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

Bishop(s) Valerian Maduka Okeke, Archbishop Suffragan Dioceses Abakaliki Aguleri Awgu Awka Ekwulobia Enugu Nnewi Nsukka General Information Type of Jurisdiction: ArchdioceseElevated: 18 April 1950 Metropolitan SeeRite: Latin (or Roman)Country: NigeriaSquare Kilometers: 1,390 (536 Square Miles)Description: Local Government Areas: Dunukofia, Idemili North & South, Ogbaru, and Onitsha North & SouthOfficial Web Site: http://www.onitsha-archdiocese.org/ Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 1627, Onitsha, Anambra State, NigeriaTelephone: (0907)04.97.030; (0813)22.82.437

Past and Present Ordinaries

Historical Summary

Date Event From To
Prefecture Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore}
25 July 1889 Erected Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin Prefecture Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale}
16 April 1920 Elevated Prefecture Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore} Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale}
Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri
9 July 1934 Name Changed Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale} Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri
Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha
12 February 1948 Split Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri Vicariate Apostolic of OnitshaVicariate Apostolic of Owerri (Owerri and Owerri River)
Archdiocese of Onitsha
18 April 1950 Elevated Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha Archdiocese of Onitsha
12 November 1962 Territory Lost Archdiocese of Onitsha (Awgu, Udi, and Nsukka) Diocese of Enugu (erected)
10 November 1977 Territory Lost Archdiocese of Onitsha (Awka, Njikoka, Aguata, and part of Oji River) Diocese of Awka (erected)
9 November 2001 Territory Lost Archdiocese of Onitsha (Nnewi with Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ekwusigo, and Ihiala (except Uli)) Diocese of Nnewi (erected)
12 February 2023 Territory Lost Archdiocese of Onitsha (Local Government Areas: Anambra West & East, Oyi, and Ayamelum) Diocese of Aguleri (erected)

Statistics

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source
Archdiocese of Onitsha
1950 139,390 1,250,000 11.2% 58 53 111 1,255 40 ap1951
1970 380,000 1,291,800 29.4% 35 15 50 7,600 15 43 4 ap1971
1980 375,000 960,000 39.1% 50 13 63 5,952 38 91 34 ap1981
1990 754,498 1,174,744 64.2% 111 26 137 5,507 82 228 66 ap1991
1999 1,426,559 2,173,536 65.6% 256 37 293 4,868 116 357 111 ap2000
2000 1,543,213 2,260,209 68.3% 243 37 280 5,511 128 449 113 ap2001
2001 1,558,714 .0% 267 23 290 0 132 436 68 ap2002*
2002 1,072,127 1,608,190 66.7% 243 22 265 4,045 77 412 75 ap2003
2003 1,094,873 1,648,395 66.4% 261 28 289 3,788 109 420 77 ap2004
2004 1,373,660 2,060,490 66.7% 265 34 299 4,594 119 410 85 ap2005
2013 1,761,000 2,642,000 66.7% 304 32 336 5,241 133 597 151 ap2014
2016 1,913,423 2,870,133 66.7% 340 27 367 5,213 153 569 160 ap2017
2019 2,141,900 3,142,460 68.2% 471 41 512 4,183 129 702 183 ap2020
2021 2,133,231 4,266,462 50.0% 360 37 397 5,373 132 633 184 ap2022
2022 2,215,025 4,060,880 54.5% 528 20 548 4,042 84 702 189 bul:12Feb2023
2023 1,857,060 2,203,820 84.3% 415 13 428 4,338 78 392 126 bul:12Feb2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Source(s)

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