Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Makurdi / Makurden(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Abuja

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1934.07.09: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Benue (from Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Nigeria)
1950.04.18: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Oturkpo / Oturkpœn(sis) (Latin)
1950.07.14: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Yola
1955.02.21: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Kabba
1959.04.02: Promoted as Diocese of Oturkpo / Oturkpœn(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Lagos)
1959.07.16: Became suffragan of Kaduna
1960.06.28: Renamed as Diocese of Makurdi / Makurden(sis) (Latin)
1994.03.26: Became suffragan of Abuja
1995.07.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Otukpo
2000.12.05: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Lafia
2012.12.29: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Gboko and Diocese of Katsina-Ala

Present Prelates

Bishop (2015.03.28 – ...):

Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, C.M.F. (59)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Makurdi (Roman Rite)

Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, C.M.F. (59)
(2015.03.28 – ...)

Bishop of Makurdi (Nigeria)

To serve Jesus and the brethren

Born:	1965.04.02 (Aondona, Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1994.08.06
Consecrated Bishop:	2014.10.04

Coadjutor Bishop of Makurdi (Nigeria) (2014.07.08 – 2015.03.28)

Bishop of Makurdi (Nigeria) (2015.03.28 – ...)

Bishop Athanasius Atule Usuh
(1989.06.02 – 2015.03.28)

Lord I am not worthy

Born:	1942.05.02 (Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1971.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.01.06
Died:	2016.07.14 († 74)

Coadjutor Bishop of Makurdi (Nigeria) (1987.11.18 – 1989.06.02)

Bishop of Makurdi (Nigeria) (1989.06.02 – 2015.03.28)

Bishop Donal Joseph Murray, C.S.Sp.
(1968.01.11 – 1989.06.02)

Born:	1918.02.11 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1946.04.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.03.29
Died:	1999.08.14 († 81)

Bishop of Makurdi (Nigeria) (1968.01.11 – 1989.06.02)

Bishop James Hagan, C.S.Sp.
(1960.03.08 – 1966.03.29)

Born:	1904.03.23 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1928.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.05.08
Died:	1976.12.12 († 72)

Bishop of Oturkpo (Nigeria) (1948.03.20 – 1960.03.08)

Bishop of Makurdi (Nigeria) (1960.03.08 – 1966.03.29)

Titular Bishop of Horrea Cœlia (1966.03.29 – 1970.12.07)

Bishops of Oturkpo (Roman Rite)

Bishop-elect James Hagan, C.S.Sp.
(1948.03.20 – 1960.03.08)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Benue (Roman Rite)

Fr. Giuseppe Kirsten, C.S.Sp.
(1937.02.26 – 1947)

Died:

1947

Prefect Apostolic of Benue (Nigeria) (1937.02.26 – 1947)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, C.M.F. (59) (2014.07.08 – 2015.03.28)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Athanasius Atule Usuh (1987.11.18 – 1989.06.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop William Amove Avenya (69) (2008.11.28 – 2012.12.29)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Makurdi, Benue
Former Cathedral: Former Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Makurdi, Benue

Otukpo (↙), Lafia (↑), Shendam (↗), Wukari (→), Gboko (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 7,304 km²

Population: 616,000 Catholics (40.7% of 1,514,950 total)

Pastoral Centres: 85 parishes

Personnel: 169 priests (49 diocesan, 120 religious), 228 religious (179 brothers, 49 sisters), 115 seminarians