Roman rite
bishops belonging to the Maronite line – updated
9 April 2024
Since the
previous update of 29 July 2023, the number of Roman rite bishops belonging to
the Maronite line has increased by one with the ordination of an auxiliary
bishop for the Diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria.
On 19 December
2023, Father Simeon Okezuo Nwobi, C.M.F., was ordained Titular Bishop of
Rusguniae and Auxiliary to the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of
Ahiara, Nigeria, by Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri who was assisted
by Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of Makurdi and Bishop Augustine Tochukwe
Ukwuoma of Orlu.
With this
episcopal ordination, there are now fourteen Roman rite bishops belonging to
the Maronite line: five in Nigeria and nine in the Caribbean. They are:
in Nigeria:
Archbishop Joseph Effiong Ekuwem of Calabar
Archbishop Lucius Iewjuru Ugorji of Owerri
Bishop Donatus Edet Akpan of Ogoja
Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Naseri-Mutiti Naseri of Calabar
Auxiliary Bishop Simeon Okezuo Nwobi, C.M.F., of Ahiara
in the Caribbean:
Kelvin Edward Cardinal Felix, Archbishop emeritus of Castries
Archbishop Edward Joseph Gilbert, C.Ss.R., emeritus of Port of
Spain
Archbishop Joseph Everard Harris, C.S.Sp., emeritus of Port of
Spain
Archbishop Patrick Christopher Punder of Nassau
Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon of Port of Spain
Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire of Castries
Bishop Francis Dean Alleyne, O.S.B., of Georgetown
Bishop Robert Anthony Llanos of Saint John’s-Basseterre
Bishop Gerard Maximin County, C.S.Sp., of Kingstown