Roman Catholic Diocese of Warri

For the Diocese of Warri in the Church of Nigeria, see Anglican Province of Bendel.

Diocese of Warri Dioecesis Varriensis
Location
Country	Nigeria
Territory	southern portion of Delta State
Ecclesiastical province	Benin City
Metropolitan	Archbishop of Benin City
Coordinates	5°31′00″N5°45′00″E / 5.51667°N 5.75000°E / 5.51667; 5.75000
Statistics
Area	15,000 km2 (5,800 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2004) 2,614,857 186,298 (7.1%)
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	March 10, 1964
Cathedral	Sacred Heart Cathedral in Warri
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Bishop	Anthony Ovayero Ewherido
Bishops emeritus	John Okeoghene Afareha
Map
The Diocese of Warri is located in the southern portion of Delta State which is shown in red.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Warri (Latin : Varrien(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Warri in the ecclesiastical province of Benin City in Nigeria.

History

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Warri, located in Delta State, Nigeria, was erected on 10 March 1964 by Pope Paul VI. ^{[1] [2]} It was carved out from the then-Diocese of Benin City (now the Archdiocese of Benin City), and initially comprised eight parishes: Warri, Aragba, Ashaka, Sapele, Okpara Inland, Ozoro, Ughelli, and Bomadi. ^[1]

The first bishop of Warri was Lucas Olu Chukwuka Nwaezeapu, who served from 10 March 1964 until 10 September 1983. After a period of vacancy, Bishop Edmund Joseph Fitzgibbon, S.P.S., was appointed on 31 August 1991 and served until 3 March 1997. He was succeeded by Bishop Richard Anthony Burke, S.P.S., who led the diocese until his appointment as Archbishop of Benin City on 24 December 2007. Bishop John 'Oke Afareha succeeded him on 29 March 2010 and served until his retirement on 18 April 2022. The current bishop, Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, was appointed on 28 December 2022 and consecrated on 9 February 2023. ^[3]

The diocese's principal church is the Sacred Heart Cathedral, located along Warri–Sapele Road in the Agbasa area of Warri. ^[4]

As of 2025, the diocese comprises seven deaneries and 91 parishes or chaplaincies, ministering to a Catholic population of approximately 106,298 faithful. The diocese also oversees 30 schools and 8 health institutions. ^[5]

Bishops of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Warri

The Diocese of Warri has been led by several bishops since its establishment. Below is a list of the bishops, including the current leadership:

Current Bishop

• Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido

Appointed by Pope Francis on 28 December 2022 and installed on 9 February 2023. ^[6]

Previous Bishops

• Most Rev. John Okeoghene Afareha

Served from 29 March 2010 until his retirement on 18 April 2022. ^[7]

• Most Rev. Richard Anthony Burke, S.P.S.

Served from 3 March 1997 to 24 December 2007. ^[8]

• Most Rev. Edmund Joseph Fitzgibbon, S.P.S.

Served from 31 August 1991 to 3 March 1997. ^[9]

• Most Rev. Lucas Olu Chukwuka Nwaezeapu

Served from 10 March 1964 to 10 September 1983. ^[10]

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Nigeria
• Society of African Missions
• Saint Patrick's Society for the Foreign Missions

Further Reading

• Fr. James Joseph Higgins, SMA, documents this historical evolution in his detailed monograph Kindling the Fire: SMA Missions in Mid-West Nigeria, 1884–2003, which traces the growth of the Church, its challenges, and its path toward local leadership and indigenisation. ^[11]

Sources

• GCatholic.org Information
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Eje
• s Gist News

References

1. Brief History of the Catholic Diocese of Warri. Catholic Diocese of Warri. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
2. Fr James Higgins SMA (15 August 2006). "History of the Church in Mid-West Nigeria". Society of African Missions. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
3. The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Warri: Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido. Catholic Diocese of Warri. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
4. Warri Deanery. Catholic Diocese of Warri. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
5. Diocesan Statistics. Catholic Diocese of Warri. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
6. "About the Bishop". Roman Catholic Diocese of Warri. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
7. "About the Bishop". Roman Catholic Diocese of Warri. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
8. "About the Bishop". Roman Catholic Diocese of Warri. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
9. "About the Bishop". Roman Catholic Diocese of Warri. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
10. "About the Bishop". Roman Catholic Diocese of Warri. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
11. Higgins, James Joseph (2003). Kindling the Fire: SMA Missions in Mid-West Nigeria, 1884–2003. Ibadan: Society of African Missions.