Roman Catholic Diocese of Awka
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Awka (Latin: Avkaën(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Awka, Anambra State in the Ecclesiastical province of Onitsha in Nigeria. The Diocese boasts of having the highest number of priests amongst other Catholic dioceses in Africa as a whole.
Diocese of Awka Dioecesis Avkaensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Territory | a portion of Anambra State |
| Ecclesiastical province | Onitsha |
| Metropolitan | Archbishop of Onitsha |
| Coordinates | 6°12′25″N 7°04′04″E |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 1,551 km2 (599 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members) | (as of 2006) 1,277,990 635,595 (49.7%) |
| Parishes | 137 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established | 10 November 1977 |
| Cathedral | Saint Patrick Cathedral in Awka |
| Secular priests | 572 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Most Rev. Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor |
| Auxiliary Bishops | Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye |
| Map | |
 Awka is located in Anambra State which is shown here in red. | |
History
- 10 November 1977: Established as Diocese of Awka from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha
- 5 March 2020: Lost territory to the newly created Diocese of Ekwulobia[1]
Bishops
- Bishops of Awka (Roman rite)
- Bishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna (10 November 1977 Appointed - 9 September 1994 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha)
- Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor (9 September 1994 Appointed - 17 April 2010 Retired)
- Bishop Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor (8 July 2011 – present)
Auxiliary Bishops
- Solomon Amanchukwu Amatu (2000-2005), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Okigwe
- Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor (2007-2011), appointed Bishop here
- Simon Akwali Okafor (1992-1994), appointed Bishop here
- Jonas Benson Okoye (2014-)
Other priest of this diocese who became bishop
- Peter Ebere Okpaleke, appointed Bishop of Ahara in 2012
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Nigeria
References
- "Resignations and Appointments, 05.03.2020" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
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