By Esther Akaa
The Catholic Diocese of Lafia has kicked off activities to mark her silver jubilee since proclamation as a Diocese by Pope John Paul II on December 5, 2000.
Briefing journalists on Friday, the Catholic Bishop of Lafia, Most Rev David Ajang, said the anniversary is expected to last for a year, with various events and activities planned across the Diocese.
Bishop Ajang explained that the Diocese was created on December 5, 2000, by Pope John Paul II, with Most Rev. Matthew Ishaya Audu, the current Archbishop of Jos, as its first Bishop.
The Bishop noted however that the canonical erection of the Diocese was made on March 31, 2001, stating that at its inception, the Diocese had only 7 priests, including the Bishop, and a Deacon.
Bishop Ajang also said the Diocese has since grown to having 95 priests, 12 Fidei Donum priests, 20 missionary priests, 78 religious sisters, 36 major seminarians, and 128 catechists.
According to him, the Diocese has made significant progress in the past 25 years, with the establishment of 7 Deaneries, 58 Parishes/Quasi-Parishes, 5 Chaplaincies, 5 male and 14 female religious congregations, and 31 functional lay associations, adding that the Diocese has also increased its nursery/primary schools from 10 to 42 and secondary schools from 3 to 16.
The Catholic Bishop highlighted some of the challenges faced by the Diocese to include insecurity, displacement of people, economic hardship, and shortage of personnel, particularly priests.
“Today, some of our parishes are hosting displaced persons. The Diocese always faces the challenge of catering for these people. Despite that, we still do the much we can to bring relief to the victims of these conflicts.
“The economic situation of the country is having an impact on the development of the Diocese. It has slowed down physical development in most pastoral units. A shortage of personnel, especially priests, is a big challenge to us. Many parishes are operating without enough priests to cater for the spiritual needs of the parishioners,” Bishop Ajang said.
He expressed gratitude to God for the progress made so far and appealed to well-meaning individuals to support the Diocese as it navigates through its silver jubilee programme.
“The silver jubilee celebration will feature various events, including a pilgrimage to historic sites, a symposium, a general assembly, priestly ordination, the commissioning of the Diocesan Secretariat, sporting competitions, fundraising dinners, a cultural fiesta, the conferral of knighthood/awards, and a thanksgiving Mass.
“The prayer is our call on God to journey with us through this jubilee year. As the logo is unveiled, we shall be told of the features in it. From now till the final day, which is November 27, 2026, we will be having different events at different intervals, spread across the months ahead,” he said.
The Bishop also expressed his gratitude to all those who have supported the Diocese over the years, including benefactors, priests, religious, and laity.
“We want to thank God for journeying with us through the years. We are grateful to all our benefactors, home and abroad, Catholics and non-Catholics. Our sentiments of gratitude to the priests, religious, and laity who have been part of the journey of Lafia Diocese,” he stated