Nairobi, 09 January, 2024 / 9:30 pm (ACI Africa).
A sombre mood engulfed Divine Shepherd Cathedral of Tucupita Apostolic Vicariate in Venezuela where the requiem Mass of Fr. Josiah Asa K’Okal was held on Monday, January 8 before the Kenyan-born member of the Institute of Consolata Missionaries (IMC) who is said to have died in unclear circumstances was laid to rest.
In Tuesday, January 9 Facebook posts, the Seed Publication of the Consolata Missionaries indicates that the Warao people from several indigenous communities that Fr. K’Okal evangelized in Venezuela filled the Cathedral to eulogize the Catholic Priest.
“As in the tradition of the Warao people, dozens of indigenous people from the communities where Fr K’Okal evangelized, remained in the Cathedral, in front of the coffin with the remains of the Consolata priest,” the Seed has reported.
The Nairobi-based publication has further reported that the Local Ordinary of the Apostolic Vicariate of Tucupita, Bishop Ernesto José Romero Rivas, presided over the Holy Eucharist, with his confreres, members of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (O.F.M Cap) and those of IMC, including the Superior of the delegation in Venezuela, Fr. Nebyu Elías, among the concelebrants.
Following the Requiem Mass, the remains of Fr. K’Okal were transferred to the Parish of San José where the burial was to take place.
