History of Parish

What we now have as St. Philip’s Catholic Church Itakpe has a long history of existence. However, Our Lady of Victory Osara is the oldest outstation of the Parish, having been under Osisi Parish for many years until recently, when it became an outstation of St. Philip Itakpe. Osara is a village in Adavi LGA an Agricultural Research Centre in the then Northern Nigeria and this brought about a new settlement that warranted the occupation of series of working class people. With the presence of Christians among them, it became necessary for them to seek for place of worship. However, the people approached the then late Fr. G.Malette for possible evangelization in 1969.

St. Philip Catholic Church Itakpe began in 1980 with about 15 families who were resident in Camp I and Abobo village. At then, regular Sunday Masses were celebrated by the then Fr. Martin Olorunmolu who often come from Lokoja. With a follow up evangelization of this young church, it was now moved to be under St. Leo Catholic Church Osisi for several years.

Later, in 2001 the Church was carved out to join F.C.E Chaplaincy until in June 4th 2006 that it became a Parish and

Rev. Fr. Nicholas Adebija became the Parish Priest. St. Bartholomew, Camp II began in January 2002 by few Catholics who reside in Camp II and the then chaplain of F.C.E/Itakpe

Fr. Andrew Otu who introduced a monthly Mass and the first Mass was celebrated here by him on the 24th of August 2002

Previous Priests