Father Athanasius

Fr. Athanasius Ozioma Onyima, is the fourth child of the ten children born to his parents in 1954. At the age of thirteen, already an altar server was attracted to the priesthood after keenly watching the priests serving his local parish in Amiri, Orlu, Nigeria. After his minor seminary years at St. Peter Claver Seminary Okpala, he proceeded to Bigard Memorial Major Seminary Enugu for his philosophical and theological Studies. He was ordained a priest in 1983. Soon after he was sent back to St. Joseph Major Seminary Ikot Ekpene to serve as the Dean of Students’ affairs. He worked briefly as a parish priest before proceeding to Europe for further studies at the Pontifical University of Salamanca, Spain in 1988.

Between 1993 and 2008 he served as high school principal in the diocesan catholic school in his Diocese of Orlu. Within that period, he worked as the Diocesan Education Secretary for twelve years, the Dean of St. Michael’s pastoral Region for ten years, and the President of Orlu Diocesan Priests for Eight years. He was a parish priest of three parishes in his home diocese. Fr. Athanasius was also a member of many committees and commissions, including member of the presbyteral council and the diocesan finance council among others, as well as chaplain to a number of bodies and organizations. 

Between 1989 and now Fr. Athanasius has equally served in well over fifteen parishes in the Catholic Archdiocese of Portland In Oregon. This past July 2025 was the 42nd Priestly Anniversary of the ordination of Fr. Athanasius. He is looking forward to a happy retirement from active ministry in the next couple of years. To God be the glory.