Callistus Valentine Onaga Explained

Callistus Valentine Onaga

Callistus Valentine Onaga, D.D., (b. September 29, 1958)[1] is the fifth Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Enugu.[1] [2]

Early life and pastoral appointments

Callistus Valentine Onaga is the fifth child of Vincent and Victoria Onaga. His mother was the granddaughter of the Paramount Ruler Chief Chukwuani (died 1930) from Ozalla, Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. Onaga attended St Anthony's Primary School, Agbudu, Nigeria, from 1964 to 1972. He received his secondary education at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Nsude, Nigeria, from 1973 to 1975. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree in sacred theology from the Urban University in Rome in 1987,[3] and was ordained to the priesthood on August 8, 1987.[1] Within the diocese, Onaga held several positions, including pastor at St. Mary's Church in Enugu, Vicar General, Administrator of Holy Ghost Cathedral, and committee chairman for the inauguration of the Diocese of Awgu.[3]

Episcopal appointments

On February 9, 2009, Onaga was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the Enugu diocesan bishop after the resignation of Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji.[4] He was ordained as the Bishop of Enugu on May 2, 2009, by Archbishop Renzo Fratini.[5] [6] His principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Valerian Okeke[7] and Bishop Gbuji.[8] Later that same day, Onaga appointed Monsignor Luke Adike as the diocesan Vicar General, and Very Rev. Fr. Ambrose Chineme Agu as the Diocesan Secretary and Chancellor.[6]

Appointments

Onaga is a member of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa as an ordinary.[9] He is a member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria.[10] At its first Plenary Meeting in 2009, this conference recognized his appointment as a diocesan bishop.[11] As the diocesan bishop, Onaga is the legal holder of its microbank.[12]

2010 visit to America

Onaga was the guest speaker for the Igbo Catholic Community USA (ICCUSA) Eighth Annual Convention between April 23 and 25, 2010,[13] held in Sacramento, California.[14]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bishop Callistus Valentine Onaga . 2010-04-24 . February 10, 2010 . www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
  2. Web site: Diocese of Enugu Dioecesis Enuguensis . 2010-04-24 . May 5, 2009 . www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
  3. Web site: The Bishop . 2010-04-24 . 2009 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20100724014138/http://www.catholicdioceseenugu.org/bishop.html# . 2010-07-24 . dead .
  4. Web site: Bishop of Enugu resigns, successor appointed . 2010-04-24 . February 10, 2009 . www.fides.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613202255/http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=22111# . 2011-06-13 . dead .
  5. Web site: Archbishop Renzo Fratini . 2010-04-24 . February 10, 2010 . www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
  6. Web site: BISHOP ONAGA, ORDAINED 5TH BISHOP OF ENUGU, BISHOP ETOKUDOR, APPOINTED BISHOP OF PORT-HARCOURT. . 2010-04-24 . 2009 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724230231/http://www.ahiaradiocese.org/nationews65.htm# . 2011-07-24 . dead .
  7. Web site: Archbishop Valerian Okeke . 2010-04-24 . February 10, 2010 . www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
  8. Web site: Bishop Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji . 2010-04-24 . February 10, 2010 . www.catholic-hierarchy.org.
  9. Web site: Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa . 2010-04-24 . February 10, 2010 . www.recowa.org . 2010-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100505130540/http://recowa.org/cconferences.php . dead .
  10. Web site: Catholic Bishops of Nigeria . 2010-04-24 . 2009 . www.cbcn-ng.org.
  11. Web site: The Word of God and the Building of the Nigerian Nation . 2010-04-24 . 2009 . www.cbcn-ng.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613202311/http://www.fides.org/eng/documents/Communique_2009.doc# . 2011-06-13 . dead .
  12. Web site: Corporate Fact Sheet . 2010-04-24 . February 10, 2010 . www.umuchinemerebank.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20110312132804/http://www.umuchinemerebank.com/factsheet.html# . 2011-03-12 . dead .
  13. Web site: Dear brothers and sisters... . 2010-04-24 . 2010 . www.iccusaweb.org.
  14. Web site: IGBO CATHOLIC USA CONVENTION 2010 . 2010-04-24 . April 24, 2010 . www.iccusaweb.org.