Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Onitsha / Onitshan(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Abakaliki, Aguleri, Awgu, Awka, Ekwulobia, Enugu, Nnewi, Nsukka

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1889.07.25: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Lower Niger / Niger Inferiore (Italiano) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Deux Guinées)
1920.04.16: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Nigeria / Nigeria Meridionale (Italiano) / Nigeriæ Meridionalis (Latin)
1934.07.09: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Onitsha–Owerri
1948.02.12: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Onitsha / Onitshan(us) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Owerri)
1950.04.18: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha / Onitshan(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Buéa, Calabar and Owerri)
1955.01.01: Gained suffragan see Ogoja
1958.06.23: Gained suffragan see Umuahia
1961.05.16: Gained suffragan see Port Harcourt
1962.06.05: Lost suffragan see Buéa
1962.11.12: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Enugu and gained suffragan see Enugu
1963.03.01: Gained suffragan see Ikot Ekpene
1973.03.01: Gained suffragan see Abakaliki
1977.11.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Awka and gained suffragan see Awka
1980.11.29: Gained suffragan see Orlu
1981.01.24: Gained suffragan see Okigwe
1987.11.18: Gained suffragan see Ahiara
1989.07.04: Gained suffragan see Uyo
1990.04.02: Gained suffragan see Aba
1990.11.19: Gained suffragan see Nsukka
1994.03.26: Lost suffragan sees Aba, Ahiara, Calabar, Ikot Ekpene, Ogoja, Okigwe, Orlu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Umuahia and Uyo
2001.11.09: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Nnewi and gained suffragan see Nnewi
2005.07.08: Gained suffragan see Awgu
2020.03.05: Gained suffragan see Ekwulobia
2023.02.12: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Aguleri and gained suffragan see Aguleri

Contact Info

Address: 1 Mission Road G.R.A, P.O. Box 41, Onitsha, Anambra, Nigeria

Phone: +234-9070497002

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1982.02, 1998.03)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2003.09.01 – ...):

Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke (71)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Onitsha (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke (71)
(2003.09.01 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria)

Ut vitam habeant

Born:	1953.10.20 (Unudioka, Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1981.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.02.09

Priest of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1981.07.11 – 2001.11.09)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (2001.11.09 – 2003.09.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (2003.09.01 – ...)

Archbishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna
(1995.02.25 – 2003.09.01)

Born:	1930.01.30 (Oraukwu, Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1963.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.02.05
Died:	2011.05.11 († 81)

Bishop of Awka (Nigeria) (1977.11.10 – 1994.09.09)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (1994 – 2000)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1994.09.09 – 1995.02.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1995.02.25 – 2003.09.01)

Archbishop Stephen Nweke Ezeanya
(1985.03.09 – 1995.02.25)

Born:	1921.03.31 (Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1953.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1985.05.11
Died:	1996.11.12 († 75)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1985.03.09 – 1995.02.25)

Archbishop Francis Arinze (92) (later Cardinal)
(1967.06.26 – 1985.03.09)

Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri–Segni
Prefect emeritus of Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Regnum Christi floreat

Born:	1932.11.01 (Eziowelle, Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1958.11.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1965.08.29
Created Cardinal:	1985.05.25

Priest of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1958.11.23 – 1965.07.06)

Titular Bishop of Fissiana (1965.07.06 – 1967.06.26)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1965.07.06 – 1967.06.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1967.06.26 – 1985.03.09)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (1979 – 1984.04.08)

Pro-President of Secretariat for Non-Christians (1984.04.08 – 1985.05.27)

Cardinal-Deacon of S. Giovanni della Pigna (1985.05.25 – 1996.01.29)

President of Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue (1985.05.27 – 2002.10.01)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Giovanni della Pigna pro hac vice Title (1996.01.29 – 2005.04.25)

Prefect of Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2002.10.01 – 2008.12.09)

Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri–Segni (2005.04.25 [2005.05.22] – ...)

Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp.
(1950.04.18 – 1967.06.26)

Born:	1890.11.29 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1921.09.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1927.05.29
Died:	1967.06.26 († 76)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Southern Nigeria (Nigeria) (1927.01.24 – 1931.05.21)

Titular Bishop of Balanea (1927.01.24 – 1950.04.18)

Vicar Apostolic of Southern Nigeria (Nigeria) (1931.05.21 – 1934.07.09)

Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha–Owerri (Nigeria) (1934.07.09 – 1948.02.12)

Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1948.02.12 – 1950.04.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1950.04.18 – 1967.06.26)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (1961 – 1966)

Vicars Apostolic of Onitsha (Roman Rite)

Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. (later Archbishop)
(1948.02.12 – 1950.04.18)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Onitsha–Owerri (Roman Rite)

Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. (later Archbishop)
(1934.07.09 – 1948.02.12)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Southern Nigeria (Roman Rite)

Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. (later Archbishop)
(1931.05.21 – 1934.07.09)

(see above)

Bishop Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp.
(1920.04.16 – 1931.05.21)

Born:	1871.06.06 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1900.04.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1920.06.06
Died:	1943.12.25 († 72)

Prefect Apostolic of Lower Niger (Nigeria) (1905.09.20 – 1920.04.16)

Vicar Apostolic of Southern Nigeria (Nigeria) (1920.04.16 – 1931.05.21)

Titular Bishop of Abila Lysaniæ (1920.04.16 – 1943.12.25)

Prefects Apostolic of Lower Niger (Roman Rite)

Fr. Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. (later Bishop)
(1905.09.20 – 1920.04.16)

(see above)

Fr. Léon-Alexander Lejeune, C.S.Sp.
(1900.05.23 – 1905.09.05)

Born:	1861 (France)
Died:	1905.09.05 († 43)

Prefect Apostolic of Lower Niger (Nigeria) (1900.05.23 – 1905.09.05)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke (71) (2001.11.09 – 2003.09.01)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna (1994.09.09 – 1995.02.25)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Francis Arinze (92) (later Cardinal) (1965.07.06 – 1967.06.26)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. (later Archbishop) (1927.01.24 – 1931.05.21)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Denis Chidi Isizoh (68) (2015.02.06 – 2023.02.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Emmanuel Otteh (1990.06.11 – 1996.11.08)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop John of the Cross Anyogu (1957.02.15 – 1962.11.12)