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
Saint Patrick Cathedral, Awka
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	(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
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

Special churches

The Cathedral is St. Patrick's Cathedral in Awka.

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 (2014-2021)

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

• Peter Ebere Okpaleke, appointed Bishop of Ahara in 2012

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Nigeria

Sources

• GCatholic.org Information
• Catholic Hierarchy