibusa): St Augustine's Parish, P.O. Box 93, Ibusa Igbuzor (Ibusa): St Monica's Parish, P.O. Box 414, Ibusa Igbuzor (Ibusa): St Thomas Parish Idumesah: St Francis Xavier Parish, P.O. Box 77, Idumesah Idumuje-Unor: St Matthew's Parish Illah: St John the Evangelist Parish, P.O. Box 18, Illah Isheagu: Immaculate Conception Parish, P.O. Box 16, Isheagu Issele-Uku: St Paul's Cathedral, P.O. Box 26, Issele-Uku Nsukwa: St Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 16, Nsukwa Ogwashi-Uku: Mary Immaculate Parish, P.O. Box 4, Ogwashi-Uku Ogwashi-Uku: St Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 28, Ogwashi-Uku Okpanam: St Michael's Parish, P.O. Box 155, Okpanam Okwe: St Theresa's Parish Onicha-Olona: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, P.O. Box 40, Onicha-Olona Onicha-Ugbo: All Saints Parish, P.O. Box 57, Onicha-Ugbo Otolokpo: St Dominic's Parish, P.O. Box 281, Umunede Owa-Boji: St Dominic's Parish, P.O. Box 8, Owanta, Boji-Boji Ubulu-Okiti: St James Parish, P.O. Box 72, Ubulu-Okiti Ubulu-Uku: St Charles' Parish, P.O. Box 42 Ubulu-Uku: St Michael's Parish, P.O. Box 96 Umunede: Immaculate Heart Parish Umunede: Sacred Heart, P.O. Box 7, Umunede Ute-Ogbeje: St Augustine's Parish, P.O. Box 9, Umunede

Independent stations Agbor-Nta: St. Benedict Catholic Church Alisimie: St. Mark Catholic Church Alihami: All Saints Catholic Church Asaba: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bonsiac Ejeme-Aniogor: St. Felix Catholic Church, P.O. Box 174 Emuhu: St Luke Catholic Church Ewuru: St John the Evangelist, P.O. Box 1053 Igbodo: St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church Issele-Azagba: Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church, P.O. Box 78 Issele-Mkpitime: St. Lawrence Catholic Church Issele-Uku: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Ogbe-Ofu Obior: St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church Obomkpa: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O. Box 27, Issele-Uku Oko: St. Micheal Catholic Church Onicha-Uku: St. Michael Catholic Church Owa-Oyibu: St. Jude Catholic Church Ubulu-Unor: St. John the Baptist, P.O. Box 96 Ugbolu: Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Ute-Okpu: Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Higher institutions chaplaincy College of Education, Agbor Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba Federal College of Education Technical, Asaba St. John's, Alihagu

Nurseries and primary schools Holy Infant International School, Agbor Regina Mundi Nursery/Primary School, Asaba St. Mary Anne Nursery/Primary School, Ebu Mercy Nursery/Primary School, Ibusa St. Maria Gorretti School, Illah Immaculate Conception Nursery/Primary School, Ishiagu Holy Child School, Issele-Uku Divine Love Nursery/Primary School, Ogwashi-Uku Holy Child School, Onicha-Olona Divine Love School, Ubulu-Uku Sacred Heart Nursery/Primary School, Umunede St. Augustine Nursery/Primary School, Ubulu-Okiti

Secondary schools Dominican Vocational School, Agbor Holy Infant Secondary School, Agbor Madonna Comprehensive Secondary School, Akwukwu-Igbo St John's Secondary School, Alihagu Mercy Girls' Secondary School, Aliokpu Agbor Juniorate Girls' Secondary School, Issele-Uku Divine Love Secondary School, Ubulu-Uku St. Patrick's College, Asaba St. Paul's Grammar School, Ebu St. Brigid's Girls Grammar School, [Asaba Delta State] St. Martin De Porres Girls Grammar School, [Onicha-Olona]

Institutions Madonna School for the Handicapped, Okpanam Regina Mundi Computers, Ogwashi-Uku

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

Special homes Pro Labore Dei, Asaba Home for Old People, Asaba Home for Destitutes, Agbor Home for Destitutes, Umunede

Special institutions Pastoral Centre, Issele-Uku School of Evangelization, Issele-Uku Leprosaria, Abor Ogwashi-Uku Leprosaria, Ute-Enugu

Female religious houses Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Okpanam Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Box 121, Umunede DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Akwukwu-Igbo DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Box 63, Issele-Uku DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Gbenoba, Agbor-Obi DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Illah, c/o St John’s, Box 18, Illah DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Ubulu-Uku DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy , Aliokpu DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Convent, Box 60, Issele-Uku DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Convent, Igbuzor DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, Onicha-Olona DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, Ubulu-Uku Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine,, , Agbor-Obi Franciscan Sisters, Ogwashi-Uku Immaculate Heart Sisters, Okpanam NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, , Agbor NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, Box 63, Issele-Uku NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, Box 72, Ubulu-Okiti NES New Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help, Ogwashi-Uku OLA Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles,, Box 2170, Agbor OLA Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles Convent, Box 54, Asaba SSL Sisters of St Louis (in Nigeria), Ewulu

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

Priestly formation Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria All Saints Major Seminary, Uhiele-Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria Saint Felix Minor Seminary, P.O. Box 174, Ejeme-Aniogor, Delta State, Nigeria

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