St Joseph Catholic Church, Abata Nsugbe started with a donation of a portion of land to the Church mission by the Ogwuari Nsugbe community in 1947 to alleviate the difficulties encountered by those who had to travel from Abata Nsugbe to Ine-Nsugbe for mass or school. It was located a few meters from Orie Abata Nsugbe and a thatched mud house was then erected on it. These moves were champion by Late Chief Simon Agulefo Egwuonwu (Akanwafo) from Amanye Abagana, in the present Njikoka LGA who arrange with priest from Holy Trinity Onitsha to minister to the peoples needs.
From inception in 1953, St Joseph assumed its primary role as a place of worship for Catholics under Rev. Fr Sweeney and a school for the community. It is important to state at this juncture that the school took the Name of its founder and original owner, St. Joseph Abata Nsugbe. The name remained until the government take over of the schools resulting to its present name, Development primary School.
In 1956, a building was constructed to cater for the ever-increasing Number of people in this area, before the thatched house finally collapsed immediately after the Nigerian civil war. In 1956, the first catechist was appointed in the name of Madam Theresa Onyilo (late), Chief Raphael Onyilo (late) became the first Chairman of the local church council while late Chief Mike Nweke became the vice Chairman.
In 1992, the roof of the original church building was blown off in a torrential rain. This disaster displaced the members of the church who consequently began to hold the Sunday Eucharistic celebration and other Church functions in a prefabricated block of the now Development Primary School, Abata Nsugbe. The powerful Religious zeal manifested by the Abata Catholic community and the absence of the place of worship was the paradox that compelled the community to make frantic efforts to provide a conducive and befitting place of worship.
Unfortunately, the initial zeal towards that was gradually dispelled as a result of the boundary dispute between Nwafor Orizu College of Education, the village donors and the Catholic church. The matter was later settled amicably in favour of the village donor and the Church. The old church building was then built in 2004 with the assistance of the Archdiocese of Onitsha and the help of few individuals.
An office block was built during the office of Rev. Fr. Charles Anyaoku. He also erected a grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary and created a mass station at Mary Knoll School as well as built an extension of the church building. He also laid the foundation of the Parish Rectory before his tenure ended in October 2014.
Rev. Fr Dr Jude Obidigbo was appointed the first parish priest of the church on October 15th 2014. He completed the building of the Parish Rectory and did other great works in the Parish.
Rev. Fr Joseph Igweagu took over the Parish on 20th October 2019. He started the construction of the present church building and also the Parish secondary school before he was kidnapped on the eve of 12th October 2022.
Rev. Fr JohnPaul Okeke who was on holidays at the Parish at the time of the incident was asked to take care of the Parish for the time being. On 12th February 2023, Pope Francis announced the creation of the Catholic Diocese of Aguleri with Most Rev Dennis Isizoh as the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese. Our Parish was under the jurisdiction of the newly created Diocese. Fr JohnPaul took charge of the Parish till his sudden death on August 30th 2023. Fr Emmanuel Uyanmadu was sent by the Bishop to take care of the Parish for the month of September 2023.
On the 1st day of October 2023 Fr Emmanuel was declared the incumbent Parish priest of our Parish. Since his arrival he has done a lot of work for the growth of the Parish. Worthy of mention is the repainting of some places in the Parish Rectory and also the Chapel of Adoration. He also started making of bricks for the building of the Parish store which was left at foundation level by Fr Jude Obidigbo.
Outstation: St. Rita’s station and St. Valerian station.
Parish Pious Societies: mother of perpetual help, legion of mary, charismatic renewal,Marian Movement, precious blood.