Uli community in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State is in celebration mood as His Holiness, Pope Francis appoints their son Monsignor Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu as Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, Imo State.
Uli town is within the Ecclesiastical Province of Orlu in Imo State.
According a statement by the Church, Monsignor Obiatuegwu will be officially ordained on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Orlu.
Thereafter, he will be hosted to a grand reception by the Uli community on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Uli.
However, until his appointment, Monsignor Obiatuegwu was the Parish Priest of St Joseph Umunna Catholic Church where he was assigned the Titular See of Horrea Coelia.
He was born on the 1st January, 1966 in Uli, Anambra State. He attended the Minor Seminary in Umuowa, the Saint Joseph’s Major Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene and subsequently, the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu.
He obtained a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain and another Master’s Degree in Public Management and Policy from Indiana University, United States of America.
Monsignor Obiatuegwu was ordained a priest in 1995 for the clergy of the Diocese of Orlu. Since then, he has held several offices including: Chaplain of the hospital of Amaigbo, Parish Priest, St Theresa’s church, Amauju, Isunjaba, Parish Vicar, Saint Patrick’s Church, Kokoma, Indiana, United States of America.
He was also Chaplain of the USA Army, Parish Priest, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Orlu, Parish Priest, St Michael’s Catholic Church, Urualla and Dean, St Michael’s Pastoral Zone before his recent appointment.
