Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Owerri

Nigeria

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese

Area: 2,996 km²

Population: 1,086,393 Catholics (70.2% of 1,547,780 total) (2018)

Statistics: 155 parishes, 27 missions, 357 priests (268 diocesan, 89 religious), 576 lay religious (282 brothers, 294 sisters), 182 seminarians (2018)

Suffragan Sees: Aba, Ahiara, Okigwe, Orlu, Umuahia

Depends on: Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

Website:

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)
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)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, Imo

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (1994.03.26 – ...):	Archbishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna (74)
Auxiliary Bishop (2019.10.17 – ...):	Bishop Moses Chikwe (53) Titular Bishop of Flumenzer

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Owerri (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna (74)
(1994.03.26 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri (Nigeria)

To serve God and his people

Born:	1946.06.26 (Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1972.04.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1993.09.04

Bishop of Owerri (Nigeria) (1993.07.01 – 1994.03.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri (Nigeria) (1994.03.26 – ...)

Bishops of Owerri (Roman Rite)

Bishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna (74) (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:	1944.06.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.09.20
Died:	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:	1937.07.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1948.04.25
Died:	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)

as of 2021.02.12

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