Warri (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Bishop
John ’Oke Afareha, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 10 March 1964
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Benin City
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 11,000 (4,248 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://warridiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Cathedral House, P.O. Box 3650, 5 Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0803)74.55.804

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 - 18 Apr 2022 Retired)
Anthony Ovayero Ewherido (28 Dec 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
10 March 1964	Erected	Diocese of Benin City (Warri)	Diocese of Warri (erected)
17 March 1991	Territory Lost	Diocese of Port Harcourt (Amarata and Imiringi) Diocese of Warri (Bomadi, Burutu, and Patani)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bomadi (erected)
26 March 1994	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Warri (from Lagos)

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

2014 277,000 3,575,000 7.7% 112 13 125 2,216 13 93 115 ap2015

2017 279,270 3,834,770 7.3% 115 17 132 2,115 17 49 128 ap2018

2020 271,503 4,194,530 6.5% 137 14 151 1,798 14 105 135 ap2021

2022 281,503 4,349,000 6.5% 153 19 172 1,636 19 25 150 ap2023

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
2014	277,000	3,575,000	7.7%	112	13	125	2,216	13	93	115	ap2015
2017	279,270	3,834,770	7.3%	115	17	132	2,115	17	49	128	ap2018
2020	271,503	4,194,530	6.5%	137	14	151	1,798	14	105	135	ap2021
2022	281,503	4,349,000	6.5%	153	19	172	1,636	19	25	150	ap2023