Gregory Obinna Ochiagha
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Orlu
SeeHoly See
Orders
Ordination31 July 1960
Consecration6 January 1981
Personal details
Born(1931-08-31)August 31, 1931
Nigeria
DiedDecember 29, 2020(2020-12-29) (aged 89)
Nigeria
Buried12th January 2021
NationalityNigerian
DenominationChristianity

Gregory Obinna Ochiagha (31 August 1931 – 29 December 2020) was a Nigerian Roman Catholic bishop. He was the first Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlu, a position he held until he retired in 2008 and handed over to Bishop Augustine T. Ukwuoma his successor.[1]

Life and career

Ochiagha was born in Nigeria and was ordained to the priesthood on July 31, 1960.[2] He served in various Catholic parishes and institutions for several years as a priest. He served as the first Rector of St. Joseph Major, Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Ochiagha was ordained a bishop in Rome on January 6, 1981, and was thereafter appointed as the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlu, Nigeria. He served in that capacity until 2008 when he retired and handed over to Bishop Augustine T Ukwuoma who is the current bishop of the diocese.[3]

In 1990s Ochiagha reintroduced the Traditional Latin Mass in the Orlu diocese, becoming the first diocese in Nigeria to offer mass in Latin.[4] In 2009 he invited the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter to establish a parish in his diocese.[5]

Death and burial

Ochiagha died on December 29, 2020, at a ripe age of 89. He was buried on January 12, 2021, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Orlu, Nigeria, a magnificent edifice he built while serving as the bishop of Orlu diocese.[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Presidency condoles with Catholics over Ochiagha's demise". guardian.ng. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  2. ↑ Emeka Omeihe,"Tale of three bishops". thenationonlineng.net. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Diocese of Orlu
  4. ↑ Schmitz, Matthew (30 September 2017). "The Latin Mass, Thriving in Southeastern Nigeria". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  5. ↑ Kollmorgen, Gegor (21 January 2009). "Personal Parish for FSSP in Nigeria". New Liturgical Movement. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  6. ↑ Deji Elumoye,"Buhari Mourns Catholic Bishop". thisdaylive.com. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Buhari, Uzodimma laud Bishop Ochiagha as he is buried". encomium.ng. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
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