Jos (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Matthew Ishaya Audu, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 26 March 1994
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 6,769 (2,614 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.archjosnigeria.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 494, 20 Joseph D. Gornwalk Road, Riyom Drive, 930001 Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0803)53.47.224

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Jos
- Latin Name: de Jos
- Erected: 9 April 1934
- Country: Nigeria
Diocese of Jos
- Latin Name: Iosensis
- Elevated: 29 June 1953
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kaduna
- Country: Nigeria

Past and Present Ordinaries

William Lumley, S.M.A. † (22 Jun 1934 Appointed - 29 Jun 1953 Resigned)
John Joseph Reddington, S.M.A. † (10 Apr 1954 Appointed - 3 Jul 1974 Resigned)
Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka † (5 Oct 1974 Appointed - 11 Nov 1999 Died)
Ignatius Ayau Kaigama (14 Apr 2000 Appointed - 11 Mar 2019 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Abuja)
Matthew Ishaya Audu (6 Jan 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Jos
9 April 1934	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Nigeria {Nigeria Settentrionale} (Plateau, Baciti, and part of Benue and part of Bornou)	Prefecture Apostolic of Jos (erected)
28 April 1942	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban Prefecture Apostolic of Ghardaïa nel Sahara Prefecture Apostolic of Jos Prefecture Apostolic of Kaduna Vicariate Apostolic of Khartoum Vicariate Apostolic of Ouagadougou	Prefecture Apostolic of Niamey (erected)
14 July 1950	Territory Lost	Diocese of Buéa Prefecture Apostolic of Jos Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo	Prefecture Apostolic of Yola (erected) (Adamctwa and parts of Bomu)
29 June 1953	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Jos (Borau)	Prefecture Apostolic of Maiduguri (erected)
Diocese of Jos
29 June 1953	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Jos	Diocese of Jos
12 December 1955	Territory Lost	Diocese of Jos (Northern part of Benne)	Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo
16 July 1959	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Jos (from Onitsha)
Archdiocese of Jos
26 March 1994	Elevated	Diocese of Jos	Archdiocese of Jos
10 July 1995	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Jos (Kaura, Jema'a, and Jaba) Archdiocese of Kaduna (Kaum, Lere, and Zangón Kataf)	Diocese of Kafanchan (erected)
5 July 1996	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Jos (Akko, Alkaleri, Balanga, Bauchi, Billirri, Darazo, Dass, Dukku, Gamawa, Gankuwa, Gombe, Itas/Gadau, Jama'are, Kaltungo, Katagum, Misau, Nafada, Nigi, Shiri, Tafawa-Balewa, Toro, Tamaltu/Deba, and Zaki)	Vicariate Apostolic of Bauchi (erected)
5 December 2000	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Jos (Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, and Wamba) Diocese of Makurdi (Nasarawa along with Karu, Keffi, Lafia, Obi, Awe, Doma, Nasarawa, Toto, Keana, and Kokana)	Diocese of Lafia (erected)
2 June 2007	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Jos (Shendam, Langtang North, Langtang South, Mikang, Wase, and Qua'an Pan along with Lankan, Jiblik, Abwor/Dyis, Chip, Jing, Tal, and Pai)	Diocese of Shendam (erected)
18 March 2014	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Jos Diocese of Shendam	Diocese of Pankshin (erected) (Pankshin, Kanke, Mangu, Bokkos, and Kanam)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Jos

