Identities of Two African Priests Who Died Last Week Mixed Up in Online Reports

Fr. Jean Bayo had been invited by his young confrere in the Priesthood, Fr. Augustine Obrou to preach at the Eucharistic celebration marking 25 years since he (Fr. Augustine) had been ordained a Priest.

He was preaching during the Holy Mass August 22 at St. Jacques des II Plateaux Parish, Cocody, a suburb in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast.

Before pausing and then collapsing, Fr. Jean Bayo who was preaching in French had just said, “We are gathered here around the Lord God to celebrate the event that he allows us to live on this day of the 25 years of priestly life of Rev. Augustine Obrou. This jubilee is for us an occasion for thanksgiving to God, gratitude to people, but also an occasion for missionary challenge.”

He was rushed to hospital and attended to by medical doctors at the Abidjan Heart Institute. He reportedly succumbed to a heart complication five days later, on August 27.

In a press statement August 27, Bishop Gaspard Béby Gnéba of Ivory Coast’s Man Diocese confirmed the “return to the Almighty Father of Fr. Jean Sinsin Bayo,” inviting the faithful to pray for God to receive him in heaven.

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A Priest of the diocese of Man in Western Ivory Coast, Fr. Jean Bayo was a lecturer of Dogmatic Theology at the Catholic University of West Africa (UCAO) where he was also the Vice-Dean.

The Archbishop of Abidjan, Jean Pierre Cardinal Kutwà had also entrusted him with the training of Catholic professionals of Abidjan.

The late Ivorian Cleric had also set up a training structure dubbed Mount Tabor in Cocody, where, once a month, Lay executives participated in training and recollection.

He has been described as a dynamic and eloquent man of God. He is expected to be laid to rest on Friday, September 4.

Meanwhile, Fr. Jude Tafon who was based at the St. John’s Parish Deido in Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala, died last Saturday, August 29 after a brief illness.

In a statement confirming the death of Fr. Jude obtained by ACI Africa, Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Cameroon’s Douala Archdiocese announced “with regret the death of Fr. Jude Tafon Nfor, curate at the St. John’s Parish Deido that occurred Saturday, August 29, 2020, in Douala following an illness.”

In the statement, Archbishop Kleda invited the people of God in the Archdiocese of Douala to “pray for the repose of his soul.”

A Priest of the Archdiocese of Douala, Fr. Jude was ordained a priest on December 12, 2015. The 32-year-old Cleric was also a lecturer at St. Jerome Catholic University in Douala, Cameroon.

He is a son of late Captain Nfor Polycarp who served in Cameroon's Military Engineering Unit and of Mrs Nfor Mary who is a nurse at the Laquintinie hospital in Douala.

The Cameroonian Cleric is expected to be laid to rest next week, September 10.

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Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.