18.06.2010
The Revd Obinna Ulogwara Appointed Bishop's Curate in St George and St Thomas
It was announced today (Sunday 20 June 2010) that the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill has appointed the Revd Obinna Ulogwara as new Bishop's Curate in the parish of St George and St Thomas. In this role he will be succeeding the Very Revd Katharine Poulton who left the post to become Dean of Ossory.
St George and St Thomas parish is known throughout the Church of Ireland for its creative ministry to immigrants who have recently arrived in Ireland and is colloquially known as the home of 'Discovery', the Diocesan outreach initiative towards the 'new Irish'.
Responding to his appointment the Revd Obinna Ulogwara said, "I have been Diocesan Discovery Chaplain for these past few years and I think St George and St Thomas is one of the original homes of Discovery and Ministry to the International Community, so I see the hand of God in the appointment, a round peg in a round hole. I salute the vision and wisdom of the good people of the parish in the outreach they have undertaken and I greatly look forward to working with them to develop this further."
"No doubt I will be missing the lovely fellowship and shared ministry in both Parishes of Tallaght and Whitechurch supportive and loving Parishioners, a lot cherished Rectors, great moments. It has been a wonderful experience ministering among them, thank God the distance apart is not much and I know they will continue to support me in my new roles and my family assures them of our prayers."
The Revd Obinna Ulogwara was born in 1968 in Imo state in South East Nigeria. After study in Archdeacon Dennis Memorial Junior Seminary, Mbieri, Imo State and Trinity Theological College, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria he was ordained a Deacon in 1990 and a Priest the following year. He served in three dioceses of the Church of Nigeria. In 2005 he came to Ireland to serve as Diocesan Chaplain to the International Community in Dublin and Glendalough and as a shared Curate in Whitechurch and Tallaght Parishes. Shortly after his secondment to Ireland he was accorded the title of Archdeacon in the Diocese of Lagos. The Revd Obinna Ulogwara is also a graduate of University of Nigeria and University of Lagos and while in Ireland he has studied in Trinity College Dublin and graduated with a Certificate in Ethnic and Racial Studies.
In 1999, the Revd Obinna Ulogwara married Chika, a graduate of Economics of the University of Ibadan, who is currently pursuing a full time BSc degree in Psychiatric Nursing in Trinity College Dublin. They have three children, Chizu, Stephanie and Samuel.
The Revd Obinna Ulogwara will retain his present position as Honorary Chaplain to the International Community in his new role. He will also serve as Chaplain to Mountjoy Prison and Chaplain to Mater and Temple Street Hospitals.
