- Apostolic Nuncio,Onitsha Provincial Bishops,relatives of missionaries expected
- 40 deacons for ordination
By Ononye V C
A wind of solemn celebration of the arrival of the early Catholic missionaries in Onitsha 140 years ago is blowing in the Archdiocese of Onitsha and indeed the entire Onitsha Province as arrangements are in top gear to commemorate the arrival of our fore fathers of faith on December 5,2025.
This milestone,expected to happen at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha would be presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty with the host Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke receiving other bishops from the Ecclesiastical Province and beyond,as well as other top dignitaries and members of the clergy and Religious who will come to felicitate the Archbishop.
Part of the programme of the day include a thanksgiving Mass to be concelebrated by the Nuncio,the Archbishop,other bishops and priests.
According to information reaching our News Desk (though unconfirmed),relatives of the early missionaries from overseas are being expected.
It is also expected that 40 deacons would be ordained on that day followed by other activities that would be lined up on the programme.
The Governor of Anambra State Professor Chukwuma Soludo and the Obi of Onitsha,His Majesty Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe are also expected.
Meanwhile,a deluge of goodwill messages to Archbishop Okeke are being received at the Archdiocesan Secretariat to congratulate him on this historic milestone.
Various sub-committees have been working round the clock to ensure a hitch free celebration top on the agenda being security and welfare of the visitors.
According to records,the Archdiocese of Onitsha was founded by the missionaries of the Holy Ghost congregation mostly from Ireland,France and Alsace, Lorain, with Fr Joseph Lutz landing earlier before Fr Ignatius Shanahan who pioneered education and development in Southern Nigeria.
The missionaries landed at the site of the present Basilica (formerly Holy Trinity Cathedral)on December 5 1885.
The record say Onitsha was erected a Prefecture in July 1889.It became a Vicariate of Southern Nigeria in April 1920 and in 1950,it was raised to the status of an Archdiocese with the establishment of the hierarchy in Nigeria.
Thesame year,Lagos and Kaduna were also made Archdioceses.
Presently,the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha is the metropolitan see for the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province and has given birth to several suffragan dioceses over the years.
The dioceses that sprang up from the Onitsha Archdiocese are:
Enugu which was created on November 12, 1962 .
Others are,Awgu, Udi, and Nsukka dioceses.
Awka Diocese was created on November 10, 1977 while
Nnewi was created on November 9, 2001.
Abakaliki, Awgu, and Nsukka dioceses are also part of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province.
Ekwulobia Diocese was created on March 5, 2020 while
Aguleri Diocese was created on February 12, 2023.
