Most Rev. Hyacinth Oroko Egbebo, MSP is the first Diocesan Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bomadi. When Pope Francis raised the Vicariate of Bomadi to a diocese on 21 September 2017, Bishop Egbebo was installed as its pioneer Bishop on 15 December 2017. He has led the Church in Bomadi since 2009, first as Vicar Apostolic and now as Diocesan Bishop, shepherding the faithful of Bayelsa State and parts of Delta and Rivers States.
“That they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10), the Bishop’s motto
Bishop of Bomadi
As Bishop, he leads a diocese of more than forty parishes and chaplaincies across the waterways of the Niger Delta, served by diocesan priests, missionary congregations, religious sisters and catechists. Under his leadership the Vicariate grew into a full diocese, and the Diocese has continued to establish new parishes, ordain priests and deacons, and stand with communities through challenges such as the floods of 2018 and 2022. In 2022 he wrote two pastoral letters to the people affected by the floods.
Episcopal ministry
- 23 November 2007: Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Auxiliary Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Bomadi and Titular Bishop of Lacubaza.
- 2 February 2008: Ordained bishop.
- April 2009: Succeeded Bishop Joseph Oforishe Egerega as Vicar Apostolic of Bomadi.
- 21 September 2017: Pope Francis raised the Vicariate to the Catholic Diocese of Bomadi.
- 15 December 2017: Installed as the first Diocesan Bishop of Bomadi.
Priestly ministry
Bishop Egbebo was ordained a priest of the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria on 23 June 1990, after training at the National Missionary Seminary, Iperu-Remo, Ogun State.
After ordination he joined the formation team at the Society’s Initial Formation House in Iperu-Remo, and after further studies in Ireland became Director of Formation in 1995, serving in formation for six years in all. In September 2001 he was elected Superior General of the Missionary Society of St. Paul, and was re-elected in September 2007. In 2006 he also served as President of the Conference of Major Superiors. He was serving as Superior General when he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bomadi.
Early life
He was born on 23 October 1955 in Ogriagbene, in the Western Ijaw area of Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, the fifth of eight children of Mr and Mrs Egbebo Arimanah. He attended Roman Catholic Mission School, Ogriagbene (now Onurun Primary School), and was one of the pioneer students of Gbesa Grammar School, Ojobo, from 1971 to 1976. Before answering the call to the priesthood in 1982, he worked for about six years as a primary school teacher in Ediemogbene, with the Nigerian Ports Authority and at the Aladja Steel Plant.
Coat of arms and motto
In the Bishop’s own words:
The coat of arms is about the triumph of goodness over evil, using the event of Christ on the water for its basis. The insertion of the Missionary Society of St. Paul logo captures my religious affiliation with the missionary institute. The words of my motto are the exact words of our Lord Jesus Christ in John 10:10, “that they may have life and have it to the full”. It is this same Christ that we are taking after to give life to the flock of God entrusted to our care.
Pastoral letters
Read the Bishop’s pastoral letters and messages.