St Augustine Catholic Church Ute-Ogbeje, the first church in Ute-Ogbeje, came into existence through the unrelented effort of late Pa. Paul Ebigwai of Imike quarter Ute-Ogbeje, in the year 1919 and it came with the introduction of western Education by the early missionaries. At that stage of the Church’s formation, the early and only converts were late Pa. Paul Ebigwai, late Pa. Dominic Okwueze, late Pa. Lazarus Osemene, late Pa. Stephen Nwajei, late Pa. Raphael Abili, late Pa. Michael Ikelujuba, late Pa. C. Nwachokor, late Pa. Mathias Oseji, late Victor Ofulue and their families.
The church services and other religious activities were then held under native booths made of bamboo and palm fronds. With time the church later moved into a mud hall built by the town through communal efforts. This hall also served as a class room for the then Roman Catholic Mission School (R.C.M). As the church and the school continued to grow, other structures were built in the compound as class rooms and residential house for the catechist and teachers. The Church at that time was under St. John the Baptist Parish, Agbor, in the then Benin Diocese where Bishop P.J. Kelly was in charge. White priests, Rev. Fr. J.J. Hilliard and Rev. Fr. Burr were coming for masses from Issele-uku and the young church grew into able leadership in the year 1959.
Umunede parish was created out of Agbor parish (insert the year) so the church became an out station under Umunede parish. St Augustine Catholic Church Ute-Ogbeje was well known and respected in the parish because of her immense contributions towards the growth of the parish and the outstanding performance of the Catholic Youth Association (C.Y.A) in competitions. In 1984, the population of members having grown to an appreciable degree, the need for a new Church building arose. In response to this need, the Church Council, under the watch of late Pa. AlphonsusEbigwai and the then parish priest, Rev. Fr. BuchiAninye of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Umunede, laid the foundation of both the new Church building and the Parish Rectory. The new Church building that was started in 1984 was completed in 1989 and the first mass that was said in it was by Rev. Fr. Benedict Okonkwor on the 22nd of August, 1989.
St Augustine parish Ute-Ogbeje was created during the ordination of her first indigenous catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Osemene, on the 15th day of August 1992. On that occasion, the then Bishop of Issele-uku Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. A.O Gbuji, encouraged the Church Council to ensure the fast completion of the Parish Rectory.
The Parish Rectory was completed in 1993; consequently the first Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Ogagbor Francis was posted to the parish in the same 1993. Then the furnishing of the parish Rectory, Parish Pastoral Council constitution, and other necessary needs of the church were properly taken care of.
The first PPC Meeting of the Parish was held on the 13th day of February, 1994 in Ute-Ogbeje, with her three Outstations, namely St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Ani- Nwachokor, St. Charles Catholic Church, Ekwuoma and Christ the king Catholic Church, Owerre-Olubor, fully and ably represented. Following the untiring effort of Rev. Fr. Francis Ogagbor, the stations were canonically inaugurated and the Parish herself upgraded to the status of a full Parish in February 1995 by his Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. A.O Gbuji during his maiden pastoral visit to the parish.
On the 10th day of February 1996, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Dibeashi was posted to relieve Rev. Fr. Ogagbor Francis, and the Church continued to grow into larger populations as many indigenes were converted into Christianity and so many marriages were ratified.
On the 11th of August 2001, Bishop Emmanuel Otteh, after his Episcopal Installation as the second Bishop of Issele-uku Diocese, visited the parish and many members were baptized and confirmed.
On the 24th of April 2004, Most Rev. Dr. Michael OdogwuElue visited the parish after his Episcopal Ordination and Installation as the third Bishop of Issele-uku Diocese. In 2006, St. Charles Catholic Church, Ekwuoma, that was hitherto under St. Augustine Parish, Ute-Ogbeje, was carved out and given to St Joseph’s Parish, Akwumazi-Umuocha leaving St. Augustine Parish with only two Out-stations namely Christ the king Catholic Church, Owerre-Olubor and St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Ani-Nwachokor.
(Rev. Fr. Sylvester Chukwurah, Rev. Fr. Anthony Chinakwe, Rev. Fr. Anthony Ibekwe and Rev. Fr. Franklin Odiaka also did some of their apostolates in the Parish).
Late Pa. Paul Ebigwai 1979 – 1983
Late Pa. Stephen .A. Nwajei 1983 – 1988
Late Pa. Lazarus Osemene 1988 – 1996
Late Pa. Andrew NwekeOseji 1996 – 2015
Late Sir. Michael Sonwu 2015 – 2019
Pa. John Agbeh 2019 till date
Mr. Cyril OkolieNwachokor 1993 -2006
Mr. lazarusAghulor (acting catechist) 2010 – 2019
Mr. Emmanuel OkaforOwordi (acting catechist) 2019 till date