Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Italian. (February 2011) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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Archdiocese of Onitsha Archidioecesis Onitshanus | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Territory | Anambra State |
| Ecclesiastical province | Onitsha |
| Coordinates | 6°9′59.9472″N 6°46′59.9226″E / 6.166652000°N 6.783311833°E |
| Statistics | |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2004) 2,060,490 1,373,660 (66.7%) |
| Parishes | 85 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established | 1950.04.18 |
| Cathedral | Holy Trinity Basilica |
| Secular priests | 299 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Archbishop | Most Rev. Valerian Okeke |
| Suffragans | Abakaliki, Awgu, Awka, Enugu, Nnewi, Nsukka |
| Auxiliary Bishops | Auxiliary Bishop Most, Rev. . Denis Chidi Isizoh (2015-present); ; appointed by Pope Francis on Friday, February 6, 2015[1] |
| Map | |
 Anambra State is shown in red | |
| Website | |
| Onitsha-Archdiocese.org | |
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha (Latin: Onitshan(us)) is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria.
History
- 1889.07.25: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Lower Niger from the Apostolic Vicariate of Benin Coast
- 1920.04.16: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Nigeria
- 1934.07.09: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Onitsha–Owerri
- 1948.02.12: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Onitsha
- 1950.04.18: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha
Special churches
The seat of the archbishop is the Holy Trinity Basilica (the only Basilica in Nigeria) in Onitsha.
Leadership
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Onitsha(Roman rite)
- Archbishop Valerian Okeke since 2003.09.01
- Archbishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna 1995.02.25 – 2003.09.01
- Archbishop Stephen Nweke Ezeanya 1985.03.09 – 1995.02.25
- Cardinal Francis Arinze 1967.06.26 – 1985.03.09
- Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. 1950.04.18 – 1967.06.26
- Vicars Apostolic of Onitsha (Roman rite)
- Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. 1948.02.12 – 1950.04.18
- Vicars Apostolic of Onitsha–Owerri (Roman rite)
- Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. 1934.07.09 – 1948.02.12
- Vicars Apostolic of Southern Nigeria (Roman rite)
- Archbishop Charles Heerey, C.S.Sp. 1931.05.21 – 1934.07.09
- Bishop Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. 1920.04.16 – 1931.05.21
- Prefects Apostolic of Lower Niger (Roman rite)
- Bishop Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan, C.S.Sp. 1905.09.20 – 1920.04.16
- Fr. Léon-Alexander Lejeune, C.S.Sp. 1900.05.23 – 1905.09.05