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The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri (Latin: Archidioecesis Overriensis) is located in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The Seat of Wisdom Seminary is in Owerri. The archdiocese covers an area of 2,996 km2. 670,986 of the 1.7 million people in the area are member of the Catholic Church.
Archdiocese of Owerri Archidioecesis Overriensis | |
|---|---|
 Assumpta Cathedral | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Territory | Imo State |
| Ecclesiastical province | Owerri |
| Coordinates | 5°29′06″N 7°02′06″E / 5.48500°N 7.03500°E |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Cathedral | Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Archbishop | Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji |
| Suffragans | Aba, Ahiara, Okigwe, Orlu, Umuahia |
| Auxiliary Bishops | Moses Chikwe |
| Bishops emeritus | Anthony J. V. Obinna |
| Map | |
 Imo State shown in red | |
| Website | |
| owarch.org.ng | |
History edit
The diocese dates back to the Vicariate Apostolic of Owerri, which was created on February 12, 1948, when the Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri was split. On April 18, 1950, it was elevated to a diocese. On March 26, 1994, it became an Archdiocese.
On 27 December 2020, auxiliary bishop Moses Chikwe and his driver were kidnapped by gunmen in Owerri. They were both released unharmed and without ransom, on 1 January 2021.[1]
Bishops edit
Ordinaries edit
- Vicar Apostolic of Owerri (Latin Church)
- Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. 12 Feb 1948 – 18 Apr 1950; see below
- Bishops of Owerri (Roman rite)
- Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. 18 Apr 1950 – 25 Jun 1970; see above
- Mark Onwuha Unegbu 25 Jun 1970 – 1 Jul 1993
- Anthony J.V. Obinna 1 Jul 1993 – 1993; see below
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Owerri (Roman rite)
- Anthony John Valentine Obinna 26 Mar 1994 – 6 Mar 2022; see above
- Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji since 6 Mar 2022; see above
Auxiliary bishop edit
- Moses Chikwe (2019-)
Other priest of this diocese who became bishop edit
- Augustine Ndubueze Echema, appointed Bishop of Aba in 2019
Suffragan Dioceses edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Catholic bishop released five days after kidnapping in Nigeria". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2021-01-02.