Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri (Latin: Archidioecesis Overriensis) is located in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

Archdiocese of Owerri

Archidioecesis Overriensis
Assumpta Cathedral
Location
Country Nigeria
TerritoryImo State
Ecclesiastical provinceOwerri
Coordinates5°29′06″N 7°02′06″E
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
CathedralAssumpta Cathedral, Owerri
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
ArchbishopMost Rev. Anthony J. V. Obinna
SuffragansAba, Ahiara, Okigwe, Orlu, Umuahia
Auxiliary BishopsMoses Chikwe
Map

Imo State shown in red
Website
owarch.org.ng

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.

History

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.

Special churches

The seat of the archbishop is Assumpta Cathedral in Owerri.

Bishops

Ordinaries

  • Vicar Apostolic of Owerri (Roman rite)
    • Bishop Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. 1948.02.12 – 1950.04.18; see below
  • Bishops of Owerri (Roman rite)
    • Bishop Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. 1950.04.18 – 1970.06.25; see above
    • Bishop Mark Onwuha Unegbu 1970.06.25 – 1993.07.01
    • Bishop Anthony J.V. Obinna 1993.07.01 – 1994.03.26; see below
  • Metropolitan Archbishops of Owerri (Roman rite)

Auxiliary bishop

  • Moses Chikwe (2019-)

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

  • Augustine Ndubueze Echema, appointed Bishop of Aba in 2019

Suffragan Dioceses

See also

  • Roman Catholicism in Nigeria
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