Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha
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Archdiocese of Onitsha Archidioecesis Onitshanus | |
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Vicar General | Very Rev. Fr. Johnbosco Okafor |
Episcopal Vicars | Victor Mbanisi, Emmanuel Egwuoba, Aloysius Ikekwe, JohnBosco Ezika. |
Map | |
Anambra State is shown in red | |
Website | |
Onitsha-Archdiocese.org |
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha (
.History
On 25 July 1889, the
Apostolic Vicariate of Benin Coast
.
On 16 April 1920, the Prefecture was promoted as the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Nigeria. On 9 July 1934, the Vicariate was renamed from Southern Nigeria to Onitsha-Owerri. On 12 February 1948, the Vicariate was renamed again to its present name of Onitsha.
On 18 April 1950, the Vicariate was promoted to a Metropolitan See.
Special churches
The seat of the archbishop is the Holy Trinity Basilica in Onitsha.
Bishops
- Prefects Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore}
- Father Léon-Alexander Lejeune, C.S.Sp. 23 May 1900 – 5 September 1905
- Father Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. 20 September 1905 - 16 April 1920 see below
- Vicars Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale}
- Bishop Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. see above 16 April 1920 - 21 May 1931
- Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. 21 May 1931 – 9 July 1934 see below
- Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri
- Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. see above 9 July 1934 – 12 February 1948 see below
- Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha
- Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. see above 12 February 1948 – 18 April 1950 see below
- Archbishops of Onitsha
- Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. see above 18 April 1950 – 26 June 1967
- Archbishop Francis Arinze 1967.06.26 – 1985.03.09, already appointed Pro-Prefect of the Secretariat of Non-Christians in 1984; elevated to Cardinal in 1985
- Archbishop Stephen Nweke Ezeanya 1985.03.09 – 1995.02.25
- Archbishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna1995.02.25 – 2003.09.01
- Archbishop Valerian Okeke since 2003.09.01
Coadjutor Bishops
- Francis Arinze (1965-1967), did not have right of succession (?) but was appointed Archbishop here; future Cardinal
- Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. (1927-1931), as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic
- Albert Kanene Obiefuna(1994-1995), as Coadjutor Archbishop
- Valerian Maduka Okeke(2001-2003), as Coadjutor Archbishop
Auxiliary Bishops
- John of the Cross Anyogu (1957-1962), appointed Bishop of Enugu
- Denis Chidi Isizoh (2015- 2023) appointed Bishop of Aguleri
- Emmanuel Otteh (1990-1996), appointed Bishop of Issele-Uku
Other priests of this diocese who became bishops
- Albert Kanene Obiefuna, appointed Bishop of Awka in 1977; later returned here as Coadjutor
- Hilary Paul Odili Okeke, appointed Bishop of Nnewi in 2001
- Jude Thaddeus Okolo(priest here 1983–2001), appointed nuncio and titular archbishop in 2008
- Mark Onwuha Unegbu (priest here, 1944–1948), appointed Bishop of Owerri in 1970
Suffragan dioceses
Schools
- Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha
- Regina Pacis Secondary, Onitsha
- Mater Amabilis Secondary school, Umuoji
- St. KizitoSecondaryschool, Umudioka
- St. Charles College, Onitsha
- Christ the king College, Onitsha
- Michael Tansi Memorial Secondary School, Aguleri
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Nigeria