Catholic Diocese of Warri loses Ughelli parish priest at 60

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By Egufe Yafugborhi

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WARRI — The Catholic Diocese of Warri has announced the death of the Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Mario Ozele, Episcopal Vicar of Ughelli Pastoral Region and Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ughelli.

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Ozele, who was 60, died in the early hours of Tuesday, September 15, 2026, after an illness, according to a notification issued by the Diocese.

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The notification, signed by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Jude Nwabukekei, said the priest died after bearing his illness with faith and courage.

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“It is with profound sorrow and total submission to the will of God that I announce to you, by the directive of our Chief Shepherd, Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewhierido, the passing unto glory of our highly revered, cherished and devoted priest, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Mario Ozele,” the statement said.

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It added that Ozele “was called to eternal rest in the early hours of today, September 15, 2026.”

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According to the Diocese, the late priest served as Episcopal Vicar of Ughelli Pastoral Region and Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ughelli, until his death.

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The announcement, addressed to priests, religious and lay faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Warri, urged members of the Church to pray for the deceased, the Diocese and his immediate family.

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“We commend his soul to the mercy of God and implore you to keep him, the Diocese, and his immediate family in your prayers,” it said.

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The Diocese said funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course.

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Nwabukekei urged the Catholic faithful to continue to remember the deceased priest in their prayers.

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“May his priestly soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen,” he said.

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The notification was issued from the Diocesan Secretariat, 5 Enerhen Road, Effurun, Warri, on the directive of Bishop Ewhierido, identified as the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese.

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Ozele’s death is a loss to the Warri Diocese and the Ughelli Catholic community, where he served as parish priest and Episcopal Vicar before his death.

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