The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed Rev Msgr. Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu, a priest of the diocese of Orlu and the current parish priest of of St. Joseph in Umuna, as the auxiliary bishop of Orlu diocese, assigning him the titular see of Orreacelia.
Rev Msgr Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu was born on 1 January 1966 in Uli, Anambra State.
He attended the Minor Seminary, Umuowa, St. Joseph Major Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene (1987-1991), and later Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu (1991-1995). He obtained a Master’s degree in Philosophy from Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain (2001-2003) and a Master’s degree in Public Management and Policy from Indiana University in the United States of America (2005-2008).
He was ordained a priest on 26 August 1995 for the the Diocese of Orlu.
He held the following positions: Chaplain of Amaigbo hospital (1995-1997); parish priest of St. Theresa in Amauju, Isunjaba (1997-2001); Parish Vicar of St. Patrick in Kokomo, Indiana, in the United States of America (2004-2010); US Army Chaplain (2010-2017); parish priest of Holy Rosary in Orlu (2017-2018); parish priest of St. Michael in Urualla (2018-2023); Dean of the St. Michael pastoral zone (2018-2023); Parish Priest of St. Joseph in Umuna, Orlu, since 2023
