Owerri (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy] (original) (raw)

Bishop(s) Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop Moses Chikwe, Auxiliary Bishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Aba Ahiara Okigwe Orlu Umuahia General Information Type of Jurisdiction: ArchdioceseElevated: 26 March 1994 Metropolitan SeeRite: Latin (or Roman)Country: NigeriaSquare Kilometers: 2,996 (1,157 Square Miles)Description: 8 local government areas of Imo State, the heartland of Igbo land in Eastern NigeriaOfficial Web Site: https://owarch.org.ng Mailing Address: Villa Assumpta, P.O. Box 85, Owerri, Imo State, NigeriaTelephone: (0803)33.89.449

Past and Present Ordinaries

Historical Summary

Date Event From To
Vicariate Apostolic of Owerri
12 February 1948 Split Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha Vicariate Apostolic of Owerri (Owerri and Owerri River)
Diocese of Owerri
18 April 1950 Elevated Vicariate Apostolic of Owerri Diocese of Owerri
23 June 1958 Territory Lost Diocese of Owerri (Okigwi, Bende, and Aba) Diocese of Umuahia (erected)
16 May 1961 Territory Lost Diocese of Owerri (Districts of Ahoada, Degema, Ogoni, and Brass plus the Rivers Province) Diocese of Port Harcourt (erected)
29 November 1980 Territory Lost Diocese of Owerri (Orlu, Oru, Nkwerre Isu, and Ideato along with St. Gregory in Uli) Diocese of Orlu (erected)
18 November 1987 Territory Lost Diocese of Owerri (Mbaise) Diocese of Ahiara (erected)
Archdiocese of Owerri
26 March 1994 Elevated Diocese of Owerri Archdiocese of Owerri

Statistics

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source
Diocese of Owerri
1950 249,620 2,500,000 10.0% 7 49 56 4,457 27 26 ap1951
1970 615,319 2,000,000 30.8% 31 75 106 5,804 111 78 50 ap1971
1980 1,154,235 2,188,000 52.8% 81 10 91 12,683 26 78 60 ap1981
1990 443,027 1,198,147 37.0% 60 15 75 5,907 81 85 47 ap1991
Archdiocese of Owerri
1999 566,965 1,561,155 36.3% 143 27 170 3,335 106 140 67 ap2000
2000 580,301 1,604,867 36.2% 141 37 178 3,260 114 156 67 ap2001
2001 607,103 1,654,075 36.7% 144 38 182 3,335 118 163 71 ap2002
2002 633,271 1,676,386 37.8% 165 34 199 3,182 120 165 74 ap2003
2003 659,114 1,692,412 38.9% 173 42 215 3,065 131 191 84 ap2004
2004 670,986 1,693,329 39.6% 189 47 236 2,843 127 147 89 ap2005
2013 1,053,000 2,080,000 50.6% 245 61 306 3,441 287 227 137 ap2014
2016 1,064,209 1,525,667 69.8% 240 99 339 3,139 292 291 145 ap2017
2019 1,086,393 1,547,780 70.2% 268 89 357 3,043 282 294 155 ap2020
2021 1,093,700 1,555,338 70.3% 279 117 396 2,761 310 319 162 ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Source(s)

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