By Nkem Nwaeke
The news that came out of the Catholic Diocese of Warri on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, pierced my heart. Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Mario Ozele has gone home to the Lord.
Fr. Ozele was not just a Catholic priest. He was a father in the truest sense of the word — gentle, present and deeply human.
In my early days as a young journalist, when the world was still trying to figure me out, he embraced me as a friend. There was no protocol and no distance, just warmth. Anywhere we met, joy followed. His laughter was deep, and his peace was contagious.
When my wife and I were preparing for marriage, he made the journey easy for us. He took our marriage class at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Warri, and walked with us through every step of our wedding plans in line with the Catholic faith.
On May 19, 2001, he made a sacrifice I will never forget. He set aside an important engagement abroad to personally officiate the solemnisation of our Holy Matrimony.
That day, he chose love over logistics, and people over programmes. That was who he was.
Even not long ago, his heart still carried us. He was invited as the Special Celebrant to officiate the 2025 Harvest/Thanksgiving Mass of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Wuye, FCT, Abuja.
Though I was not there, he embraced my family and told the congregation how dear we are to him as partners in the journey of life. My wife and children were so proud of that honour. It was his final fatherly blessing to us.
Fr. Ozele taught without preaching. He corrected without condemning. He gave without counting the cost.
To many of us, he was a compass pointing always to Christ, but walking the road with us.
It is painful that death has taken him with its cold hands. But we do not mourn as those without hope. We mourn as people who were blessed to be loved by a good shepherd.
My wife and I mourn a father, a mentor, a counsellor and a friend.
Warri Diocese mourns a loyal priest.
The Church mourns a man who spent himself for others.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Until his passing, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Mario Ozele was the Episcopal Vicar of Ughelli Pastoral Region and Parish Priest of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ughelli.
Nkem Nwaeke is a communicant and Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.
