OWERRI, Diocese of. — It is situated on the southern coast of Nigeria and is entrusted to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.
Before 12 February 1948 its territory formed part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Onitsha-Owerri (see ONITSHA), which, on the aforementioned date, was divided into two independent vicariates: that of Onitsha and that of Owerri. On 18 April 1950, on the occasion of the erection of the episcopal hierarchy in British West Africa, the Apostolic Vicariate of Owerri was raised to the status of a suffragan diocese of Onitsha, which became an archdiocese on the same occasion.
Area: 28,460 sq. km.; population: approx. 2,500,000; Catholics: 271,000 with 128,700 catechumens; Protestants: 173,600; Muslims: approx. 2,000; pagans: approx. 1,925,000. Native priests: 7; foreign priests: 55; native lay brothers: 9 with the novitiate and 16 novices; foreign lay brothers: 3; native sisters: 3 with the novitiate and 37 novices; foreign sisters: 27; some major seminarians are educated in the interdiocesan seminary of Onitsha, and numerous minor seminarians in the minor seminary of Okpala; catechists: 27; male teachers: 2,874; female teachers: 483; one secular and one religious physician; diplomatic nurses: 26 and 49 in training. Principal mission stations: 26; secondary stations: 957; churches: 181; chapels: 393; hospitals: 1; dispensaries: 12; maternity centres: 9. Schools: elementary: 504; secondary: 301; vocational: 1; normal: 5. Catholic Action is active.