Our Parish

THE HISTORY OF ST. KIZITO’S CATHOLIC CHURCH KUJE ABUJA.

 The history of Catholic Church in Kuje is like the proverbial little drops of water forming an ocean. In 1981, little did the few people who gathered at the house of Mr. Moses Agu on Sundays for Block Rosary activities knew that today Kuje will be a parish of it’s own with over 2000 (Two Thousand) worshippers.

In 1982, the then Women Teachers College (WTC) was established and sited at central primary school (Now Pilot Science Primary School Kuje).This helped to increase population of the early worshippers. Mrs. Sabina Ofoegbu (now Dr. Mrs), an ardent Catholic was the pioneer principal of the College. With her presence and that of the Students, she volunteered and gave a classroom block which was used for Sunday services.

The worship then was that of “Communal worship” since there was no priest in Kuje as at that time. Government Secondary School Kuje was also established in the same year and at the same venue. This helped the increase in the population of catholic worshipers. In the same year 1982, late Asp. Agu and some few worshipers made a request to Garki and Gwagwalada for a visiting priest to be approved for Kuje since there was none at that time due to the shortage of priests in Abuja. Later, Monsignor Inyang of Gwagwalada parish was made a visiting priest to Kuje and this made Kuje an outstation.

Among the early families that were part of the church in Kuje were the families of Mr. And Mrs. Moses Aguh, Mr. And Mrs. Frank Chogudo, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Okomma now (JP) and Eze Igbo of Kuje, Mr. And Mrs. Michael Enyi (Gwogwo), Dr and (Dr) Mrs. L.I. Ofoegbu, Mr. And Mrs. Peter Onah, Mr. And Mrs. James Abba, Mr. And Mrs. Lazarus Onyejekwe, Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Okafor, Mr. Paul N.O. Uzoanya, late Mr. and Mrs. John Mutum, Miss Elizabeth Enema and Miss Bridget Uzoagbado who was the youth leader and Choir Mistress.

In the year 1981, Abuja independent Diocese took off and some senior seminarians were posted to Abuja, some of them actually came from Europe. They included:- Rev. (Dr) Willy Ojukwu. In 1983, Rev. Dr Willy Ojukwu was finally ordained a priest. On 17th September 1984, he came to see the Catholics in kuje which he celebrated mass for them. During this period Monsignor Inyang had stopped coming to kuje. Rev. Fr (Dr) Willy Ojukwu was later posted to kuje by late Dominic Ignatius Cardinal Ekandem of the blessed memory the then cardinal Archbishop of Abuja, to serve as the pioneer parish priest, thus making kuje a full parish of her own.

In the Year 1984, the SS Simon and Jude Junior seminary kuje was established. The Church under the headship of Rev. Fr. Willy Ojukwu was able to acquire a hectre of land which today stand as the permanent site of St. kizito catholic church kuje. The present hectre of the premises of the church was acquired through the negotiation of Rev. Fr. Ojukwu, Dr. and Dr (Mrs). Ofoegbu, chief Anthony Okoma and Asp. Moses Agu (late). The junior seminary started within the premises of the Church and Rev. Fr. Ojukwu served as both the Parish Priest and the Rector of the School. Rev. Fr. Anthony Onyeso was the Assistant Parish Priest to Rev. Fr. Willy Ojukwu at that time. However, he was later replaced with rev. Fr. Aloysius Udo who also doubled as Assistant Parish Priest and Vice Rector.

One Mr. Cletus Chukwu was the First Catechist of the parish. The first harvest and thanksgiving Bazaar was conducted in November 1984. Rev. Fr. Bryan Bun an European was very instrumental in evangelization of various villages in the Parish.

HOW THE NAME PATRON SAINT KIZITO CAME TO BE.

The early worshippers adopted the name of St. Theresa as the Catholic Parish of Kuje. In 1984 when Rev. Fr. Willy Ojukwu preached to the congregation of the life history of St. Kizito and the 22 Martyrs of Uganda, the congregation then particularly asked Rev. Fr. Ojukwu to change the name of the Parish to St. Kizito Catholic Church Kuje which was unanimously agreed and subsequently changed to St. Kizito Catholic Church Kuje.

 OUT STATIONS THAT MADE UP ST. KIZITO PARISH AT THE BEGINNING.

Before now the parish had the following out stations:- 1. Kete, 2. Airport, 3. Pagi, 4. Gidan- Bawa 5. Kwali, 6. Sheda, 7. Dafara 8. Burum, 9. Dibe Kasa, 10. Pyaskasa. Later on two more out stations were added. They are Chibiri and Kiyi. Pyaskasa out station was made up of only one family of late Mr. Daniel due to the fact that ECWA Church was the dominant Church in the area.

PRISHES THAT WERE CREATED OUT OF ST. KIZITO.

 Due to rapid expansion of the Church in Abuja and the population explosion of Abuja as the nations Capital, the following parishes became independent out of St. kizito kuje: 1. Kwali parish 2. Airport parish 3. Kete parish. Following the recent demolition exercise which affected karmo parish and the subsequent relocation of many catholics to pagi village, another parish at pagi was created out of kuje making a total number of four parishes carved out of kuje. To God be the glory.

HOW THE BUIDING STRUCTURES IN THE CHURCH STARTED.

The first Church building started in 1984 during the time of Rr. Willy Ojukwu the first parish priest. This building which was made of mud blocks served both as the Church and the junior seminary. Later it also served as the take off building for the holy Family Nursery and Primary School, before the Church acquired the plot of land with which the school is located now as its permanent site. The civil engineers and builders that handled the Church building were: 1. Mr. Michael Enyi (Gwogwo) 2. Mr. Peter Onah 3. Mr. Cyprain Udenze 4. Mr. Aloysius Chukwu (Apama) and 5. Mr. Chidi Njoku who was the main helper in the building project. All the other worshipers really helped in supplying labour to the project. The carpenters that handled the roofing of the building were. 1. Mr. Dominic Elochukwu (Komo one million) and 2. Mr. Boniface Uyanwa. The present social worker’s house was built for the congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love Sisters in the parish, while the government allocated a 4 bedroom flat to the parish which served as the Rev. Father’s House.

The present fathers house in the church premises and the fence were built during the tenure of Rev. Fr Simon Bako. Then, the present church building was initiated under Rev. Fr Paul Okpon. During that period Arc. Joshua kaura drew the building plan. However, the building plan was later redesigned by Engr. Tony from Gwagwalada. The actual foundation laying for the period Rev. Fr. Dmian Nwankwo (cm). Was the parish priest. The building was roofed and completed to the level of 70% during his period. Due to the dilapidation of the old Church building with the office building, the Church recently removed them to give way for future development. The first building committee Chairman the Church had was Ichie Elias Ndibe.