OWERRI, Nigeria — Fr. Nicholas Okere, priest of the Archdiocese of Owerri in Nigeria, died unexpectedly recently.
Father Okere ministered in the Diocese of Madison from September 1999 to 2002. He was priest secretary and master of ceremonies to Bishop William H. Bullock and resided at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison. He also served as administrator of St. Patrick Parish in Lodi and St. Michael Parish in Dane.
Father Okere, originally from Umukabia Ngor/Okpala in Nigeria, studied at Loyola Marymount University as well as Peperdine University, both in Los Angeles, Calif. During that time, he lived and worked as a priest in residence at St. Augustine Parish in Culver City, Calif.
In Nigeria, Okere served as pastor, college administrator, and college chaplain.
Father Okere was ordained in 1974. He was zonal vicar of Zone XI and priest at St. Mark in Ngor.
In memory of Father Okere, the Tuesday, Jan. 26, noon Mass at the Bishop O’Connor Center was a Requiem Mass with Msgr. James Bartylla presiding.