His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has today, Monday 29th March, 2010, appointed Most Rev John Oke Afareha the substantive bishop of Warri. He takes possession of the diocese from Tuesday March 30, 2010. He was until his appointment the Auxiliary bishop of the same diocese.
By his appointment, Bishop John Afareha becomes the fourth bishop of that diocese after Bishop Lucas Olu Nwaezeapu (1964-1991), Bishop Edmund Fitzgibbon SPS (1991-1997) and Archbishop Richard Burke SPS (1997-2010).
Bishop Afareha was born on March 10, 1947, and ordained a priest on December 30, 1973. He was appointed Auxiliary bishop of Warri on March 3, 1997 and received Episcopal ordination on May 14, 1997.
The diocese of Warri was created by late Pope John Paul II on March 10, 1964. It covers thirteen Local Government Areas of Delta State and one in Rivers State. The diocese has a Catholic population of 186,298 administered by 91 priests. |
