Kubwa Community

A new parish christened St. John Mary Vianney Catholic Church was birthed at Kubwa Extension III in the Archdiocese of Abuja in the year 2011. The first parish priest, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Musa celebrated the first Mass under the mango tree with only five (5) ardent individuals. As days went by, the population at Masses increased profoundly. These devoted individuals who lived around Kubwa and Dutse saw the need to create liturgical groups to assist with Masses. With their relentless effort, they built a wooden church to carry out liturgical activities.

The former Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan saw a more purposeful need for the land and decided to give the fervent parish to an International Religious Organization of the Catholic Church called Salesians of Don Bosco. The society which comprises priests and brothers was founded in 1859 by St. John Bosco to reach out to poor and needy youth. It is one of the largest religious orders in the world with over 17,000 members working in 138 countries. In the year 2917 St. John Mary Vianney Parish became one of the 186 centers ran by Salesians of Don Bosco in Africa.

Since the Salesians’ inception, the parishioners have been able to build a church that is able to accommodate many parishioners. Due to the imperative need of the parish residential house for the parish priests and his associates, the parishioners contributed remarkably. The parish mission statement has been “To win souls for God through daily care and fraternally living the word of God as a praying and loving family”.

In a short space of time, the parish under the auspices of the Salesian family has been able to foster and commit itself to charitable, social, educational work – regardless of ethnic groups, language, age or economic status, simply for the holistic & self-development of the weaker section of the society. Promoting God’s presence in family and society has continued to be a featuring role in the parish. On a par with the founder, St. John Bosco, the parish has continued to solidify youths as agents of positive change through supporting networks and initiatives, capacity building, empowerment, sports, education and skill training. The first Salesian Cooperators were inaugurated in 2021.The association zealously undertake charitable works towards young people at risk, bringing them together, instructing them in the faith, advising them when they are at risk or bringing them to where they can be instructed.

The youths have found a way to give their best in the parish. The Salesian Youth Movement in the parish seeks to share and live the Salesian charism among young lay people. During Summer Holiday Camp, the parish youths facilitate a yearly Learning Environment and Nurturing Skills program designed to help children improve their academic foundations and develop new skills sets for the future. The parish strongly believes in a learning continuity plan, for that reason, the Salesian family is building a Technical Vocational Education and Training Center to assist underprivileged youths with technical skills to gain decent employment and to improve their lives and that of their family. With the laying of the building foundation and blessing of site in 2021, this training center will contribute to fight poverty and build capacities of the marginalized youth in the society.

Within 11 years of multiple graces, the population of parishioners have increased twofold. Considering that, the parishioners under the leadership of the parish priest Rev. Fr. Stephen Omoniyi SDB decided to build a larger church new building for the Lord that will be able to accommodate three times as many in the future. And this dream is currently ongoing to the glory of God.