19/04/2026
LATE BISHOP PETER CHUKWU TO BE LAID TO REST ON MAY 13, 2026
The Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki has officially announced the funeral arrangements for its late shepherd, Most Reverend Peter Nworie Chukwu, who passed away on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the age of 60.
According to an official obituary announcement dated April 17, 2026, and signed by the Diocesan Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Matthew Opoke, the funeral obsequies will commence with a Vigil Mass on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM, followed by the Requiem Mass on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM at St. Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki.
Due to his recent elevation as the Assistant Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) on 24 February 2026, the late Bishop's final rites will be observed as a national ecclesiastical event.
*A Period of Mourning and Transition*
Following the Bishop's sudden demise, His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, appointed Most Rev. Ernest Anezichukwu Obodo as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese.
In a pastoral letter addressed to the clergy, religious, and lay faithful on April 16, Bishop Obodo called for unity and fervent prayer. "He was a man who spoke out for the security of his flock and advocated for the youth; let us now advocate for him before the throne of Grace," the Apostolic Administrator stated.
To seek divine consolation, Bishop Obodo has declared a mandatory three-day fast for all Catholics in the diocese between the ages of 16 and 60. The fast will run from Monday, April 20, to Wednesday, April 22, 2026, alongside intensified Rosary prayers to commend the late Bishop’s soul to God.
To ensure a fitting farewell, the Apostolic Administrator has constituted a Diocesan Funeral Steering Committee. The committee is headed by Very Rev. Fr. Matthias Omaka, working in close coordination with the CBCN to manage the liturgy, logistics, and media for the national event.
*A Life of Service*
Most Rev. Dr. Peter Nworie Chukwu was born on November 5, 1965. He dedicated his life to the Church, receiving his priestly ordination on July 3, 1993. After decades of faithful service, he was consecrated and installed as the 3rd Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki on August 19, 2021.
His leadership extended to the national stage earlier this year when he was elected as the Assistant Secretary of the CBCN during their First Plenary in Abuja on February 24, 2026.
Mr. Godwin C. Ezeaka,
CAMPAN_Abakaliki Diocese.
