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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On May 30, 2020, the Holy Father appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Umuahia, Nigeria, the Reverend Michael Kalu Ukpong of the clergy of Umuahia, currently Chancellor of the same Diocese and parish priest of Saint Theresa’s parish, assigning him the titular Igilgili.
The Reverend Michael Kalu Ukpong was born on 15 December 1964 in Amaekpu Ohafia, in the Diocese of Umuahia. He attended the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Ahiaeke (1978-1984). He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary in Owerri (1985-1993) and in theology at the Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Ikot Ekpene (1989-1993). He studied canon law at the Klaus-Mörsdorf-Institut für Kanonistik at the Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität in Munich (2006-2007) and then theology at the University of Regensburg, where he was awarded a doctorate 2008-2014). He was ordained a priest on 7 August 1993 for the clergy of the diocese of Umuahia.
Since priestly ordination he has held the following offices: parish vicar at Saint Finbarr’s parish in Umuahia (1993-1994); secretary to the bishop of Umuahia (1994-1996); parish priest ad item at Saint John’s parish (1996-1999); editor of the Lumen Newspaper, of the diocese of Umuahia (1999-2001); and chaplain at the Christ the King Chaplaincy in Umudike (2001-2003). From 2004 to 2014 he carried out his higher studies in Germany, also serving as parish vicar of Saint Joseph’s parish in Reinhausen in the diocese of Regensburg, Germany (2008-2011); parish vicar of the Assumption parish in Ascholtshausen, diocese of Regensburg, Germany (2011-2013); parish vicar of the Berathausen-Pfraundorf parish unit, diocese of Regensburg, Germany (2013-2016); head of the Coronata Secondary School in Asaga Ohafia (2016-2018); and chancellor of the diocese of Umuahia and parish priest of Saint Theresa’s parish in Umuahia (since 2018). (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 1/6/2020)
