ST. KIZITO'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA
PRIESTS & RELIGIONS
Pastoral Administration by Rev. Fr (Dr) Hyacinth Orlu-Orlu
Following the death of Rev. Fr. Patrick Prunty on 3rd February 2007, Fr. Orlu-Orlu became the Parish Priest of St. Jude's Catholic Church and continued from where Fr. Prunty stopped. Seeing the increasing number of worshippers, he suggested that land be sourced for a church to cater for the teaming worshippers.
Pastoral Administration of Rev. Fr Innocent Orduah
Rev. Fr Orduah who was posted to St. Jude's Parish in November, 2010, celebrated his first mass at Brainfield Chaplaincy on 26th December 2010. On the 23rd of January 2011, Fr. Innocent was taken to the site of the acquired land for sightseeing; this was led by Engr. B.N.Obasi, Mr Anayo Emezi, Mr Peter Fatoki, Bro.Kenneth Egboh, Ezinne Ogunka, Mrs Nworgu (the woman who found the land), Mr,CollinsOkolo, Bro. Alphonsus Udoh and other worshippers in a large group accompanied him to the land. Engr. B.N.Obasi championed the course of acquiring the church land.
A month later, precisely on Friday 25th February 2011, the Parish Priest called for a meeting with the church members. Consequently, during the meeting, the council of the church for the first time constituted and election into the office of the Catechist was conducted of which Bro. Alphonsus Patrick Udoh emerged. Sub – committees such as worship, witness and Stewardship were formed. One of the key issues which top the agenda of the council was ‘the movement to the acquired land'.
On Sunday 20th March 2011, thousands of Christ’s faithful gathered at the acquired land in Eliogbolo to celebrate the inaugural mass. The Holy mass of the day was concelebrated by the Parish Priest, Rev.Fr. Innocent Orduah and former Parish Priest Rev. Fr.(Dr)Hycenth Orlu-Orlu.
The church was then named St.Kizito’s Catholic Church, Eliogbolo, Port Harcourt, thereby signaling the birth of the Catholic Church in Eliogbolo community
Sir John Eichie popularly called John Africa will be remembered for the part he played.
Pastoral Administration Of Rev. Fr.Justin Njoku (15/09/2013 – 28/02/15)
Rev. Fr. Justin Njoku, resumed his pastoral duties in St Kizito’s on Sunday 15th September, 2013 in line with Bishop’s directive. Fr. Justin is the first Priest to assume office as a Priest in Charge of St Kizito’s Catholic Church. He built on existing foundations and completed the church interior with choice altar marbles and rails,He also built, completed and commissioned the chapel of adoration and parish convenience amongst others.
Pastoral Administration for Rev. Fr. Patrick Vareba (01/03/2015 till date)
Also building on existing foundations and structures from his predecessor has started the parish presbytery with the view of also completing it in good time amongst other spiritual activities he has introduced since arrival.
Creation of Basic Christian Communities (Zones)
Having seen the obvious need to effectively reach out to parishioners 3 (three) different zones namely Brainfield zone; Eliogbolo/ Rumuodumaya zone and Rukpakulusi/ Eliozu zone was created with their corresponding mass days as 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays respectively and the first zonal mass was held in Brainfield zone on Wednesday 11th February 2015 at the Brainfield zonal center
This is to add to the already now existing weekday masses from Mondays to Fridays