Distinguished Bishop-Rev fr John Oke Afareha

 Distinguished Bishop Rev Fr  John Okeoghene Afareha was born in 1947 to late Mr Edward Afareha and late Mrs Rebecca Afareha of Oleh in Delta State’s Isoko South local government area, Nigeria.

He was raised by his stepmother, Mrs Angelina Afareha when his mother died he was young.

The family is blessed, with Rev. Sister Theresa Maris Afareha of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Christ, in addition to Most Rev. Afareha.

Rev Father John Okeoghene as a Young Boy.

The Distinguished Bishop Rev Fr John Oke Afareha as a young boy in 1953 until 1959, attended St. John De Baptist School in Oleh, where he sowed the seed that would eventually blossom into a religious calling. He admired the clergy priests and seminarians, particularly for their good, disciplined, and pious upbringing of youngsters at the time.

Afareha became a mass server there, and the parish priest took a special interest in shaping him because of his outstanding performance. His first encounter with a Nigerian priest was a pleasant surprise, and it piqued his interest in becoming a priest while he was still a boy.

The Journey to Priesthood Begins for Him.

In the year, 1960 to 1961, he attended Ozoro Modern School. He still felt a spiritual pull, and with the help of Rev. Fr. O. Regan’s motivation, he decided to pursue a career as a priest. He enrolled in Benin City’s Minor Seminary in 1962 and graduated in 1966. From 1967 to 1973, he studied at Ss Peter and Paul Major Seminary in Bodija, Ibadan.

He was ordained a Priest.

Rt. Rev. Lucas Nwaeza, the late bishop emeritus of Warri Diocese, ordained him a priest on December 30, 1973. Following his ordination, the young Rev. Fr. John Afareha served as an apostolate worker at the Holy Martyrs of Uganda Seminary in Effurun, and in the same year was assigned to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Warri, where he remained until 1975. From 1975 to 1977. he taught in Government College in Bomadi, St. Theresa’s Girls Grammar School in Ughelli, from 1977 to 1980, and Evwreni Teacher’s College in Evwreni, from 1984 to 1985.

Rev Fr John Oke Afareha Acquired a University Degree.

Afareha, went on to acquire a post-graduate diploma in education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1986, and a master’s degree in education from the University of Port Harcourt in 1990.

Practising as an Educationist.

As an educator, the new bishop worked as a principal at Otokutu Grammar School in Otokutu (1980); Owevwe Secondary School from 1980 to 1982; St. Peter and Paul Major Seminary from 1983 to 1984. where he spent his spiritual year; Umuajia Secondary School in Umuajia (1985); and Ovu Grammar School in Ovu.

Fr. Afareha’s contribution to administration, as Principal Inspector of Education. under the Religion Education Department in then Bendel State, at the Ministry of Education Office. Ughelli from 1985 to 1991 was remarkable.

He was assigned to Head a Parish

In 1991, Afareha was assigned to Sacred Heart parish in Abraka, from whence he was transferred to St. Anthony’s parish, Ugborikoko. The following year.

He has served as the Provincial Chaplain of Legion of Mary, and the Diocesan Spiritual Director of Legion of Mary, Blue Army and Block Rosary.

As the Daily Rosary at 5:30 p.m. supersedes everything he does, his love for our mother, Mary, knows no bounds.

Rev Fr John Afareha Achievement as a Priest.

Back then, he was highly involved in the building, of  St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Ugbori-Koko, fathers’ house. and he sees to the completion of that building. He still finds time to read and play lawn tennis despite his busy schedule as a parish priest and spiritual director.

Conversion.

Rev. Fr. Afareha. converted his pagan parents, to Catholicism, shortly after being ordained. Sister. Theresa Maris, his younger sister, is a reverend nun in the Eucharistic Order.

He was Installed as Bishop Warri Diocese.

On May 14, 1997, Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Warri Diocese, and he was consecrated bishop by Jozef Cardinal Tomko, Prefect, Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of People.

Pope Benedict XVI, appointed Afareha bishop of Warri Diocese, on March 29, 2010, and His Grace Most Rev. Alaba Job, Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria installed him on March 30, 2010.