Diocese of Warri

Dioecesis Varriensis

Bishop(s)

John ’Oke Afareha, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 10 March 1964
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Benin City
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 10,650 (4,113 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Cathedral House, P.O. Box 3650, 66 Warri-Sapele Rd., Warri, Delta State, Nigeria
Telephone: (053)25.12.77
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Lucas Olu Chukwuka Nwaezeapu † (10 Mar 1964 Appointed - 10 Sep 1983 Resigned)
Edmund Joseph Fitzgibbon, S.P.S. † (31 Aug 1991 Appointed - 3 Mar 1997 Resigned)
Richard Anthony Burke, S.P.S. (3 Mar 1997 Succeeded - 24 Dec 2007 Appointed, Archbishop of Benin City)
John ’Oke Afareha (29 Mar 2010 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
10 March 1964	Erected	Diocese of Benin City	Diocese of Warri (erected)
17 March 1991	Territory Lost	Diocese of Port Harcourt Diocese of Warri	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bomadi (erected)

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

1969 62,204 843,615 7.4% 28 16 44 1,413 16 10 8 ap1971

1978 112,180 1,720,000 6.5% 16 9 25 4,487 9 17 11 ap1981

1990 123,531 2,007,000 6.2% 22 7 29 4,259 7 25 23 ap1991

1999 162,512 2,305,329 7.0% 44 2 46 3,532 2 32 36 ap2000

2000 167,787 2,372,652 7.1% 47 3 50 3,355 3 30 36 ap2001

2001 174,657 2,491,797 7.0% 54 4 58 3,011 4 37 40 ap2002

2002 176,576 2,495,000 7.1% 58 4 62 2,848 4 40 42 ap2003

2003 178,684 2,510,496 7.1% 61 6 67 2,666 6 44 42 ap2004

2004 186,298 2,614,857 7.1% 66 6 72 2,587 6 50 44 ap2005

2010 260,131 3,384,000 7.7% 80 13 93 2,797 13 60 56 ap2011

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1969	62,204	843,615	7.4%	28	16	44	1,413	16	10	8	ap1971
1978	112,180	1,720,000	6.5%	16	9	25	4,487	9	17	11	ap1981
1990	123,531	2,007,000	6.2%	22	7	29	4,259	7	25	23	ap1991
1999	162,512	2,305,329	7.0%	44	2	46	3,532	2	32	36	ap2000
2000	167,787	2,372,652	7.1%	47	3	50	3,355	3	30	36	ap2001
2001	174,657	2,491,797	7.0%	54	4	58	3,011	4	37	40	ap2002
2002	176,576	2,495,000	7.1%	58	4	62	2,848	4	40	42	ap2003
2003	178,684	2,510,496	7.1%	61	6	67	2,666	6	44	42	ap2004
2004	186,298	2,614,857	7.1%	66	6	72	2,587	6	50	44	ap2005
2010	260,131	3,384,000	7.7%	80	13	93	2,797	13	60	56	ap2011

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

John ’Oke Afareha (Priest: 30 Dec 1973; Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Mar 1997; Bishop: 29 Mar 2010 - )
Richard Anthony Burke, S.P.S. (Coadjutor Bishop: 6 Dec 1995; Bishop: 3 Mar 1997; Apostolic Administrator: 24 Dec 2007 to 24 Dec 2007)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph O. Egerega † (Priest: 21 Dec 1969 to 3 Mar 1997)
Edmund Joseph Fitzgibbon, S.P.S. † (Apostolic Administrator: 20 Nov 1975; Bishop: 31 Aug 1991 to 3 Mar 1997)
Lucas Olu Chukwuka Nwaezeapu † (Bishop: 10 Mar 1964 to 10 Sep 1983)