Twenty (20) Things To Know About The New Catholic Bishop of Nnewi

Most. Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye has been appointed as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi.

Until his appointment by Pope Francis, Most Rev. Benson Okoye was the Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Diocese.

Anaedoonline.ng gathered that Bishop Benson will replace the retiring Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Paul Odilinyechukwu, on February 10th, 2021.

Here are Twenty (20) important things to know about the New Bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese;

1. Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye was born to the family of Mr. Patrick and Mrs Theresa Anazoba Okoye of Amata clan in Adazi-Nnukwu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

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2. He was born in the city of Kaduna on the 25th day of January 1963.

3. Bishop Jonas Benson is the second son and the fifth child in a family of eight children.

4. He started his primary school education at Ojiako Primary School, Adazi-Nnukwu in 1971. In 1972, he returned to Kaduna to continue his primary school education at the prestigious St. Gregory Primary School.

5. His inspiration to the vocation of priesthood was aroused in his early years when he was an altar server under Rev. Fr. Miniham at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral, Kaduna. He however came back to Ojiako Primary School at Adazi-Nnukwu in order to complete his primary education and secure admission into secondary school in the south eastern part of Nigeria.

6. Although he secured admission into the conventional secondary school and the seminary, he willingly opted for the latter, hence his primary priesthood formation between 1976 and 1977 at St. Paul’s Seminary, Ukpor.

7. By 1978, His Lordship Jonas Benson Okoye moved on to All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha after successfully completing one year at St. Paul’s Seminary, Ukpor.

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8. In 1981, he sat for the West African School Certificate Examination. Because of his outstanding performance, he was retained in his Alma Matter the following year to teach the younger seminarians Geography, English Literature and Special Mathematics. He was also appointed the school bursar.

9. In 1983, his Bishop, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. A. K. Obiefuna, the then Bishop of Awka, sent him to Bigard Memorial Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene (now St. Joseph’s Major Seminary) to begin his study of philosophy. At the end of his four year philosophy course at lkot-Ekpene, he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy with honours certified by the Pontifical Urban University, Rome to which the institution was affiliated.

10. He was sent on one year apostolic work to join in the formation of the seminarians at St. John Bosco’s Minor Seminary, Isuaniocha. There, he taught Religion, Liturgy, Latin and English Literature. After a creditable one year service in 1988, the purposeful young Jonas Benson was sent to Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu to begin theological studies as the last phase of his journey to the priesthood.

11. He sat for his Bachelor’s Degree in the study of Divinity in 1992 and obtained a first class grade with honours.

12. Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye was ordained a priest in 1992 by His Grace, Archbishop A. K. Obiefuna at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Adazi-Nnukwu.

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13. After his ordination, he was posted to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Ezinifite as parochial vicar.

14. A year after, 1993, he was appointed Parish Priest of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Oko, where he served for two years. The same 1993, he was appointed Defender of the Bond in Awka Diocesan Ecclesiastical Tribunal which position he held until 1995.

15. In 1995 when he was sent to the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) for post-graduate studies in Canon law (1995-1997). On his return he was appointed the Parish Priest of St. John’s Catholic Church, Neni (1997-2002). He was also the Chaplain, Knights of St. Mulumba, Anaocha Sub-Council (1997-2002); Dean, Neni Deanery (2000-2002); and Vice Officialis Awka Diocesan Ecclesiastical Tribunal (1997-2002).
16. In 2002,Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye was asked to continue his canonical studies at the famous St. Paul University, Ottawa in Canada where he obtained Licentiate Degree in Canon Law (JCL). He then proceeded to Lateran University, Rome (2003-2006) and obtained a Doctorate degree with Summa cum Laude Probatus in Canon Law (JCD). He also did courses in Canonical Jurisprudence in the Roman Rota (2004-2005).

17. In 2006, Bishop Jonas Benson was appointed the Parish Priest of Immaculate Heart Parish, Ekwulobia (2006-2007); Parish Priest, St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Amawbia (2007-2013) as well as the Dean Amawbia Deanery (2007-2013). He was the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Awka and the Dean Awka Deanery II. His Lordship, Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye has been the Judicial Vicar, Catholic Diocese of Awka and a Judge in the Onitsha Inter-Diocesan Ecclesiastical Tribunal from 2007 till his appointment as Bishop.

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18. Some of his published works are: Books Abortion and Euthanasia – The Crime of our Day Equality of Spouses in Can.1135, 1987 A Colloqium of Service, 1997 Can. 1341: Judicial and Pastoral Discretion in the Application of Canonical Penalties, 2002 The Suicide: A Patient or a Sinner? 2006 (In the Light of Canonico-Ecclesiastical Penalty) 2011.

19. His hobbies include reading and writing, engaging discourses on the path to eternity; and playing table tennis.

20. Today 9th November 2021, His Lordship Most Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye, at exactly 12pm, was announced as the new Bishop by the Bishop Emeritus His Lordship Most. Rev. Hilary Odili Paul Okeke. He will officially take over the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi by Febrary 10, 2022.

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