News & Resources

Nigeria
A New Chapter of Mission: Inauguration of the New Spiritan Administration in...
On Founder’s Day, the Province of Nigeria South East celebrated the continuity of its mission with the inauguration of its new provincial leadership team, renewing its commitment to the Spiritan…
October 5, 2026
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Province of Nigeria South-East: Enlarged Council
The 2026 Enlarged Provincial Council (EPC) of the Province of Nigeria, South East, commenced on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at the Spiritan International School of Theology (SIST) Attakwu, Enugu State,…
August 26, 2026
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Province of Nigeria North-East: Enlarged Council
The Enlarged Council had a total number of 40 delegates. It was moderated by Fr Kenneth Okoli, CSSp.  The Enlarged Council dedicated enough time to the review and evaluation of…
August 20, 2026
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Province of Nigeria North-West: Enlarged Council
The Enlarged Provincial Elective Assembly of the Nigeria North West Province convened at DRACC, Lugbe, Abuja from 2nd to 6th August 2026. It was a graced moment of prayer, fraternal…
August 12, 2026
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Province of Nigeria South-West: Enlarged Council
Greetings to you from the Spiritan Province of Nigeria South-West. We thank God for the gift of this moment and for the grace of gathering for our Enlarged Provincial Council…
August 10, 2026
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Jornal Ação Missionária 985. Janeiro 2026
O longe e o perto da Missão evangelizadora O grupo Missão Cor Unum (na foto) e o grupo Ponte, iniciaram as suas formações de preparação para um mês de missão…
January 1, 2026
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JPIC Newsletter nº 6, June 2018
Spiritan Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation and InterReligious Dialogue - ADVOCATES, SUPPORTERS AND DEFENDERS OF THEWEAK AGAINST ALL OPPRESSORS - ON OUR SIDE OF THE BRIDGE…. LIFE IS DIFFERENT, SÃO…
June 1, 2018
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Spiritan Education Forum June 2018
- Re-Embracing the Education Apostolate: A Powerful Tool for Evangelisation - Following in the Footsteps of our Founder-Okura Holy Ghost College - Character education: Proposing a paradigm for analysing the…
June 1, 2018
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JPIC Newsletter nº 5, January 2018
Spiritan Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation and InterReligious Dialogue - SPIRITANS: ADVOCATES IN MISSION - VIVAT: NIGERIA WORKSHOP 2017 - WORKSHOP IN THE DEM. REP. OF CONGO - GLOBAL WATER…
January 1, 2018
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Spiritan Life 24 - Interreligous Dialogue
SPIRITAN MISSION AS DIALOGUE ...................................................... 5 John Kwofie, CSSp. “CREOLENESS” – AMEETING-PLACE OR MISSION AS A PROCESS OF CREATING LINKS ..................................................... 10 Gerard Meyer, CSSp. SPIRITAN INITIAL FORMATION AND DIALOGUE…
September 1, 2014
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Makurdi
The total number of Spiritans working in the District of Makurdi, which now comprises the four dioceses of Otukpo, Makurdi, Jalingo and Yola, stands at 17 priests and one brother.
December 22, 1999
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Kogi, Nigeria
Work starts on a Spiritan postulancy at Okura.
December 28, 1998
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Kogi
Celebration at Okura of the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Spiritans in Nigeria. A souvenir booklet is produced entitled "50 Years of Canadian Spiritan presence in Nigeria: 1947-1997".
July 12, 1997
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Papua New Guinea
The Province of Nigeria becomes a partner in the PNG mission due to the acute shortage of personnel. At present, five Spiritans from the province are working in the country.
December 14, 1995
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Kogi, Nigeria
Official opening and blessing of the new Spiritan house at Okura by Bishop Obot of Idah Diocese, accompanied by the Superior General, Pierre Schouver, and his assistant, Godfrey Odigbo.
December 28, 1994
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Kogi
Ordinations of first Spiritans from Kogi State in Nigeria: Emmanuel Ikubolaje from Kabba in the diocese of Lokoja and Daniel Abah from Imane in the diocese of Idah.
July 6, 1994
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Nigeria
An international meeting of Spiritan formators is held at Enugu, Nigeria. Objectives of the meeting are: the adaptation of formation to contemporary ideas of mission and the integration of the…
July 8, 1991
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Nigeria
A Spiritan postulancy is opened at Akabo in Oweri diocese. The Spiritan International School of Theology (SIST) starts at Attakwu, Enugu diocese, for Spiritan students of Anglophone West Africa.
September 25, 1987
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Nigeria
A new Provincialate, located at 3-3 Nsugbe, near Onitsha, is officially opened. The Superior General, Fr. Frans. Timmermans is present as well as some invited bishops.
November 30, 1985
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West African Foundation
The West African Superiors meet in Dakar with a representative of the General Council: the WAF and the Nigerian Province will have a common theologate in Enugu, Nigeria, projected to…
April 7, 1984
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Nigeria
The General Council changes the Province of Eastern Nigeria into the Province of Nigeria.
