Onitsha (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Valerian Maduka Okeke, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 18 April 1950
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 1,390 (536 Square Miles)
Description: Local Government Areas: Dunukofia, Idemili North & South, Ogbaru, and Onitsha North & South
Official Web Site: http://www.onitsha-archdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 1627, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0907)04.97.030; (0813)22.82.437

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore}
- Erected: 25 July 1889
- Country: Nigeria
Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale}
- Latin Name: Nigeriae Meridionalis
- Elevated: 16 April 1920
- Vicariate
- Country: Nigeria
Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri
- Latin Name: Onitshanus-
- Name Changed: 9 July 1934
- Vicariate
- Country: Nigeria
Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha
- Latin Name: Onitshanus
- Split: 12 February 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: Nigeria

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Émile Lutz, C.S.Sp. † (7 Apr 1889 Appointed - 17 Apr 1895 Died)
Joseph Reiling, C.S.Sp. † (Sep 1896 Appointed - 4 Jul 1898 Resigned)
René-Alexis Pawlas, C.S.Sp. † (21 Dec 1898 Appointed - 15 Mar 1900 Died)
Léon-Alexandre Lejeune, C.S.Sp. † (23 May 1900 Appointed - 5 Sep 1905 Died)
Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. † (20 Sep 1905 Appointed - 21 May 1931 Resigned)
Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. † (21 May 1931 Succeeded - 6 Feb 1967 Died)
Francis Arinze (26 Jun 1967 Appointed - 9 Mar 1985 Resigned)
Stephen Nweke Ezeanya † (9 Mar 1985 Appointed - 25 Feb 1995 Retired)
Albert Kanene Obiefuna † (25 Feb 1995 Succeeded - 1 Sep 2003 Resigned)
Valerian Maduka Okeke (1 Sep 2003 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore}
25 July 1889	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin	Prefecture Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale}
16 April 1920	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore}	Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale}
Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri
9 July 1934	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri
Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha
12 February 1948	Split	Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri	Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha Vicariate Apostolic of Owerri (Owerri and Owerri River)
Archdiocese of Onitsha
18 April 1950	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha	Archdiocese of Onitsha
12 November 1962	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Onitsha (Awgu, Udi, and Nsukka)	Diocese of Enugu (erected)
10 November 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Onitsha (Awka, Njikoka, Aguata, and part of Oji River)	Diocese of Awka (erected)
9 November 2001	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Onitsha (Nnewi with Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ekwusigo, and Ihiala (except Uli))	Diocese of Nnewi (erected)
12 February 2023	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Onitsha (Local Government Areas: Anambra West & East, Oyi, and Ayamelum)	Diocese of Aguleri (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Onitsha

1950 139,390 1,250,000 11.2% 58 53 111 1,255 40 ap1951

1970 380,000 1,291,800 29.4% 35 15 50 7,600 15 43 4 ap1971

1980 375,000 960,000 39.1% 50 13 63 5,952 38 91 34 ap1981

1990 754,498 1,174,744 64.2% 111 26 137 5,507 82 228 66 ap1991

1999 1,426,559 2,173,536 65.6% 256 37 293 4,868 116 357 111 ap2000

2000 1,543,213 2,260,209 68.3% 243 37 280 5,511 128 449 113 ap2001

2001 1,558,714 .0% 267 23 290 0 132 436 68 ap2002*

2002 1,072,127 1,608,190 66.7% 243 22 265 4,045 77 412 75 ap2003

2003 1,094,873 1,648,395 66.4% 261 28 289 3,788 109 420 77 ap2004

2004 1,373,660 2,060,490 66.7% 265 34 299 4,594 119 410 85 ap2005

2013 1,761,000 2,642,000 66.7% 304 32 336 5,241 133 597 151 ap2014

2016 1,913,423 2,870,133 66.7% 340 27 367 5,213 153 569 160 ap2017

2019 2,141,900 3,142,460 68.2% 471 41 512 4,183 129 702 183 ap2020

2021 2,133,231 4,266,462 50.0% 360 37 397 5,373 132 633 184 ap2022

2022 2,215,025 4,060,880 54.5% 528 20 548 4,042 84 702 189 bul:12Feb2023

2023 1,857,060 2,203,820 84.3% 415 13 428 4,338 78 392 126 bul:12Feb2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Onitsha
1950	139,390	1,250,000	11.2%	58	53	111	1,255		40		ap1951
1970	380,000	1,291,800	29.4%	35	15	50	7,600	15	43	4	ap1971
1980	375,000	960,000	39.1%	50	13	63	5,952	38	91	34	ap1981
1990	754,498	1,174,744	64.2%	111	26	137	5,507	82	228	66	ap1991
1999	1,426,559	2,173,536	65.6%	256	37	293	4,868	116	357	111	ap2000
2000	1,543,213	2,260,209	68.3%	243	37	280	5,511	128	449	113	ap2001
2001		1,558,714	.0%	267	23	290	0	132	436	68	ap2002*
2002	1,072,127	1,608,190	66.7%	243	22	265	4,045	77	412	75	ap2003
2003	1,094,873	1,648,395	66.4%	261	28	289	3,788	109	420	77	ap2004
2004	1,373,660	2,060,490	66.7%	265	34	299	4,594	119	410	85	ap2005
2013	1,761,000	2,642,000	66.7%	304	32	336	5,241	133	597	151	ap2014
2016	1,913,423	2,870,133	66.7%	340	27	367	5,213	153	569	160	ap2017
2019	2,141,900	3,142,460	68.2%	471	41	512	4,183	129	702	183	ap2020
2021	2,133,231	4,266,462	50.0%	360	37	397	5,373	132	633	184	ap2022
2022	2,215,025	4,060,880	54.5%	528	20	548	4,042	84	702	189	bul:12Feb2023
2023	1,857,060	2,203,820	84.3%	415	13	428	4,338	78	392	126	bul:12Feb2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

John of the Cross Anyogu † (Priest: 8 Dec 1930; Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Feb 1957 to 12 Nov 1962)
Michael Ugwu Eneja † (Priest: 29 Jul 1951 to 12 Nov 1962)
Stephen Nweke Ezeanya † (Priest: 20 Dec 1953; Archbishop: 9 Mar 1985 to 25 Feb 1995)
Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 24 Jan 1927; Vicar Apostolic: 21 May 1931; Archbishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 6 Feb 1967)
Léon-Alexandre Lejeune, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 23 May 1900 to 5 Sep 1905)
Joseph Émile Lutz, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 7 Apr 1889 to 17 Apr 1895)
Anthony Gogo Nwedo, C.S.Sp. †
Albert Kanene Obiefuna † (Priest: 21 Dec 1963 to 10 Nov 1977; Coadjutor Archbishop: 9 Sep 1994; Archbishop: 25 Feb 1995 to 1 Sep 2003)
Simon Akwali Okafor † (Priest: 21 Jul 1963 to 6 Mar 1992)
Godfrey Mary Paul Okoye, C.S.Sp. †
Emmanuel Otteh † (Priest: 30 Jul 1961; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Jun 1990 to 8 Nov 1996)
René-Alexis Pawlas, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 21 Dec 1898 to 15 Mar 1900)
Joseph Reiling, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: Sep 1896 to 4 Jul 1898)
Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 20 Sep 1905; Vicar Apostolic: 22 Apr 1920 to 21 May 1931)
Mark Onwuha Unegbu † (Priest: 30 Jun 1944 to 12 Feb 1948)