Linus Okok Okwach (20 October 1952 – 12 September 2020), was a Kenyan Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay. He was appointed as bishop of Homa Bay on 18 October 1993 and he resigned on 20 February 2002.[1]

His Lordship, The Right Reverend

Linus Okok Okwach
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu
SeeRoman Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay
Appointed18 October 1993
Term ended20 February 2002
PredecessorNone
SuccessorPhilip Arnold Subira Anyolo
Orders
Ordination10 December 1980
Consecration31 December 1993
by Jozef Tomko
Personal details
Born
Linus Okok Okwach

(1952-10-20)20 October 1952
Died12 September 2020(2020-09-12) (aged 67)
St Monica Hospital, Kisumu, Kenya
Styles of
Linus Okok Okwach
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Lordship
Religious styleBishop

Background and priesthood

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Okwach was born on 20 October 1952 in the city of Kisumu, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu, in present-day Kisumu County. He was ordained a priest on 10 December 1980. He served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Kisumu until 18 October 1993.[1]

As bishop

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Father Okwach was appointed Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay on 18 October 1993. He was the first Ordinary of the newly created diocese, and was consecrated a bishop at Homa Bay on 31 December 1993 by Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Cardinal-Deacon of Gesù Buon Pastore alla Montagnola, assisted by Archbishop Clemente Faccani, Titular Archbishop of Serra, and Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth, Archbishop of Kisumu. Bishop Okwach resigned as Bishop of Homa Bay on 20 February 2002.[1]

Illness and death

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Bishop Emeritus Okwach fell down at his residence in 2019 and injured his back. He never stood up or walked again after the fall. Three weeks before his death, Bishop Okwach was admitted to St Monica Hospital in Kisumu on account of complications of his illness. He died in hospital on 12 September 2020.[2][3] He was laid to rest at St Paul's Cathedral in Homa Bay on 30 September 2020.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c David M. Cheney (24 March 2020). "MicroData Summary for Linus Okok Okwach". Kansas City: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  2. ^ Elizabeth Ojina (12 September 2020). "Former Homa Bay Catholic Bishop Okwach dies in hospital". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  3. ^ Mireri Junior (13 September 2020). "Bishop Emeritus Linus Okok dies in Kisumu hospital". The Standard (Kenya). Nairobi. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  4. ^ George Odiwuor (30 September 2020). "Former Homa Bay Catholic Bishop Okwach laid to rest". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
None (Before 1993)
Bishop of Homa Bay
1993 – 2002
Succeeded by