View source for Ayo-Maria Atoyebi

{{Short description|Nigerian bishop}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox Christian leader|honorific-prefix=[[The Most Reverend]]|name=Ayo-Maria Atoyebi|honorific-suffix=|archbishop_of=Bishop Emeritus of Ilorin|image=|caption=|province=|church=[[Roman Catholic Church]]|diocese=Ilorin|appointed=6 March 1992|enthroned=17 May 1992|ended=11 June 2019|predecessor=[[John Onaiyekan]]|successor=[[Paul Adegboyega Olawoore]]|ordination=17 December 1978|consecration=17 May 1992|consecrated_by=Archbishop Peter Yariyok Jatau|birth_name=Ayo Sunday Atoyebi|birth_date={{birth date and age|df=y|1944|12|3}}|birth_place=[[Ilorin]], [[Nigeria]]|death_place=|buried=|nationality=|religion=|residence=|parents=Atoyebi Methodius (father) and Aboyepe Teresa Adeoye (mother)|spouse=|children=|occupation=|profession=|alma_mater=|signature=}}
'''Ayo-Maria Atoyebi''' (born 3 December 1944) is a Nigerian [[Bishop Emeritus]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. He was born in Okerimi-oro, [[Kwara State|Kwara state]], Nigeria and was ordained a priest of Orders of [[Dominican Order|Friars Preachers]] on 17 December 1978. He served as Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilorin|Ilorin Diocese]] from 6 March 1992 to 11 June 2019.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/batoyebi.html|title=Bishop Ayo-maria Atoyebi (Catholic Hierarchy)}}</ref>
== Priesthood and Episcopal appointment ==
Ayo-Maria Atoyebi was born on 3 December 1944.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dominicans.org.ng/newsdetail.php?tab=11|title=Bishop Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, OP to mark 70th Birthday in December|website=www.dominicans.org.ng|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref> He was ordained a [[Priesthood in the Catholic Church|priest of the Roman Catholic Church]] under the Order of Friars Preacher on 17 December 1978.<ref name=":0" />
On 6 March 1992, he was appointed the [[Bishop in the Catholic Church|bishop]] of the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] Diocese of [[Ilorin]] after which he was consecrated as Bishop on 17 May 1992 by Bishop Peter Yariyok Jatau. His [[ordination]] was also carried out by co-consecrators which includes: Bishop [[John Onaiyekan]] and Bishop Felix Alaba Adeosin Job.<ref name=":0" /> He was the bishop of [[Ilorin]] Diocese from 1992 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2485853574759565&id=496909843653958|title=Vatican News|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref>
== Marian activities ==
Bishop Atoyebi is a devotee of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] and promoter of [[Marian devotions]] and activities. He has written many books and given many talks on the blessed Virgin Mary. He started an annual [[Christian pilgrimage|Marian pilgrimage]] programme where Catholics in Ilorin Diocese visit the Blessed Virgin Mary pilgrimage site at Okerimi-Oro his hometown. He is also a member of the theological commission of the International Marian Association.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://internationalmarian.com/theological-commission-ima|title=Theological Commission of the IMA|website=International Marian Association|language=en|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref>
== Retirement ==
On 11 June 2019, Atoyebi retired as the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of [[Ilorin]] due to old age and frail health and was replaced by His Coadjutor; Bishop Paul Adegboyega Olawoore.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/pope-appoints-olawoore-coadjutor-bishop-of-ilorin-diocese/|title=Pope appoints Olawoore Coadjutor Bishop of Ilorin Diocese|date=2018-04-04|website=The Sun Nigeria|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.naijanews.com/2018/04/05/pope-appoints-paul-olawoore-as-new-bishop-of-ilorin-diocese/|title=Pope Appoints Paul Olawoore As New Bishop Of Ilorin Diocese|last=Sijuade|first=Gbenga|date=2018-04-05|website=Naija News|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nigerian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Nigeria]]
[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Nigeria]]
[[Category:People from Kwara State]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Ilorin]]
[[Category:Yoruba people]]