Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha
Archdiocese of Onitsha Archidioecesis Onitshanus | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Nigeria |
Territory | Anambra State |
Ecclesiastical province | Onitsha |
Coordinates | 6°9′59.9472″N 6°46′59.9226″E / 6.166652000°N 6.783311833°E |
Statistics | |
Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2004) 2,060,490 1,373,660 (66.7%) |
Parishes | 181 |
Information | |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Rite | Latin Rite |
Established | 1950.04.18 |
Cathedral | Holy Trinity Basilica |
Secular priests | 498 |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Archbishop | Most Rev. Valerian Okeke |
Suffragans | Abakaliki, Awgu, Awka, Enugu, Nnewi, Nsukka |
Auxiliary Bishops | Auxiliary Bishop Most, Rev. . Denis Chidi Isizoh (2015-present); ; appointed by Pope Francis on Friday, February 6, 2015[1] |
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 (the only Basilica in Nigeria) in Onitsha.
Leadership
- Father Léon-Alexander Lejeune, C.S.Sp. 23 May 1900 – 5 September 1905
- Bishop Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. 20 September 1905 - 21 May 1931
- Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. 21 May 1931 – 26 June 1967
- Cardinal Francis Arinze 1967.06.26 – 1985.03.09
- 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
Suffragan dioceses
See also
References
Sources
- GCatholic.org
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, official website
- Catholic-Hierarchy page about Onitsha
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