29/08/2021
7 Years Memorial of the Death of the late Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor - ( August 29, 2014 - August 29, 2021)
Seven years today, on August 29, 2014, the 2nd Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Simon Akwali Okafor, sang the Nunc Dimittis (few hours after the Episcopal Consecration of the auxiliary bishop of Awka Diocese, Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye), and slept in the Lord at the age of 80 years.
Born in the old Ifiteukpo, now Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, on 16 November 1934, to his parents, Ogbuefi Okafor and Ifeoma Okafor (of blessed memory), Bishop Okafor (of blessed memory), was ordained as a priest on 21st July 1963 at the age of 29, by Bishop Godfrey Mary Okoye, C.S.Sp. (of blessed memory)
He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Awka on 6th March 1992 at the age of 58, and consecrated a Catholic Bishop on 30th April 1992.
On 9th September 1994, Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor, was appointed 2nd Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese at the age of 59+, and retired on 17th April 2010 and the age of 75.
He died on Friday, 29th Aug 2014 at the age of 80, as Bishop Emeritus of Awka, and was buried on Tuesday, 7th October 2014 at the Crept Chapel, St Patrick's Cathedral. Awka.
As a priest, he served as the Secretary to the then Catholic Archbishop of the Old Onitsha Archdiocese (now Cardinal Francis Arinze)
As an educationist, who left indelible footprints, he was a lecturer and a Provost of the former College of Education in Awka.
May the soul of the late Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor, continue to rest in the Lord.
Amen.
(Culled from Archives by Ifeoma Ezenyilimba of Fides Media Ltd)
