Former Chancellor of the the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia and Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s Parish, has been appointed by the Holy Father Pope Francis as the new Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia (Nigeria), assigning him the titular see of Igilgili.
PROFILE OF REV FR. MICHAEL KALU UKPONG
Rev. Fr Michael Kalu Ukpong was born December 15, 1964 in Amaekpu Ohafia, in Umuahia.
He attended the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Ahiaeke (1978-1984).
He completed his philosophical studies at the Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary in Owerri (1985-1989) and theological studies at St. Joseph Major Seminary in Ikot Ekpene (1989-1993).
He studied Canon law in the Klaus-Mörsdorf-Institut für Kanonistik at the Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität in Munich (2006-2007) and then theology at the von Regensburg University in Regensburg, obtaining a doctorate (2008-2014).
He was ordained a priest on August 7, 1993, by the then bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia.
After ordination he held the following positions: 1993-1994: Parish Vicar of St. Finbarr’s Parish in Umuahia;
1994-1996; Secretary of the Bishop of Umuahia;
1996-1999: Parish priest of St. John’s Parish ad Item;
1999-2001: Editor of the Lumen Newspaper , of the Diocese of Umuahia;
2001-2003: Chaplain at Christ the King Chaplaincy in Umudike;
2004-2014: Higher studies in Germany;
2008-2011: Parish vicar of St. Joseph’s Parish in Reinhausen, Diocese of Regensburg, Germany;
2011-2013: Parish vicar of the Assumption Parish in Ascholtshausen, Diocese of Regensburg, Germany;
2013-2016: Parochial Vicar in the Parish UnitBerathausen-Pfraundorf , Diocese of Regensburg, Germany;
2016-2018: Principal of the Coronata Secondary School in Asaga Ohafia;
since 2018: Chancellor of the Diocese of Umuahia and parish priest of St. Theresa’s Parish in Umuahia.
Source: FIDES MEDIA