HRM Asagba Prof. Azinge Advocates For Creation Of Asaba Catholic Diocese

His Royal Majesty (HRM), Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Asagba of Asaba (left) in a handshake with The Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, His Excellency Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty during the Royal visit to the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria

…Takes case to Papal Nuncio to Nigeria

His Royal Majesty (HRM), Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Asagba of Asaba, has advocated for the creation of Asaba Catholic Diocese, noting that it is long overdue.
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‎The Revered Monarch who doubled as a  Knight of St John international and Papal Knight of St Gregory the Great of the Catholic faith,  made this call when he paid a Royal Visit to the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, His Excellency Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty with some palace chiefs.

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‎”Your Excellency, I’m here not just to felicitate and congratulate you but to place before you, the challenges before the Catholic Community in Asaba”, Prof. Azinge declared.

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‎His Majesty emphasized that Asaba is due to have a Catholic Diocese, explaining that with the influx of people to Asaba, the progressing City sitting at the bank of the Niger, Asaba has grown tremendously in leaps and bounds, accommodating people because of its peaceful serenity.

He further informed the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria that since the establishment of the Issele Uku  Catholic Diocese in 1973, Asaba has been able to produce 53 Catholic Parishes across the kingdom which he believes meets criteria of Owning their Own Catholic Diocese.
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‎The Monarch explained that as a Catholic Community, the Asaba Catholic family has reached out to appropriate authorities in the Catholic Race, stating the needs for Asaba Catholic Diocese.

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His Royal Majesty explained that this call for creation of Asaba Catholic Diocese is not in anyway to diminish the status quo, but for the growth of the Church and the Catholic faith in Asaba environs.

He further emphasized that this remains the yearnings of his people and the entire Catholic Mission in his kingdom, explaining that this is targeted for the positive advancement of the Catholic faith.
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‎Nna Agu Speaking further, highlighted reasons why Asaba should be made a Catholic Diocese as follows:

‎i. Asaba is the birth place of Catholic Evangelisation in the Anioma Area since 1888, explaining that making it a Catholic Diocese would honour it’s pioneering role as the credle of Catholic faith in the region, and renew missionary consciousness.

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‎ii. RAPID POPULATION GROWTH AND URBAN EXPANSION
Asaba is now a state capital with fast growing population, Urbanization and migration. He explained that the diocese will allow the church respond more effectively to pastoral needs arising from more youth influx, Civil servants and professionals of diverse cultural background.

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‎iii. PASTORAL PROXIMITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
He explained that a Diocese headquartered in Asaba will bring closer episcopal presence, faster pastoral decision making, better supervision of parishes and priest, emphasizing that this closeness will enhance active evangelization and accountability.
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‎iv. STRENGTHEN EVANGELIZATION AND MISSION
He explained that a Diocese focused on Asaba can lunch Urban evangelisation strategies, address moral decline, promote small christian communities and digital evangelisation
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‎V. He explained that a Diocese focused on Asaba can launch “PROMOTION OF VOCATIONAL AND LAY FORMATION WITH DIOCESE STATUS” Asaba can invest more deliberately in Priestly and religion vocation, Catchist formation, lay leadership and apostolic, local identity often inspires greater commitment and ownership
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‎Vi. ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY
‎He emphasized that a new diocese will reduce administrative pressure on the mother diocese and enable better parish coordination, efficient pastoral planning, stronger diocesan institutions, education health and social services.
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‎Vii. ECUMENICAL AND INTER RELIGIOUS ENGAGEMENT.
‎Asaba requires structured Catholic presence so that the diocese can speak with a stronger voice, promote peace, dialogue and moral leadership,
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‎Viii. SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT IMPACT.
‎He explained that a Diocesan structure will enhance the church role in education, social justice,care for the poor, moral guidances in public emphasizing that this aligns evangelization with human development.
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‎ix.CONTINUITY WITH CHURCH GROWTH PARTNERS
‎The monarch explained that historically when the church grows in numbers and complexity, new dioceses are created to sustain missionary vitality, Asaba meets the criteria today Says HRM Asagba Azinge.
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‎X. RENEWED MISSIONARY ZEAL
‎Finally, he explained that a Diocesan status will awaken new evangelization initiative, stronger parish life, greater unity amongst clergy and faithful, it would mark a new Pentecost movement for the church in Asaba.
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‎HRM Asagba Prof Azinge finally emphasized that making Asaba a Diocese would deepen evangelization, improve pastoral care, strengthen church structures and renew missionary zeal.
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‎The monarch thanked Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty for the time and appealed that his request be looked into as the yearnings of the people of Asaba kingdom.
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‎Responding to the Monarch, The Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, His Excellency Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty appreciated the Monarch for pushing this through to this point about the creation of Asaba Diocese.

‎Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty explained that the last Diocese that was created was that of Ekwulobia Diocese highlighting that there are many more to be created.
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‎He thanked the Revered Monarch for raising insightful points about the growth of the Catholic faith in his kingdom stating that Asagba Prof Azinge made reasonable points such as the improve pastoral Care, deepening evangelization and enhancement of the Catholic faith.
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‎Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty explained that the Diocese remains a structured institution of the Church emphasizing that it’s very important part of the church assuring that during his time as papal Nuncio to Nigeria, positive marks will be made.
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‎The highlights of the visit was the official presentation of Royal gift to the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria.