BRIEF HISTORY OF CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC CHURCH, KUBWA
What is known today as Christ the King Catholic Church, Kubwa started with a group of enthusiastic and concerned Catholic lay faithful, mainly civil servants who relocated from Lagos to Abuja. These crops of civil servants were accommodated at PW Housing Estate in Kubwa, one of the satellite towns in the new Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Among them was the Family of Chief and Mrs. Clement O. Ogar in whose apartment at PW Housing Estate, the first community prayer took place on Sunday, 19th March, 1989, a Sunday before Easter of the same year. There was also Mrs. Thomas Bison who provided the initial leadership role. Through the concerted effort of these pioneer Catholics, the first Mass was celebrated on the 9th April, 1989 at PW by Rev. Fr. Aloysius Udoh by virtue of his position as the Parish Priest of St. Kizito Catholic Church which is now known as St. Theresa Catholic Parish, Bwari, whose supervisory role covered Kubwa. Incidentally, Chief and Mrs. Clement O. Ogar were also the first couple to be wedded in the makeshift Church on 27th October, 1990.
Mr. Alfred Ozoemene, became the first Council Chairman who along with others played pivotal roles which culminated in the first Harvest and Bazaar held in October, 1991 at which the sum of ?21,000.00 was realized. In a nutshell, this gestation period marked the beginning of the development and growth of the edifice known today as the Christ the King Parish, Kubwa (the Golden Parish).
In 1992, Rev. Fr. Patrick Lambert Udoma purchased the present site of the Parish and was blessed by a visiting Bishop, Josef Stimpfley, Bishop of Osborne in Germany, a friend of His Eminence, Late Cardinal Ekandem, the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja. It was through the effort of the Late Cardinal’s financial assistance that the construction of a makeshift building which served as a place of worship for the growing congregation was done.
On Saturday, 21st November, 1992 the foundation stone of Parish Church was laid by His Eminence, John Cardinal O. Onaiyekan, then His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr.) John O. Onaiyekan, the Metropolitan Archbishop (Emeritus) of Abuja. Rev. Fr. Donatus Akpan who took over from the Pioneer Parish Priest started the construction of present Church building, continued by late Rev. Fr. Aloysious Isua and was completed and dedicated on 25th November, 2006 by Archbishop John Onaiyekan during the tenure of Rev. Fr. Elias Goewam as Parish Priest.
That CKC Parish came to be known and referred to as “Golden Parish” was not by any exercise of sentiment, but by divine direction. History has it that Monsignor Kenneth Inyang, after inspirational prayer was led by the Holy Spirit to donate a new golden Ciborium he bought from Jerusalem.
The following Priests have served in the Parish since inception:
Rev. Fr. Patrick Lambert Udoma - Pioneer Shepherd of the Church
Rev. Fr. Donatus Akpan [Parish Priest] - )
Rev. Fr. Christopher Bologo [Associate] )
Rev. Fr. James Akpagher [Associate] ) 4th March 1994 – 27th June, 2001
Rev. Fr. Thomas Edogbanya [Associate] )
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Isua [Parish Priest] - 27th June 2001 – January 2004
Rev. Fr. Ephraim Asanausung [Associate] - 27th June 2001 – August 2003
Rev. Fr. Cyril Nwafor [Associate] - August 2003 – January 2004
Rev. Fr. Elias Goewam [Parish Priest] - January 2005 – October, 2009
Rev. Fr. Boniface Ngene [Associate] - January 2004 – April, 2006
Rev. Fr. Kunle J. Dukiya [Associate] - April 2006 – 2008
Rev. Fr. Christopher Damina [Associate] - September, 2008 – Sept., 2010
Rev. Fr. Barr. Festus Nwadike [Parish Priest] - October, 2009 – September, 2015
Rev. Fr. Matthew J. Dajo [Associate] - September, 2010 - 2013
Rev. Fr. Stanley Ekwugha [Associate] - February, 2012 – April, 2015
Rev. Fr. Jude Oniah [Associate] - ? 2012 - 2015
Rev. Fr. Daniel Bot [Associate] - ? 2013 - 2015
Rev. Fr. Matthew Kwaggas [Associate] - September, 2013 - ???
Rev. Fr. Cephas Magaji - ? ……
Rev. Fr. John C Oluoma - September, 2015 - June,2019
Rev. Fr. Damian Akut - May 1, 2015 – April 1, 2018
Rev. Fr. Robert Achiaga - ? May, 2015 - July, 2019
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Onuma - ? May, 2015 – July, 2019
Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Benjamin Ilimi - June 2019 – March
, 2023
Rev. Fr. Christopher Mbamalu - July, 2019 – October, 2020
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Alo - April, 2018 – July, 2020
Rev. Fr. Primus Anthony Okon - October, 2020 - July, 2021
Rev. Fr. Stephen Waziri Dogo - August, 2021 - October, 2022
Rev. Fr. Mark Chukwuemeka Ogueli - July, 2021 - October 2, 2023
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Nyinya -
Rev. Fr. Christopher Damina, PhD (Parish Priest) - March, 2023 - Date
Rev. Fr. Benedict C. Alaekwe (Associate Priest) - October 2, 2023 – Date
Rev. Fr. Humphry O. Ayegba (Assoiate Priest) - …….
The Parish which can now boast of a beautiful structure like the Grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Anthony of Padua Grotto, St. Jude Thaddeaus Grotto, Pavilions for Pious Societies’ meetings, and most importantly, a magnificent Rectory for both retired and visiting Priests from outside the Archdiocese. The foundation stone of the Rectory was laid by the then Archbishop, His Grace, Most Rev. Fr. Dr. John Onaiyekan on the 24th October, 2010, and was completed and commissioned on 23rd June, 2012 during the tenure of Rev. Fr. (Barr.) Festus Nwadike, as Parish Priest, assisted by six Associate Priests.
The Parish is also a home to Rex Christus College, a Day Secondary School own by the Archdiocese.
The Parish Priest is assisted by the following functioning Standing Council/Committees:
1. Parish Pastoral Council
2. Parish Laity Council
3. Liturgical Committee
4. Family and Human Life Committee
5. Catechetical Committee
6. Pastoral and Evangelism Committee
7. Social Communication Committee
8. Health Committee
9. Security Committee
10. JDPC
11. Youth Committee
12. Catholic Action Committee
13. Education Committee
14. Committee on Ecumenism
