Archdiocese of Owerri, Nigeria 🇳🇬 (original) (raw)
Celebrations
History
- 1948.02.12: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Owerri / Overrien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Onitsha–Owerri)
- 1950.04.18: Promoted as Diocese of Owerri / Overrien(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Onitsha)
- 1958.06.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Umuahia
- 1961.05.16: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Port Harcourt
- 1980.11.29: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Orlu
- 1987.11.18: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Ahiara
- 1994.03.26: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Owerri / Overrien(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Aba, Ahiara, Okigwe, Orlu and Umuahia)
Present Prelates
Ordinaries
| Metropolitan Archbishops of Owerri (Roman Rite) |
|---|
 Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji (72) (2022.03.06 – ...)Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri (Nigeria)President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of NigeriaCaritas et Veritas |
 Archbishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna (78) (1994.03.26 – 2022.03.06)Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Owerri (Nigeria)To serve God and his peopleBorn:1946.06.26 (Emekuku, Nigeria)Ordained Priest:1972.04.09Consecrated Bishop:1993.09.04Priest of Owerri (Nigeria) (1972.04.09 – 1993.07.01)Bishop of Owerri (Nigeria) (1993.07.01 – 1994.03.26)Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri (Nigeria) (1994.03.26 – 2022.03.06) |
| Bishops of Owerri (Roman Rite) |
| Bishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna (78) (later Archbishop) (1993.07.01 – 1994.03.26)(see above) |
| Bishop Mark Onwuha Unegbu (1970.06.25 – 1993.07.01)Born:1917.06.30 (Nigeria)Ordained Priest:1944.06.30Consecrated Bishop:1970.09.20Died:2002.10.31 († 85)Bishop of Owerri (Nigeria) (1970.06.25 – 1993.07.01) |
| Bishop Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. (1950.04.18 – 1970.06.25)Born:1909.05.25 (Ireland)Ordained Priest:1937.07.04Consecrated Bishop:1948.04.25Died:1990.12.08 († 81)Titular Bishop of Tiddi (1948.02.12 – 1950.04.18)Vicar Apostolic of Owerri (Nigeria) (1948.02.12 – 1950.04.18)Bishop of Owerri (Nigeria) (1950.04.18 – 1970.06.25)Titular Bishop of Tre Taverne (1970.06.25 – 1976.08.10) |
| Vicars Apostolic of Owerri (Roman Rite) |
| Bishop Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. (1948.02.12 – 1950.04.18)(see above) |
Statistics (2022.12.31)
Area: 2,996 km²
Population: 1,079,950 Catholics (69.4% of 1,555,338 total)
Pastoral Centres: 164 parishes
Personnel: 396 priests (279 diocesan, 117 religious), 629 religious (310 brothers, 319 sisters), 156 seminarians