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Archdiocese of Onitsha

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Archdiocese of Onitsha
Archidiœcesis Onitshanus
Holy Trinity Basilica
Holy Trinity Basilica
Location
Country Nigeria
Ecclesiastical province Onitsha
Coordinates 6°9′59.9472″N 6°46′59.9226″E / 6.166652000°N 6.783311833°E
Statistics
Area 1,390 km2 (540 sq mi)
Population
Total
Catholics 		(as of 2023)
2,203,820
1,857,060 (84.3%)
Parishes 126
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established July 27, 1889, as Apostolic Prefecture of the Lower Niger
April 16, 1920, as Apostolic Vicariate of the Southern Nigeria
April 18, 1950, as Archdiocese of Onitsha
Cathedral Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha
Patron saint Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi
Secular priests 428
Current leadership
Pope Leo XIV
Archbishop Valerian Okeke
Suffragans Abakaliki, Aguleri, Awgu, Awka, Enugu, Ekwulobia, Nnewi, Nsukka
Vicar General Johnbosco Okafor
Episcopal Vicars Victor Mbanisi
Martin Ikeagu
Aloysius Ikekwe
Victor Ezeanya
Map
Anambra's location in the Nigeria map
Website
www.onitsha-archdiocese.org

The Archdiocese of Onitsha (Latin: Archidiœcesis Onitshanus) is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in Anambra State, Nigeria. It encompasses the towns of Onitsha, Ogidi, Nkpor, Nnobi, Ojoto, Oba, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Umuoji, Umudioka and Abatete.

The Archdiocese of Onitsha is the largest diocese in Nigeria by population, encompassing 196 parishes that serve around 1.3 million Catholics, in addition to hundreds of Catholic schools, hospitals and charities. The archdiocese also operates All Hallows Seminary in Onitsha. The archbishop is also the metropolitan of the larger Ecclesiastical Province of Onitsha.

Trinitas Newspaper is the digital news outlet of the archdiocese and includes a website, social media channels, and a weekly e-newsletter.

Bishop Joseph Shanahan was appointed the first Apostolic Prefect of what was then the Apostolic Prefecture of the Lower Niger in 1889 and the Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Nigeria in 1920. Francis Cardinal Arinze became the first indigenous archbishop of the diocese. On 28 November 2001, Valerian Okeke was appointed Coadjutor archbishop of Onitsha by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated the archbishop of the diocese on 9 February 2002 by Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla.

Prelature

The ordinary of the Archdiocese of Onitsha is an archbishop whose cathedral is the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity in Onitsha. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see of the ecclesiastical province of Onitsha, which includes the following suffragan dioceses:[1]

The ecclesiastical province includes all of Anambra State, Enugu State, and Ebonyi State. As such, the metropolitan archbishop possesses certain limited authority over the suffragan sees of the province (see Ecclesiastical Province § Catholic Church).

History

The Catholic Mission was established in Nigeria on 5 December 1885 with the advent of the missionaries of the Holy Ghost Fathers when they came to Onitsha. They include the religious mainly from France, Ireland and Alsace–Lorraine. On 25 July 1889, Onitsha was erected as an Apostolic Prefecture of the Lower Niger. It was formed from 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 Apostolic Vicariate of Onitsha-Owerri and later on 12 February 1948, as the Vicariate of Onitsha.

On 18 April 1950, the Vicariate was promoted to an archdiocese together with the archdioceses of Lagos and Kaduna. Its cathedral was granted a minor basilica in 2007.[2]

Leadership

Prefects Apostolic of Lower Niger {Niger Inferiore}
Vicars Apostolic of Southern Nigeria {Nigeria Meridionale}
  • Bishop Joseph Shanahan, C.S.Sp. see above 16 April 1920 - 21 May 1931
  • Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. 21 May 1931 – 9 July 1934 see below
Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri
  • Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. see above 9 July 1934 – 12 February 1948 see below
Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha
  • Bishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. see above 12 February 1948 – 18 April 1950 see below
Archbishops of Onitsha
  • Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. see above 18 April 1950 – 26 June 1967
  • Archbishop Francis Arinze 1967.06.26 – 1985.03.09, already appointed Pro-Prefect of the Secretariat of Non-Christians in 1984; elevated to Cardinal in 1985
  • Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya 1985.03.09 – 1995.02.25
  • Archbishop Albert Obiefuna 1995.02.25 – 2003.09.01
  • Archbishop Valerian Okeke since 2003.09.01

Coadjutor Bishops

  • Francis Arinze (1965–1967), did not have right of succession (?) but was appointed Archbishop here; future Cardinal
  • Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. (1927–1931), as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic
  • Albert Obiefuna (1994–1995), as Coadjutor Archbishop
  • Valerian Okeke (2001–2003), as Coadjutor Archbishop

Auxiliary Bishops

Other archdiocesan priests who became bishops

Parishes

Schools

Catholic charitable organizations

Religious figures associated with archdiocese

Blesseds

See also

Canonical status and jurisdiction

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church.[3]

References

  1. Back to citation "Ecclesiastical Province of Onitsha". Nigeria Catholic Network. 2025-12-30. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  2. Back to citation "History Of Onitsha ARCHDIOCESE". Igbo Genealogy & Biographies. 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  3. Back to citation Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, official website
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