Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha

Archdiocese of Onitsha Archidioecesis Onitshanus
Coat of arms
Location
Country	Nigeria
Territory	Anambra State
Ecclesiastical province	Onitsha
Subdivisions	Nnobi Region, Onitsha Region, Dunukofia Region, Iyiowa Region
Headquarters	Onitsha
Coordinates	6°9′59.9472″N6°46′59.9226″E / 6.166652000°N 6.783311833°E / 6.166652000; 6.783311833
Statistics
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2004) 2,060,490 1,373,660 (66.7%)
Parishes	196
Schools	123
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	1950.04.18
Cathedral	Holy Trinity Basilica
Secular priests	544
Language	Igbo
Current leadership
Pope	Sede vacante
Archbishop	Valerian Okeke
Suffragans	Abakaliki, Aguleri, Awgu, Awka, Enugu, Ekwulobia, Nnewi, Nsukka
Vicar General	Very Rev. Fr. Johnbosco Okafor
Episcopal Vicars	Victor Mbanisi, Emmanuel Egwuoba, Aloysius Ikekwe, JohnBosco Ezika.
Map
Anambra State is shown in red
Website
Onitsha-Archdiocese.org

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha (Latin : Onitshan(us)) is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria.

History

On 25 July 1889, the Apostolic Prefecture of Lower Niger was established out of an area that previously formed part of the larger Apostolic Vicariate of Benin Coast.

On 16 April 1920, the Prefecture was promoted as the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Nigeria. On 9 July 1934, the Vicariate was renamed from Southern Nigeria to Onitsha-Owerri. On 12 February 1948, the Vicariate was renamed again to its present name of Onitsha.

On 18 April 1950, the Vicariate was promoted to a Metropolitan See.

Special churches

The seat of the archbishop is the Holy Trinity Basilica in Onitsha.

Bishops

Prefects Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore}

• Father Léon-Alexander Lejeune, C.S.Sp. 23 May 1900 – 5 September 1905
• Father Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. 20 September 1905 - 16 April 1920 see below

Vicars Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale}

• Bishop Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. see above 16 April 1920 - 21 May 1931
• Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. 21 May 1931 – 9 July 1934 see below

Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri

• Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. see above 9 July 1934 – 12 February 1948 see below

Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha

• Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. see above 12 February 1948 – 18 April 1950 see below

Archbishops of Onitsha

• Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. see above 18 April 1950 – 26 June 1967
• Archbishop Francis Arinze 1967.06.26 – 1985.03.09, already appointed Pro-Prefect of the Secretariat of Non-Christians in 1984; elevated to Cardinal in 1985
• Archbishop Stephen Nweke Ezeanya 1985.03.09 – 1995.02.25
• Archbishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna 1995.02.25 – 2003.09.01
• Archbishop Valerian Okeke since 2003.09.01

Coadjutor Bishops

• Francis Arinze (1965-1967), did not have right of succession (?) but was appointed Archbishop here; future Cardinal
• Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. (1927-1931), as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic
• Albert Kanene Obiefuna (1994-1995), as Coadjutor Archbishop
• Valerian Maduka Okeke (2001-2003), as Coadjutor Archbishop

Auxiliary Bishops

• John of the Cross Anyogu (1957-1962), appointed Bishop of Enugu
• Denis Chidi Isizoh (2015- 2023) appointed Bishop of Aguleri
• Emmanuel Otteh (1990-1996), appointed Bishop of Issele-Uku

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

• Albert Kanene Obiefuna, appointed Bishop of Awka in 1977; later returned here as Coadjutor
• Hilary Paul Odili Okeke, appointed Bishop of Nnewi in 2001
• Jude Thaddeus Okolo (priest here 1983–2001), appointed nuncio and titular archbishop in 2008
• Mark Onwuha Unegbu (priest here, 1944–1948), appointed Bishop of Owerri in 1970

Suffragan dioceses

• Abakaliki
• Aguleri
• Awgu
• Awka
• Ekwulobia
• Enugu
• Nnewi
• Nsukka

Schools

• Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha
• Regina Pacis Secondary, Onitsha
• Mater Amabilis Secondary school, Umuoji
• St. Kizito Secondaryschool, Umudioka
• St. Charles College, Onitsha
• Christ the King College, Onitsha
• Michael Tansi Memorial Secondary School, Aguleri

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Nigeria
• Justice Development and Peace Caritas Onitsha, the diocese's charity arm

Sources

• GCatholic.org
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, official website
• Catholic-Hierarchy page about Onitsha
• MOST REV. VALERIAN M. OKEKE – …Ut Vitam Habeant