Hitory was made today the 9th of May 2019 as the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt got its first indigenous Bishop since the creation of the diocese fifty eight years ago.Very Rev Monsignor Patrick Eluke who was chosen by the Pope as the Auxiliary bishop of Port Harcourt to assist Bishop A. Etokudoh in the pastoral care of the diocese was born on 25th March 1967 in Ekpeye, Ahoada, Rivers State, in the diocese of Port Harcourt.After his primary school education, he entered the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary and continued with courses in philosophy at the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene, and had his Theology studies at the Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Enugu.He was ordained a Catholic priest on 23rd September 1995, and incardinated into the diocese of Port Harcourt.Rev. Fr. Patrick also obtained a civil doctorate degree in biblical studies at the University of Port Harcourt.Since priestly ordination, he has held the following offices:
parish vicar of Saint Anthony’s parish, Igwuruta (1995-1996);
pastor of Saint Bernard’s parish, Biara (1996-1997);
pastor of Saint Dominic’s parish, Bane, and Saint Francis’ parish, Kpean (1997-2002); pastor of Saint Paul’s parish, Ngo (1997-2005);
pastor of the Saints Peter and Paul parish, Elenlenwo (2005-2007);
pastor of the Queen of the Apostles parish, Rumuepirikom (2007-2012);
pastor of the Sacred Heart parish, Mile II Diobu (2012-2013);
chaplain of the Annunciation Chaplaincy, University of Port Harcourt (2013-2015); lecturer in Biblical Studies, University of Port Harcourt (since 2014);
parish priest of the Saint Francis of Assisi parish, Rumuokwuta (since 2015); and director of diocesan pastoral vocational ministry (since 2016).The episcopal ordination Of Monsignor Patrick Eluke which took place at the Corpus Christi Cathedral Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, No 1 Kaduna Street,D line, Port Harcourt, Rivers had in attendance more than thirty Catholic bishops with Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria as the principal consecrator, hundreds of priests, nuns, the laity, representatives of CAN Rivers State chapter and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State Mrs Ipalibo Banigo in attendance.Congratulations to my one time chaplain in school.