Pope Francis has appointed the Rev. Msgr. Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu, clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, Auxiliary Bishop of the same diocese, assigning him the titular see of Horrea Cœlia. Prior to the appointment, he was the Parish Priest of Saint Thomas Umuna Catholic Church, Orlu Diocese. Born on January 1, 1966 in Uli, Anambra State, Msgr. Obiatuegwu was ordained a priest on August 26, 1995 for the clergy of the Diocese of Orlu. He is an alumnus of Minor Seminary in Umuowa, Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Ikot-Ekpene and Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu.
He holds Master’s degrees in Philosophy from the Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain and Public Management and Policy from Indiana University in the United States of America. The Auxiliary Bishop-Elect has served in various capacities as Chaplain of the hospital of Amaigbo (1995-1997); Parish Priest, Saint Theresa Catholic Church, Amauju, Isunjaba (1997-2001); Parish Vicar, Saint Patrick Catholic Church, Kokoma, Indiana, United States of America (2004-2010) and Chaplain of the USA Army (2010-2017). Msgr.
Obiatuegwu was also at various times Parish Priest, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Orlu (2017- 2018); Parish Priest of Saint Michael Catholic Church, Urualla (2018-2023); Dean of the Saint Michael pastoral zone (2018- 2023); and since 2023, Parish Priest of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Umuna, Orlu. Upon the rites of episcopal ordination, he will assist 70- year old Most Rev. Augustine Tochukwu Ukwuoma who has been Bishop of the Diocese since June 2008.