BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE
| Date of Diocesan creation | 16th May, 1961 |
|---|---|
| Patron of the Diocese | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| No. of Bishops in history | Six |
| No. of Diocesan Priests | One hundred and ninety three |
| No. of Religious Priests | Thirty-two |
| No. of Religious Sisters | One hundred and seventy-three |
| No. of Deaneries | Eleven |
| No. of Parishes | One hundred and fifty-one |
| No. of Chaplaincies | Six |
| No. of Catholic Schools | Seventy-three |
| No. of Catholic Hospitals | One |
BRIEF HISTORY OF PAST AND PRESENT BISHOPS OF PORT HARCOURT
BISHOP GODFREY MARY PAUL OKOYE (1961-1967)
The result of the efforts of the Missionaries in the Evangelization of the areas of the people of Ikwerre, Ogba, Egbema, Ogoni, Kalabari, Etche and the eastern part of Ijaw land was the creation of Port Harcourt Diocese on May 16, 1961 from Owerri Diocese. Most Rev. Godfrey Mary Paul Okoye, CSSp, from the present Anambra State was appointed the first Bishop. He was consecrated and installed on September 3, 1961. He worked tirelessly from that year to 1970, establishing Primary and Secondary Schools, building hospital and clinics in various parts of the Diocese. The schools were centres of Evangelization, education and Primary Health Care.
Within the first three years of his Episcopal ministry, he worked hard to bring the Diocese to almost the same standard as other Dioceses in Nigeria. A well-organized Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) helped the Catholic educational system in spreading the gospel. There were about fourteen Parishes in Port Harcourt Diocese before the Civil War of the Eastern Region of Nigeria began in July 1967.
He was relentless in his services to the Church and the State. The Port Harcourt City Council rewarded him by naming a street after him.
His nine years in Port Harcourt Diocese saw formidable task of opening the waterlogged towns of the Diocese that were very difficult to penetrate.
One of the greatest tragedies of the Nigerian civil war was the takeover of schools by the then military government, which deprived the Catholic Church of her greatest instrument of Evangelization, a situation, which became mainly responsible for moral decay among the youths. It was recently that the schools were returned to the Diocese.
DOMINIC CARDINAL EKANDEM (1970-1974)
Dominic Cardinal Ekandem (then Bishop of Ikot Ekpene) became the Apostolic Administrator of Port Harcourt Diocese in addition to his See of Ikot Ekpene in 1970. He was assisted by the Vincentian Fathers, and St. Patrick Society Fathers. A few Priests came from Benin and Warri Dioceses to help. There were also the Daughters of Charity, Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters and the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus who helped in the missionary work of the Diocese. He began the work of recovery of Church property in the Diocese.
BISHOP EDMUND FITZGIBBON (1974-1992)
Bishop Edmund Fitzgibbon, SPS, continued the work of recovery so well begun by Bishop (later Cardinal) Ekandem. His outstanding works were the rehabilitation of the Junior Seminary built by Bishop Godfrey Okoye, the building of Corpus Christi Cathedral and the provision of conducive facilities for the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA). In continuation of his work towards the welfare of the weak and the disadvantaged, he established the Compassion Home for the physically handicapped and “The Child” for the mentally sick children, run by the Religious Sisters of Charity and the Daughters of Charity respectively. He also founded the Home for the Elderly run by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters and built the Trauma Centre, now Health of the Sick Hospital, Nkpogu.
BISHOP ALEXIUS MAKOZI (1992-2009)
Most Rev. Alexius O. Makozi, who was Bishop of Lokoja Diocese before his transfer to Port Harcourt Diocese. He was installed as Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese on January 26, 1992. The hallmark of Bishop Makozi’s Missionary endeavour in Port Harcourt Diocese was his Pastoral commitment. Like a true Shepherd he travelled to all parts of this vast Diocese meeting, teaching and confirming his numerous flocks in faith, hope and charity. His pastoral diligence paid off as he trained and ordained nearly fifty-eight Priests. He created not less than fifty Parishes, Chaplaincies and quasi-Parishes.