1970 67,549 2,300,000 2.9% 52 57 109 619 57 18 ap1971

1980 170,000 3,802,000 4.5% 25 37 62 2,741 3 52 45 ap1981

1990 450,000 5,800,000 7.8% 52 24 76 5,921 56 79 ap1991

Archdiocese of Jos

1999 687,000 2,863,400 24.0% 43 14 57 12,052 33 69 28 ap2000

2000 636,000 2,560,000 24.8% 67 14 81 7,851 27 66 32 ap2001

2001 789,822 3,037,780 26.0% 78 12 90 8,775 27 81 32 ap2002

2002 375,470 3,128,913 12.0% 57 14 71 5,288 30 83 32 ap2003

2003 405,695 3,222,780 12.6% 82 13 95 4,270 29 53 32 ap2004

2004 507,164 3,107,225 16.3% 101 15 116 4,372 33 64 32 ap2005

2006 548,573 3,263,278 16.8% 100 14 114 4,812 73 60 49 ap2007

2007 399,522 2,228,468 17.9% 72 12 84 4,756 2 64 37 bul2Jun07

2013 513,356 3,738,000 13.7% 93 19 112 4,583 101 58 62 ap2014

2014 360,055 1,650,000 21.8% 48 48 7,501 16 51 43 bul:18Mar2014

2016 374,299 1,691,250 22.1% 68 19 87 4,302 81 54 45 ap2017

2019 396,062 1,770,964 22.4% 89 21 110 3,600 65 58 57 ap2020

2021 410,466 1,860,618 22.1% 109 29 138 2,974 50 64 60 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Jos
1970	67,549	2,300,000	2.9%	52	57	109	619		57	18		ap1971
1980	170,000	3,802,000	4.5%	25	37	62	2,741	3	52	45		ap1981
1990	450,000	5,800,000	7.8%	52	24	76	5,921		56	79		ap1991
Archdiocese of Jos
1999	687,000	2,863,400	24.0%	43	14	57	12,052		33	69	28	ap2000
2000	636,000	2,560,000	24.8%	67	14	81	7,851		27	66	32	ap2001
2001	789,822	3,037,780	26.0%	78	12	90	8,775		27	81	32	ap2002
2002	375,470	3,128,913	12.0%	57	14	71	5,288		30	83	32	ap2003
2003	405,695	3,222,780	12.6%	82	13	95	4,270		29	53	32	ap2004
2004	507,164	3,107,225	16.3%	101	15	116	4,372		33	64	32	ap2005
2006	548,573	3,263,278	16.8%	100	14	114	4,812		73	60	49	ap2007
2007	399,522	2,228,468	17.9%	72	12	84	4,756		2	64	37	bul2Jun07
2013	513,356	3,738,000	13.7%	93	19	112	4,583		101	58	62	ap2014
2014	360,055	1,650,000	21.8%	48		48	7,501		16	51	43	bul:18Mar2014
2016	374,299	1,691,250	22.1%	68	19	87	4,302		81	54	45	ap2017
2019	396,062	1,770,964	22.4%	89	21	110	3,600		65	58	57	ap2020
2021	410,466	1,860,618	22.1%	109	29	138	2,974		50	64	60	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

David Ajang (Priest: 3 Dec 1994 to 31 Mar 2021)
Matthew Ishaya Audu (Archbishop: 6 Jan 2020 - )
Oliver Dashe Doeme (Priest: 18 Oct 1997 to 2 Jun 2007)
Philip Davou Dung (Priest: 24 Nov 1984 to 5 Nov 2016)
Michael Gobal Gokum (Priest: 16 Nov 1991 to 18 Mar 2014)
Ignatius Ayau Kaigama (Archbishop: 14 Apr 2000 to 11 Mar 2019; Apostolic Administrator: 11 Mar 2019 to 31 Mar 2020)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Kevin Joseph Aje † (Priest: 12 Jun 1966 to 15 Oct 1982)
Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka † (Priest: 4 Jul 1965; Auxiliary Bishop: 17 May 1973; Bishop: 5 Oct 1974; Archbishop: 26 Mar 1994 to 11 Nov 1999)
Malachy John Goltok † (Priest: 4 Nov 1990 to 18 Mar 2011)
Peter Yariyok Jatau † (Priest: 7 Jul 1963 to 26 Jun 1972)
William Lumley, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 22 Jun 1934 to 29 Jun 1953)
John Joseph Reddington, S.M.A. † (Bishop: 10 Apr 1954 to 3 Jul 1974)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Jos
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 27, Page 252, and Page 253
Diocese of Jos
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 38, to Page 40
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 72, and Page 73
Archdiocese of Jos
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 86, Page 559

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Archdiocese of Jos

Archidioecesis Iosensis