 Late Bishop Christopher Shaman Abba was born at Mabushi Kataf Zangon Kataf Local Government of Kaduna State to the family of late Pa Joseph Shaman and Mrs. Veronica Banta Shaman in 1938.
Between 1946 and 1954, he attended the following Primary Schools: Catholic Primary School Mazuga, St. Thomas Primary School Kano, St. Peter Claver Primary School Kafanchan and St. Theresa's Primary School Guni - Minna.
1955 -1959 he was at St. Theresa's Minor Seminary Oke-Are Ibadan where he completed his Secondary School Education. In 1960 he entered the St. Peter and Paul Major Seminary Bodija Ibadan, for his philosophical and Theological Studies which lasted from 1960 -1966.
On December 18, 1966 he was ordained at his hometown Mabushi Kataf by His Grace, Late Archbishop John McCarthy for the Archdiocese of Kaduna. From 1967 - 1972 he was appointed to St. Joseph's Minor Seminary Zaria, Kaduna State. He also held the posts of Director of Vocations as well as Chaplain to Advance Teacher's College Zaria now College of Education Zaria and Kongo Campus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria until the end of 1972 when he left for further studies in the United States of America. Fr Christopher was in St. Mary's Seminary and University Baltimore Maryland when he was appointed the first Bishop of the Diocese of Minna. He was installed as the Bishop of Minna on the December 30, 1973.
Pastoral involvement was the special priority of Bishop Christopher Abba with the main objective of building a self supporting, self reliant church in Minna. His efforts yielded its first fruit with the ordination of the first indigenous (Gwari) Diocesan Priest, in the person of late Rev. Fr. Clement Mallam in December 1976. Starting with an all expatriate apostolic team, Bishop Abba vigorously pursued the task of having local (Nigerian) Priests. By later 1996, no less than twenty (20) Priests were ordained by him.
Bishop Abba's episcopate witnessed an era of both spiritual as well as physical growth of the Diocese. Inheriting about eight (8) Parishes he left behind twenty three (23) when he was transferred to Yola diocese in 1996.
Bishop Abba's episcopate also saw the establishment of the Leadership Training Centre (now Pope Paul VI Institute of Pastoral Affairs) at Nanai, in 1975
In 1986, Bishop Abba embarked upon the building of a befitting Cathedral for the Diocese. The beautiful edifice, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel was dedicated on Saturday, 15th September 1996, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the then papal Nuncio to Nigeria.
After twenty-three (23) years of meritorious service in Minna, Most. Rev. Christopher Abba was transferred to the Diocese of Yola by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, as the third bishop of the diocese. He replaced Bishop Sheehan who was moved to become the Apostolic Vicar of Kano.
His Lordship died In the early hours of Sunday 10th January 2010. The funeral ceremonies are to take place on the 27th and 28th January, 2010.
Wake keep ; 27th Jan. 6.00pm
Funeral Mass; 28th Jan, 2010 at 10am
Venue; St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Yola
May his gentle soul rest in the Lord. Amen
Rev Fr Ralph Madu
Director Directorate of Communications
Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria
Abuja |
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