Brief History Continued

In 1993, Bishop Unegbu retired and Bishop Anthony J. V. Obinna, was appointed by His Holiness Pope John Paul II as his successor. On March 26, 1994, the Pope raised Owerri Diocese to an Archdiocese, making it at the same time the Metropolitan See of the newly created Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri. His Holiness equally appointed Most Rev. Anthony J. V. Obinna the first Archbishop of Owerri and head of the new Ecclesiastical Province. Today Owerri Archdiocese has a Catholic population of about 670,986 with 102 Parishes and 12 Chaplaincies.

It is blessed with 259 diocesan priests and 36 Religious priests. Four male Religious Congregations and seven female Religious Congregations are working in the Archdiocese. Owerri is also blessed with about 183 Senior Seminarians and numerous minor seminarians, a good number of Sisters, Brothers, Catechists and Catechizers. Two Major Seminaries are located in this diocese, namely; the Seat of Wisdom Seminary and the Claretian Institute of Philosophy, Maryland Nekede. The Archdiocese has to its credit numerous primary and secondary Schools, Whelan Research Academy, Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Assistant Technology, Hospitals, Maternity Homes, Farms, and so on.