From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Chief Pastor of the Worldwide Catholic Church, His Holiness, Pope Francis has appointed Monsignor David Ajang as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Monsignor Ajang, until his appointment was the priest-in-charge of Immaculate Conception and Dean of Zaramaganda, Jos, Plateau State.
The new Bishop was born on 31 March, 1970 in Zaria and attended elementary and middle schools at Saint John Vianney Minor Seminary in Barkin Ladi, between 1982-1987.
His journey as a seminarian began at the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos and completed his philosophical studies at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Makurdi, Benue State between 1987-1990.
He continued his studies in Theology at Saint Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos (1990-1994) and was ordained a Catholic priest on 3 December, 1994, incardinating himself in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos.
Monsingor Ajang further obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome (2002-2004) and is currently a doctoral student at the University of Jos, Plateau State.
He held the following positions after his priestly ordination; Parish Vicar of Saint James in Gombe (1994-1995); Parish Priest of Saint Molumba in Nasarawa Eggon; Vocation Director of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos; Parish Vicar of Saint Theresa in Jos (1998-1999); Pastor of the Immaculate Conception in Zaramaganda and Youth Chaplain of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos (1999-2001).
Others include; Administrator of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Fatima (2001-2002) and trainer at Saint Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos (2004-2012); Parish Priest of Uganda Martyrs and Dean in Kuru and a member of the College of Consultors of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos, among other responsibilities.
It would be recalled that Pope Francis had earlier appointed Bishop Matthew Ishaya Audu, who was the Bishop of Lafia as the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, Nigeria which created a vacuum in the diocese.
