ST. ANTHONY’S PARISH, ZAKI-BIAM

Zaki-Biam Deanery

P.O. Box 502, Katsina-Ala, Benue State, Nigeria

Parish Priest:                           Fr AKUMBUL Fidelis

Phone No:

E-mail:

Assistant Parish Priest:            Fr TSEAVE Innocent, VC

Phone No:

Central Catechist (Tiv Mass): Mr IGBADOO M. Matthew

Phone No:                               07065521860, 08092066530

Central Catechist (English Mass): Mr NWEBELE James

Phone No:                               08062911193

St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, Zaki-Biam started around the Church premises at Zaki-Biam town, Benue State of Nigeria in 1966. This territory was an outstation of St. Mary’s Parish, Wukari now in Jalingo diocese. When the Catholic Community in the area grew and manifested maturity deemed suitable by the Church’s standard, the Revd Fr J. Carroll CSSp was mandated to make proper arrangements for the granting of independent Mission along with Tor-Donga in the Sankera axis in 1967. The major aspects of this arrangement were the provision of a car and the transfer of five hundred pounds sterling (£500) cash from Wukari Parish to the account of the new Zaki-Biam Mission.

Fr J. Carrol of blessed memory made the required arrangements and instituted the new parish under the patronage of St. Anthony of Padua. It was at this point that Fr Carrol formerly handed over the young parish to Fr G. Avery CSSp on 6th January, 1967. Further increase in the number of worshippers led to the extension of the arms of the Church building. At this time, much internal stability had been attained even with the exit of the white missionaries.

In 1990s it was obvious again that the existing Church was inadequate. Thus, the Late Fr Peter Kparev initiated the work on a new giant Church. It was tasking but the people of God never relented as usual and the Church was roofed in 1997. His successor Fr Clement Mato put some touches to make the structure a befitting Catholic Church not excluding Fr Michael Bull who did some architectural work to bring it to its present status. It is no doubt that the growth of St. Anthony’s Parish, Zaki-Biam was as a result of hard work exhibited by the successive priests at various times and with the maximum support of the lay faithful.

The parish consists of five (5) zones with the total number of thirty one (31) Stations.