Dominicans Provincial Office
Province of St. Albert the Great
1900 South Ashland Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60608-2994Dear Fr. McDermott,
In 1951 three Dominicans from the Province of St. Albert the Great, USA began the first foundation of Friars in Nigeria, West Africa. The original intent was to bring to that missionary area something of the preaching and scholastic strength of the Order to the people of Nigeria and also to the missionaries already there. They began in parish work in the church of St. Dominic in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
After a few years the territory of northeastern Nigeria, with the central city of Sokoto, in a basic Islamic area, was opened for Friar missionaries from the Province. In this area there were Catholics in need of the sacraments. However in the area of Yelwa on the Niger River, and Malumfashi in southern Katsina province, animist tribes were open to the preaching of the Gospel. The Friars there learned the local language of Hausa, and with their preaching they were supported in medical assistance by Dominican Sisters from Great Bend, Kansas, USA. Catechists were trained for preaching by those early Friars in the north, and with the knowledge of Hausa, the Bible and liturgical texts were published in that language.
Among the early pioneers in the Sokoto Diocese were Arthur Kinsella, O.P., Thaddeus Lawton, O.P. who became Prefect Apostolic for the Sokoto Diocese, and later the first bishop, Michael Dempsey, O.P. who became bishop after the death of Bishop Lawton. Today, Sokoto Diocese is administered by a Nigerian bishop.
Among the Holy Spirit's work in Nigeria has been the numerous vocations to the Dominican Order. Nigeria is the most recent province of Dominicans in the Order. There are 60 ordained to the priesthood, one bishop among us, and nearly 70 Nigerian in formation at the Dominican Institute and priory in Ibadan, Nigeria. The parishioners in Yaba, Lagos are in the thousands and have recently built a new church and parish center. In the area around Malumfashi are now 10 to 15 thousand Catholics with their first indigenous priest and 8 in the seminary. The Dominicans still maintain a parish in Gusau, Sokoto Diocese.
The Province of St. Albert the Great joins our Brothers in Nigeria in celebrating fifty years of ministry. We are grateful for the Holy Spirit who has brought about success that redounds to the glory of God.
Fraternally in St. Dominic,
Edward M. Ruane, O.P.
Prior Provincial
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