THE HISTORY OF CATHOLICISM IN THE DIOCESE OF ORLU
THE ADVENT OF CATHOLICISM IN THE DIOCESE OF ORLU
The early Missionaries to Nigeria only set their feet on what is now known today as the Catholic Diocese of Orlu in 1910. The first resident Priest, Rev. Fr. John Cross Anyaogu, settled at Akokwa in 1936, but available records show that the first Parish to be established in the area was at Amaigbo in 1937, with Rev Fr. Daniel Hackette as its Parish Priest, and later in the same year at Urualla with Rev. Fr. Michael Folley as its Parish Priest. It was in 1966 that the confines of the present Catholic Diocese of Orlu was raised to a Deanery with Rev. Fr. Lawrence Doyle, C.S.Sp., as its first Dean.
THE CREATION OF ORLU DIOCESE:
On November 29, 1980, the Diocese was created out of the then Owerri Diocese (now Owerri Archdiocese), by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. Most Rev. Dr. Gregory O. Ochiagha, ordained bishop in Rome on the 6th of January 1981, was appointed its first bishop subsequent to the inauguration that took place on February 15, 1981. The Patron of the Diocese is the “Most Holy Trinity”. The total population of the Diocese today is above Two Million (2, 000, 000) with Catholics numbering 700, 000. It has 711 Junior Seminarians and 176 Senior Seminarians. Presently 9 Rev. Brothers and 86 Rev Sisters are working in the Diocese. With the Priestly Ordination on January 9, 2010 the number of Diocesan Priests in the Diocese is now 323 excluding 14 Priests who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again. At the creation of the Diocese on 19th November 1980, and the installation of its first bishop on 15th February 1981, there were only 23 established Parishes. At her 10th year of existence, another 27 Parishes were created making it 50. it is on record that within the first ten months of its existence, the bishop created the first three Parishes – St. John’s Parish Umuobom, St. Patrick’s Parish Amucha, and Sacred Heart Parish Orsuihiteukwa. The Diocese now enjoys the total number of 138 Parishes.
THE CREATION OF PASTORAL REGIONS:
It is on record also that the diocese was created into four zones (what we have now as the Pastoral Regions), with a view of making its administration easier and more efficient. The Pastoral Regions are: St. Gregory’s Pastoral Region with its Regional Headquatres at St. Gregory’s Parish, Amaigbo and its Dean as Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Obinabu; Regina Pacis Pastoral Region with its Regional Headquartres at Regina Pacis Parish Ihioma and its Dean as Very Rev. Fr. Finian Nwaozor; St. Michael’s Pastoral Region with its Regional Headquartres at St. Michael’s Parish Urualla and its Dean as Very Rev. Fr. Kenneth Nwokolo; and St. Theresa’s Pastoral Region with its Regional Headquartres at St. Theresa’s Parish Uli and its Dean as Very Rev. Fr. Dominic Nwuzor. The Deans are charged with the responsibility of co-ordinating and helping to enhance the Pastoral Ministry.
SOME OF THE NOTABLE EVENTS IN THE DIOCESE:
Worthy of mention is the inauguration of the first Diocesan Synod from 22nd – 27th November 1999 and the dedication of the Diocesan Cathedral on the 6th of December 2000 by His Excellency Archbishop Osbaldo Padilla, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria. With the celebration of her Silver Jubilee on the 18th of February 2006, which was graced by the then Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, His Excellency Archbishop Renzo Fratini, there is no doubt that there is a high sense of unity, co-operation, and co-ordination between the Bishop, the Priests, the Religious and the Laity of the Diocese. Under the charismatic leadership of Bishop Gregory Ochiagha, the establishment of various solidalities and communities especially Porta Caeli Cistercian Monastery on the 10th of March 2007 at Owerre-Akokwa, Ideato North, has helped the spiritual growth and propagation of faith. The emphasis on the duties of the apostolate is yet to be out-classed. Indeed, this is our pride.
THE ELECTION OF THE SECOND BISHOP OF ORLU:
We are equally happy to note that, on the 25th of March 2008, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI announced to the world the election of a new Bishop of Orlu Diocese. Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Toochukwu Ukwuoma was elected as the second bishop of Orlu to succeed Bishop Gregory Ochiagha in the administration of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu. The Consecration and installation of Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Ukwuoma as the 2nd Bishop of Orlu took place on Saturday 21st June 2008 at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity Orlu. It was presided over by the then Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, His Excellency Archbishop Renzo Fratini as the Principal Consecrator and the Bishop Emeritus Most Rev. Dr. Gregory Ochiagha as the Co-consecrator. With his Consecration and installation, Bishop Augustine T. Ukwuoma becomes the New Shepherd and the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu.
FUTURE HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS:
We live in the hope that the dynamic leadership of our Bishop, the creation of more parishes, the increase in the number of Priests and vocations to the Priesthood, the contributions of the religious and the support of the laity, will go a long way to enhance continually the work of Evangelization in the Diocese.
