Augustine Ndubueze Echema (born 28 December 1958 in Ohuhu Nsulu) has been a Catholic prelate and the bishop of Aba Diocese since 2019. He is a professor of Liturgy at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Nigeria.[1][2]
Education
editHe attended St. Peter Claver Minor Seminary, Okpala from 1972 to1977 for his secondary education where he became interested in priesthood. He studied philosophy from 1978 to 1982 and theology from 1982 to 1986 at Bigard Memorial Seminary in Ikot Ekpene.[3][4]
Priestly career
editEchema was ordained a Catholic priest on 16 August 1986 for the Owerri Diocese. In 1989, three years after his ordination proceeded to Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt where he studied for his doctorate degree in Theology majoring in liturgy. He finished in 1994. He spent his early career at St. Peter Claver Minor Seminary, Okpala as Formator 1986 to 1988 and was parish priest of St. Mark Parish in Umuneke Ngor for one year (1988 – 1989).[5] From 1994 to 1995, Echema was in Frankfurt, Germany for studies. He served as parish priest of Joseph in Schwalbach, in the German Diocese of Limburg from 1996 to 1998. Following his return to Nigeria, he became deputy chaplain of CIWA and was appointed a professor of liturgy at the institution.[6][7][8]
On 28 December 2019, Pope Francis appointed Echema bishop of Aba Diocese which had been without a local Ordinary for some period.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ Nigeria, Guardian (2020-03-03). "Augustine Echema: The making of a bishop". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ EWTN. "Pioneer Bishop of Nigerian Diocese Urged to Speak Out against "reckless spilling of blood"". ACI Africa. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ "Pope Francis Appoints New Bishop For Aba Diocese – Catholic Diocese of Warri". Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ Hounsou, Jean-Baptiste (2019-12-28). "Aba Diocese of Nigeria gets new Bishop". Radio Angelus - 24 online Catholic radio station. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ "AFRICA/NIGERIA - Appointment of the Bishop of Aba - Agenzia Fides". fides.org. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ Ambassador, National (2020-01-30). "Sir Oko Chukwu Visits Catholic Bishop-Elect , Congratulates Him". Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ Emeruwa, Chijindu (2021-02-14). "Gov Ikpeazu commends Catholic community for supporting his govt". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ "Mh. Padre Augustine Ndubueze ateuliwa kuwa Askofu wa Jimbo Katoliki la Aba, Nigeria - | Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va (in Swahili). 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ Rapheal (2020-02-12). "Aba Catholic Dioceses receives Bishop after 5 years". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ Hounsou, Jean-Baptiste (2019-12-28). "Aba Diocese of Nigeria gets new Bishop". Radio Angelus - 24 online Catholic radio station. Retrieved 2024-11-02.