By Matthew Ajai-Kume
The Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Right Reverend Wilfred Anagbe, has announced the burial of Reverend Monsignor Stephen Beba, which will take place on 8 February, 2021 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Makurdi.
His Lordship, Anagbe announced the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi resolution when Governor Samuel Ortom paid him a condolence visit Friday in his office at the Bishop House, Makurdi
“Your Excellency, I am overwhelmed in this January, 2021. This is due to the death of my three priests, Very Reverend Fathers Adolphus Ikuleke, Nicholas Tarbo and now Msgr Stephen Beba.
“All those priests have contributed greatly to the propagation of the kingdom of God in the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, like Late Rev. Fr Ikuleke worked hard for the expansion of the church in the diocese, Rev. Fr Tarbo was our perfect hand in the translation of other languages into Tiv language and the first monsignor in the Makurdi Catholic Diocese, Beba was in charge of handling spiritual and legal issues as well as settling marital conflicts,” he said.
Bishop Anagbe thanked Governor Ortom for the visit, while he described it as a great consolation not only to him but the entire Catholic faithful and the immediate family of the deceased.
Earlier, in a condolence message, Governor Samuel Ortom condoled Bishop Anagbe, Makurdi Catholic Diocese and the family of the deceased, describing the Late Msgr Beba as a father and a man who was committed to the service of God and humanity.
“We shall miss his counsel and fatherly role as a priest in the vineyard of God,” Ortom lamented.
Governor Ortom called on the Bishop, Catholic faithful and the immediate family of the deceased to take solace in the fact that, God gives and takes at will.
Late Msgr Beba was ordained on 19 December, 1971. Among his mates were the Late Reverend Fathers Azor, Moses Adasu, Simon Ivever and Bishop A. Usuh.
Beba who died on 4 February, 2021 after a protracted illness, was Priest in Charge of Saint Mary’s Catholic Parish, North Bank, Makurdi.