His seventeen years in Port Harcourt Diocese saw him establish, among others, the St. Paul’s School of Evangelization, put in place necessary facilities for the effective functioning of the Health of the Sick Hospital, which had been built by Bishop E. J. Fitzgibbon. He built Our Lady of Fatima College, Port Harcourt and also established the Pope John Paul II College, Bori and the Primary Health Clinic at Eeke in Ogoni.
His academic training and experience in Social Communications bore fruit when on the occasion of his Episcopal Silver Jubilee in June, 1996 he founded the CATHOLIC LINK, a Newspaper of Port Harcourt Diocese. He built the Diocesan Chancery which he commissioned early in 2001, wherein he made provision for an Audio and Visual Recording Studio. He laid the foundation of the Stella Maris University, Umuechem, Port Harcourt, a project that he conceived himself. Nine of his Priests were honoured as Papal Chaplain by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. He was conferred with Doctor of Literature Honoris causa by Madonna University, Okija in 2008.
BISHOP CAMILLUS ETOKUDOH (2009-2025)
On Monday May 4, 2009, Most Rev. Camillus Archibong Etokudoh was appointed the Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese. His Episcopal installation was on Saturday July 25, 2009. As the Chief Shepherd of Port Harcourt Diocese, he spent his energies on building up and uniting the Clergy, Religious and Laity through regular contact and scheduled activities. He also developed a strong administrative structure in the Chancery and all over the Diocese, aided by committed Clergy, Religious and Laity. In terms of projects, Bishop Etokudoh began and completed what could be his flagship project: the Pastoral Centre and the Bishop’s House. He also intensified efforts to complete the Stella Maris University project. His interest in Catholic Education is evident from the attention he gave to the improvement of Catholic Schools. Bishop Camillus Etokudoh also initiated the process of creating a new Diocese from the present Diocese of Port Harcourt. Consultations are still ongoing. The Second Diocesan Synod and Golden Jubilee celebrations, concluded in December 2011, demonstrated Bishop Etokudoh’s commitment to building up a vibrant Diocese in the present and for the future. He supported and encouraged the acquisition and building of places for worship in different parts of the Diocese.
BISHOP PATRICK ELUKE (2019 -)
On Tuesday, February 12, 2019, the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Msgr. Patrick Eluke as Auxiliary Bishop of Port Harcourt. This appointment was historic. It was the first time a clergy of Port Harcourt Diocese and an indigene of Rivers State was being raised to the episcopacy. Bishop Eluke’s Episcopal consecration was joyfully celebrated on Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Corpus Christi Cathedral, Port Harcourt. After consecration Most Rev. Patrick Eluke took up his canonical role as the Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of the Diocese.
On Wednesday April 9, 2025, Bishop Patrick Eluke was appointed Apostolic Administrator for the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt by Pope Leo IV following the canonical retirement and resignation of Bishop Camillus Etokudoh. Upon his assumption as Apostolic Administrator, he delved into the mission of Diocesan reconciliations and revamping existing bodies and departments of the Diocese that seem to have fallen asleep. Presently, Bishop Patrick Eluke has ordained 27 priests and have dedicated 10 parishes for the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt.
PAPAL ANTHEM
Full in the panting heart of Rome,
Beneath th’apostle’s crowning dome,
From pilgrims’ lips that kiss the ground,
Breathes in all tongues only one sound:
Chorus:
‘God bless our Pope, God bless our Pope,
God bless our Pope, the great, the good.’
The golden roof, the marble walls,
The Vatican’s majestic halls,
The note re-double, till it fills
With echoes sweet the seven hills:
PORT HARCOURT DIOCESAN ANTHEM
1
Arise! O Christ’s faithful!
Sing with joy God’s people
In all the Deaneries
Of Port Harcourt Diocese.
Although we are diverse
We’re made one by our Faith
To preach the word of Christ
And tell of His Kingdom
Chorus
We are one in Christ Jesus
We are Love, Unity and Peace
O help us Mother Mary
To keep great our Diocese. Amen
2.
Let’s keep our faith burning
And always roll the wheel
Of Evangelization
To unite all things in Christ.
Make our light shine, O Lord
Give us Your love and peace
That we may all be one
In Port Harcourt Diocese.
