Owerri (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop
Moses Chikwe, Auxiliary Bishop
Anthony John Valentine Obinna, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 26 March 1994
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 2,996 (1,157 Square Miles)
Description: 8 local government areas of Imo State, the heartland of Igbo land in Eastern Nigeria
Official Web Site: https://owarch.org.ng
Mailing Address: Villa Assumpta, P.O. Box 85, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0803)33.89.449

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Owerri
- Latin Name: Overriensis
- Split: 12 February 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: Nigeria
Diocese of Owerri
- Latin Name: Overriensis
- Elevated: 18 April 1950
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Onitsha
- Country: Nigeria

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. † (12 Feb 1948 Appointed - 25 Jun 1970 Resigned)
Mark Onwuha Unegbu † (25 Jun 1970 Appointed - 1 Jul 1993 Retired)
Anthony John Valentine Obinna (1 Jul 1993 Appointed - 6 Mar 2022 Retired)
Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji (6 Mar 2022 Appointed - )

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

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

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	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

Moses Chikwe (Priest: 6 Jul 1996; Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Oct 2019)
Augustine Ndubueze Echema (Priest: 16 Aug 1986 to 28 Dec 2019)
Simeon Okezuo Nwobi, C.M.F.
Anthony John Valentine Obinna (Priest: 9 Apr 1972; Bishop: 1 Jul 1993; Archbishop: 26 Mar 1994 to 6 Mar 2022)
Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji (Archbishop: 6 Mar 2022 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Victor Adibe Chikwe † (Priest: 17 Apr 1966 to 18 Nov 1987)
Mark Onwuha Unegbu † (Priest: 12 Feb 1948 to 23 Jun 1958; Bishop: 25 Jun 1970 to 1 Jul 1993)
Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Feb 1948; Bishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 25 Jun 1970)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Owerri
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 40, Page 357, and Page 358
Diocese of Owerri
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 615, to Page 619
Archdiocese of Owerri
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 86, Page 631

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Archdiocese of Owerri

Archidioecesis Overriensis