Pope Francis appoints Rev Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu auxiliary bishop of Orlu

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu, of the clergy of Orlu.

Until now parish priest of Saint Thomas in Umuna, as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese of Orlu, assigning him the titular see of Horrea Cœlia.

Msgr. Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu was born on 1 January 1966 in Uli, in the State of Anambra. He attended the minor seminary in Umuowa, the Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Ikot-Ekpene (1987-1991) and subsequently the Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu (1991-1995). He obtained a master’s degree in philosophy from the Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain (2001-2003) and a master’s degree in public management and policy from Indiana University in the United States of America (2005-2008).

He was ordained a priest on 26 August 1995 for the clergy of the diocese of Orlu.

He has held the following offices: chaplain of the hospital of Amaigbo (1995-1997); parish priest of Saint Theresa in Amauju, Isunjaba (1997-2001); parish vicar of Saint Patrick in Kokoma, Indiana, United States of America (2004-2010); chaplain of the USA Army (2010-2017); parish priest of Holy Rosary in Orlu (2017-2018); parish priest of Saint Michael in Urualla (2018-2023); dean of the Saint Michael pastoral zone (2018-2023); and since 2023, parish priest of Saint Joseph in Umuna, Orlu.