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]

Callistus Valentine Onaga
Bishop Callistus Onaga after celebrating the Igbo Mass to open its eight annual convention in Sacramento, California, on April 24, 2010

Early life and pastoral appointments

Callistus Valentine Onaga is the fifth child of Vincent and Victoria Onaga. His mother was the daughter of Tribal Chief Chukwuani of Ozalla Nkanu. 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][4]

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]

References

1. "Bishop Callistus Valentine Onaga". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. February 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
2. "Diocese of Enugu Dioecesis Enuguensis". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. May 5, 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
3. "The Bishop". Diocese of Enugu. 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-07-24. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
4. "Bishop of Enugu resigns, successor appointed". www.fides.org. February 10, 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
5. "Archbishop Renzo Fratini". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. February 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
6. "BISHOP ONAGA, ORDAINED 5TH BISHOP OF ENUGU, BISHOP ETOKUDOR, APPOINTED BISHOP OF PORT-HARCOURT". Diocese of Ahiara. 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
7. "Archbishop Valerian Okeke". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. February 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
8. "Bishop Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. February 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
9. "Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa". www.recowa.org. February 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
10. "Catholic Bishops of Nigeria". www.cbcn-ng.org. 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
11. "The Word of God and the Building of the Nigerian Nation". www.cbcn-ng.org. 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
12. "Corporate Fact Sheet". www.umuchinemerebank.com. February 10, 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-03-12. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
13. "Dear brothers and sisters..." (PDF). www.iccusaweb.org. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
14. "IGBO CATHOLIC USA CONVENTION 2010". www.iccusaweb.org. April 24, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-24.

Sources

• Catholic Diocese of Enugu www.catholicdioceseenugu.org Retrieved 2010-04-24.
• The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church www.catholic-hierarchy.org Retrieved 2010-04-24.