October 12, 1983
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Nigeria
For the first time in the history of the Province, a General Assembly of all priests, brothers and scholastics is held at Isienu. There is a seminar on Missiology and…
April 5, 1983
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Pope John Paul II Address to Muslim leaders in Kaduna Nigeria
APOSTOLIC PILGRIMAGE TO NIGERIA, BENIN GABON AND EQUATORIAL GUINEA ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II TO THE MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS Kaduna (Nigeria) Sunday, 14 February 1982
February 14, 1982
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Nigeria
The first Nigerian Spiritans to go on mission to Zambia (Felix Onuora and Kevin Njoku) left with Bishop Potani of Solwesi diocese who had been visiting Nigeria.
October 13, 1980
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Zambia
Two Nigerians confreres arrive in Zambia to work in the diocese of Solwezi. Two more are appointed the following year but not as part of the Zambia international group.
July 17, 1980
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West African Foundation
Six Superiors of West African circumscriptions establish the Foundation at Dakar Senegal: the Superiors of The Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Makurdi and Kwara-Benue. Fr. John Hogan (Irish Province) is…
April 25, 1979
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Nigeria
Establishment of the Province of Eastern Nigeria by the General Council. Fr Philip Aguh, who has been principal superior, will end his mandate on 5 January 1977 to be succeeded…
March 25, 1976
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Nigeria
A meeting takes place of all African Spiritans.
October 18, 1974
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Nigeria
The first-ever meeting of African Spiritans starts at Awomamma, Nigeria. Statistics from the meeting show that there are now 102 professed African members. A resolution is passed asking the forthcoming…
March 4, 1974
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Makurdi
7 Tiv priests are ordained by Bishop Donal Murray, among whom is the one who will eventually succeed him as bishop of Makurdi, Fr. Athanasius Atule Usuh.
December 19, 1971
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Nigeria
Fr. Francis Okonkwo, the first Nigerian novice master, reopens the noviciate at Awo Omama at the end of the civil war with 35 novices.
August 2, 1971
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Nigeria
The Congregation of the Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy is founded by Bishop Anthony Nwedo C.S.Sp., of Umuahia diocese.
October 25, 1970
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Nigeria
As the civil war ends, about 300 Irish Spiritans, and all other foreign missionaries whose passports are stamped by the Biafra Republic, are expelled from the country and forbidden to…
January 12, 1970
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Nigeria
Civil war breaks out in Nigeria and lasts for the next 20 months. Spiritans play honourable roles on both sides, working with international relief organisations and caring for refugees, the…
July 6, 1967
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Nigeria
The beginning of the civil war in Nigeria. Subsequently, approximately 280 Irish confreres are displaced and later find work in other circumscriptions, including Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, PNG and Australia.
June 1, 1967
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Nigeria
Nigerian Spiritans, Frs. Denis Ononuju and Francis Okonkwo, are appointed to work in Sierra Leone - the first Nigerian Spiritans to do missionary work outside the country.
June 26, 1965
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Nigeria
A Spiritan scholasticate is opened at Isienu in the Diocese of Enugu.
June 25, 1965
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Makurdi
The administrative centre of the diocese is moved from Otukpo to Makurdi; henceforth it is known as the Diocese of Makurdi.
April 17, 1962
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Makurdi
The Prefecture of Otukpo is raised to a Diocese with Bishop James Hagan in charge. He resides in Otukpo.
June 22, 1959
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Nigeria
First Spiritan African noviciate opens at Awomama. Bishop J. B. Whelan of Owerri celebrates the inaugural mass for the five novices who start their noviciate with Fr J. Mohan as…
February 12, 1958
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Nigeria
Establishment of Holy Ghost Noviciate, Awo-Omamma.
February 8, 1957
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Makurdi
The Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary come to the Prefecture of Makurdi and help to run the combined hospital in Otukpo town.
July 29, 1954
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Nigeria
Fr. John Jordan founds the Holy Ghost Juniorate at Ihiala, the main source of vocations for the future Province.
July 29, 1952
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Nigeria
The first two Nigerians make their profession in Ireland as Spiritans: Frs. Godfrey Okoye and Anthony Nwedo.
June 14, 1951
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Nigeria
Fr Anthony Nwedo is the first Nigerian to profess as a Spiritan at Kilshane, Ireland. He had been ordained a diocesan priest in 1945. He was also the first Nigerian…
February 2, 1951
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Nigeria
Fr. Joseph Whelan of the Irish Province is ordained Vicar Apostolic of Owerri in Onitsha.
April 25, 1950
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Trinidad
Numerous vocations to the Holy Ghost Congregation from past students of the College. Eventually, 14 Trinidadians are to serve on the Nigerian mission, mainly with the Irish Spiritans.
February 15, 1950
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Makurdi
The Province of Kabba is detached from the Prefecture of Otukpo with Mgr. Delisle as Prefect Apostolic. Mgr. James Hagan is named as Prefect Apostolic of Otukpo.
July 20, 1948
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