By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
The Holy Father, Pope Francis has announced the appointment of Reverend Father Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Rector Magnificus of the Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Ibadan, Nigeria as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Warri.
Disclosing the appointment to the Presbyter’s, Religious and Lay faithful of Warri Diocese on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Warri, His Grace, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze, Catholic Archbishop of Benin City Archdiocese and Apostolic Administrator of Warri Diocese described, Rt. Rev. Monsignor Anthony Ewherido as a man sound in moral, with pastoral zeal and well dedicated.
“The Holy Father has appointed a priest sound in moral, with pastoral zeal and well dedicated. A priest who love the Church and has accepted the appointment”.
Rt. Rev. Monsignor Anthony Ovayero Ewherido was born on October 8,1960, in Eghwu, Ughelli South LGA of Delta State in the Diocese of Warri.
Rt. Rev. Monsignor Anthony Ewherido attended the Holy Martyrs of Uganda Seminary Effurun, in Uvwie LGA of Delta State. Thereafter he proceeds to completed his Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary in Ibadan where he completed his Philosophical and Theological Studies.
He was ordained a Catholic priest on October 18, 1986, for the Diocese of Warri.
Rt. Rev. Monsignor Ewherido later attended St’ John’s University and Fordham University in New York, where he earned a Doctorate in Biblical Studies. He later obtained a Diploma from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome.
He has held the following offices: associate priest of Saint Jude’s Catholic Church, Effurun (1986 – 1987); Rector of the Holy Martyrs of Uganda Minor Seminary in Effurun (1988-1992); and parish priest of the Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church, Effurun (1992-1994).
He has held the office of residential priest with pastoral responsibilities at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Floral Park (1994-2005) and Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Coram, New York (1995-2006); chaplain at Stony Brook University Medical Center in Stony Brook, New York (1995-2006); and parish priest of the Sacred Heart in Abraka, Nigeria (2006-2007).
Since 2007, Ewherido was formator and teacher at the Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Ibadan.
He was also a Vice Rector of the Saints Peter and Paul Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Ibadan (2013-2019); lecturer at the Dominican Institute in Samonda, Ibadan (2013-2021).
Until his appointment, the bishop elect is the Rector of the Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Ibadan since 2019, and a Professor of Biblical Theology and Languages. He will succeeds Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze of Benin City archdiocese and apostolic administrator of Warri Diocese.
The news of his appointment and acceptance was greeted with joy as Catholic faithful and none Catholics alike expressed their confidence in him, describing him as a brilliant, humble, calm, diligent and discipline man with huge pastoral experience.
The seat of the bishop has been vacant since April, 2022 when Most Rev. John OkeOghene Afareha attained the canonical year of retirement at 75, and the Catholic archbishop of Benin City was appointed as the apostolic administrator of Warri.