By Arnold Neliba
CALABAR, MAY 2, 2023 (CISA)–Pope Francis has appointed Fr Christopher Naseri, assistant parish priest of St. Bernard Marian Hill and Professor at the University of Calabar, as auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Calabar.
The announcement of his appointment was made on May 1 by the Holy See Press Office.
The bishop-elect was born on April 5, 1970, in Calabar. He attended the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Mfamosing and the Marianum Spiritual Year Seminary in Calabar. He studied philosophy at St. Joseph Major Seminary in Ikot Ekpene and theology at the Seat of Wisdom Seminary of Owerri. He was ordained a priest on July 5, 1997, for the Catholic Archdiocese of Calabar.
Fr Naseri has served as deputy parish priest of St. John, Akamkpa and teacher in the Mary Immaculate Juniorate, Iwuru (1997-1998); deputy parish priest of St. Bernard (1998-2000); secretary to the archbishop of Calabar (1998-2003); parish administrator of St. Vincent, Mbukpa, and chaplain of the Federal Girls’ College Chaplaincy, Calabar (1999-2000).
From 1999 to 2003, he served as member and secretary of the Council of Consultors, parish priest of St. Bernard and vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese of Calabar (2000-2003); and president of the archdiocesan Commission for the Seminary (2001-2003).
After obtaining a licentiate and a doctorate from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome (2003-2009), he went on to serve as formator of the St. Joseph Major Seminary (2009-2020); vicar for the clergy of the archdiocese of Calabar and member of the College of Consultors (2013-2018).
The newly appointed bishop-elect upon ordination will assist 73-year-old Archbishop Joseph Effiong Ekuwem in running the affairs of the archdiocese.
