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 / 6.166652000; 6.783311833
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

Suffragan dioceses

See also

References

Sources

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