History of Parish

When Kogi State was created in 1991 out of the then Kwara State and Benue State, the staffs deployed from both states were temporarily accommodated in the Military Barrack (now known as Chari Maigumeri) because of the shortage of accommodation in Lokoja. All Catholic civil servants accommodated in the Barrack were then worshipping in St. Joseph Catholic Church in the Barrack.

In August 1998, the state completed and commissioned Workers’ Village Estate. Many civil servants accommodated in the Barrack were allocated apartment in the Estate. The Catholic civil servants who relocated from the Barrack to the New estate continued their worship in the Barrack under the Priest in-charge, Rev. Fr. Jerome Akinyemi, the then Rector of St. Clement Minor Seminary, Adankolo.

When the Catholic population in the estate and the nearby settlement like the Zone 8 Police Barrack, 50 units Estate, and phases 2 & 3 Estate started growing, the idea to find a place to worship during the week days by members became urgent. Hence, appeal was made to the Priest in-charge (Rev. Fr. Jerome Akinyemi) who gladly accepted and urged the Catholic faithful to look out for a place where week-day Masses would begin. After much efforts the present venue, Block 484 Flat 1 was chosen and communicated to the Priest in-charge. He received the news of the venue with joy and after inspection with the Bishop’s approval he commenced mid-week Mass in the evening on Wednesday at the veranda of Block 484 Flat 1, workers’ village which belongs to one of the members Mr. Micheal Olorunmaiye.

The first Mass was held on 11th August, 1999. Both flat 1 and 2 of Block 484, workers’ village belongs to Catholic faithful: Mr Mr. M.D Maiye & S.J Idachaba. The availability of the two flats together encouraged the expansion of the church. The now Holy Family Catholic Church which had no name then became an outstation to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Chari Maigumeri Barrack still under Rev. Fr. Jerome Akinyemi.

With the commitment and passion the Priest in-charge had for the station, Sunday Masses in addition to the Wednesday week-day Masses commenced in the early part of year 2002.

After Rev. Fr. Jerome Akinyemi, Rev. Fr. Bitrus Yaro took-over the continued nurturing of the community for another short period. He was succeeded by Very Rev. Fr. Louis Fowoyo along with Rev. Fr. Fidelis Akande. The community secured a parcel of land about 2.9 hectares now being developed for the permanent site of the church.

Fr. Fowoyo was succeeded by Fr. Tont-Bancy Joseph. With the support of the community, the desire for a Parish started receiving official attention. On the 8th Dec, 2011, Most Rev Martin D. A. Olorunmolu created the Holy Family Quasi-Parish, with Immaculate Haeart of Mary, Zango-Deji and St John the Baptist, Crusher as the additional out-stations. On 1st Jan, 2012, Fr Simeon A. Avajara was posted as the substantive priest-in-charge.

As at 2012, the people of the newly created quasi-parish comprised of three stations, viz: St John the Baptist Church, Crusher, Holy Family Church, Workers Village, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Zango-Daji. All of these are without suitable and formidable places of worship. Two out of these three stations have semi-permanent structure i.e Crusher and Zango-Daji, Two out of these three stations have undeveloped permanent sites, i.e: Workers Village and Zango-Daji. The main stations:- Workers Village worships in a make-shift structure as at 2016

Previous Priests