Archdiocese of Calabar

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Bishop(s) Joseph Edra Ukpo, Archbishop Suffragan Dioceses Ikot Ekpene Ogoja Port Harcourt Uyo

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 26 March 1994 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Nigeria Square Kilometers: 7,754 (2,994 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Catholic Secretariat, P.M.B. 1044, Bishop Moynagh Ave., Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria Telephone: (087)231.666

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Calabar
  • Latin Name: Calabarensis
  • Erected: 9 July 1934
  • Country: Nigeria

• Vicariate Apostolic of Calabar
  • Latin Name: Calabarensis
  • Elevated: 12 June 1947
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Nigeria

• Diocese of Calabar
  • Latin Name: Calabarensis
  • Elevated: 18 April 1950
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Onitsha
  • Country: Nigeria

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• James Moynagh, S.P.S. † (26 Oct 1934 Appointed - 5 Feb 1970 Resigned)
• Brian David Usanga † (5 Feb 1970 Appointed - 17 Dec 2003 Retired)
• Joseph Edra Ukpo (17 Dec 2003 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Calabar
9 July 1934	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Calabar (erected)
13 March 1938	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Calabar	Prefecture Apostolic of Ogoja (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Calabar
12 June 1947	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Calabar	Vicariate Apostolic of Calabar
Diocese of Calabar
18 April 1950	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Calabar	Diocese of Calabar
1 March 1963	Territory Lost	Diocese of Calabar	Diocese of Ikot Ekpene (erected)
4 July 1989	Territory Lost	Diocese of Calabar	Diocese of Uyo (erected)
Archdiocese of Calabar
26 March 1994	Elevated	Diocese of Calabar	Archdiocese of Calabar

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Calabar
1950	67,707	899,503	7.5%	1	37	38	1,781			34		ap1951
1958	100,798	1,541,000	6.5%	3		3	33,599			5	20	ap1960
1970	170,632	1,920,401	8.9%	12		12	14,219			119	31	ap1971
1980	394,800	2,809,000	14.1%	27	16	43	9,181		25	43	53	ap1981
1990	150,000	2,500,000	6.0%	13	3	16	9,375		3	42	17	ap1991
Archdiocese of Calabar
1999	178,528	3,005,850	5.9%	32	3	35	5,100		3	30	31	ap2000
2000	184,585	3,505,420	5.3%	34	3	37	4,988		3	39	32	ap2001
2001	187,197	3,509,032	5.3%	36	4	40	4,679		4	42	32	ap2002
2002	189,537	2,301,762	8.2%	34	4	38	4,987		4	40	35	ap2003
2003	191,037	2,304,349	8.3%	37	4	41	4,659		4	40	36	ap2004
2004	191,004	2,303,267	8.3%	37	9	46	4,152		9	52	36	ap2005
2006	322,085	1,084,056	29.7%	41	5	46	7,001		7	57	44	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops

• Dominic Ignatius Ekandem † (Priest: 7 Dec 1947; Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Aug 1953 to 1 Mar 1963)
• Joseph Effiong Ekuwem (Priest: 30 Jun 1979 to 4 Jul 1989)
• James Moynagh, S.P.S. † (Prefect: 26 Oct 1934; Vicar Apostolic: 12 Jun 1947; Bishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 5 Feb 1970)
• Joseph Edra Ukpo (Archbishop: 17 Dec 2003)
• Brian David Usanga † (Priest: 8 Dec 1956; Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Aug 1966; Bishop: 5 Feb 1970; Archbishop: 26 May 1994 to 17 Dec 2003)