Lagos, Archdiocese of

LAGOS, Archdiocese of. - From 1842 to 1860 the territory of the Gulf of Benin was under the jurisdiction of the vicar apostolic of the Two Guineas. In 1860 the fathers of the Society of African Missions began the evangelization of the Benin Coast and succeeded in obtaining notable results. On 28 Aug. 1860 the territory was erected into the vicariate apostolic of Dahomey, by detachment from the vicariate of the Two Guineas, and entrusted to the aforementioned Society. On 24 Aug. 1870 the vicariate apostolic of Dahomey was called the Benin Coast, which extended from the Niger River to the Volta River. In 1883 the apostolic prefecture of Dahomey was dismembered, now in part the vicariate apostolic of Ouidah, comprising the territory east of the Okpara River. After various rectifications of boundaries, which occurred in 1894, 1901, 1926, it received the name of L. on 12 Jan. 1943, and on 18 Apr. 1950 it was elevated to an archdiocese. It has an area of 33,000 sq. km. and a population of 2,650,000 inhabitants, with strong contingents of Protestants and Muslims.

The work is distributed among 15 primary stations and 220 secondary stations. Catholics number 56,308 and catechumens 5,272, directed by 62 Fathers, 10 native priests and 150 catechists. The works of instruction and of charity for women are cared for by 45 European religious sisters and 5 native ones. The mission has a small seminary with 12 students, and 3 students of philosophy and theology: 3 normal schools, with 285 pupils, 3 higher schools with 520 pupils, 17 middle schools with 2,796 pupils and 110 elementary schools with 15,578 pupils. There are also 1 hospital with 60 beds, 9 orphanages with 214 children, 1 home for the aged with 14 residents and 1 leprosarium with 24 patients. The mission publishes a small newspaper in English, the Nigerian catholic herald.

Giovanni B. Tragella