Boston priest commits suicide on the cusp of self deportation back to Nigeria as visa expires

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

https://www.wcvb.com/article/priest-dies-after-gloucester-farewell-expired-visa/71822778


GLOUCESTER, Mass. —
Catholic congregations in Massachusetts are mourning the unexpected death of a priest, originally from Nigeria, who recently told parishioners that his ministry would be ending and that he would soon be sent back to Africa.

Rev. Benjamin Okwy Madu, known as Father Ben, died Thursday evening at age 54 after serving Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish for more than four years, according to a message Friday from Pastor the Rev. James M. Achadinha. Achadinha said Father Ben had served as a priest for nearly 25 years.

According to the Archdiocese of Boston, Father Ben's visa was due to expire later this month


In his message, Father Ben said he first arrived in the United States eight years ago and that he now would be required to return to Africa.

"Sincerely, it is not my wish to return home right now, but circumstances beyond my control have warranted that my time in the United States come to an end," Father Ben wrote in a statement. "My heart is broken, yet my joy remains."

[Raven123]

1. I must have missed the suicide part of this story

[hlthe2b]

3. Confirmed by a member of the parish, apparently--in the newscast

[hlthe2b]

2. My goodness. A Catholic Priest facing deportation commits suicide...

That is one horrific outcome. What will Pope Leo say?

Father Ben, I am so very sorry. May you find peace.

[Ilsa]

4. Absolutely shocking. Suicide is considered a

"mortal sin"** by the Catholic Church, isn't it? This is almost on par with the self-immolations of the Arab Spring.

** I don't know what a "mortal sin" is. Unforgivable? Hell? Purgatory?

[rampartd]

5. mortal sins are the worst

i don't know what horrors father ben faced back in nigeria, but there is plenty of work for a priest all over the world, including nigeria.

i'm praying my rosary today for father ben, and that these immigration nightmares end soon for all of our people.

[calimary]

6. That sounds like a very worthy effort.

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2026, 03:07 AM - Edit history (1)

Sometimes the rosary can offer much-needed comfort.

[rampartd]

9. time to slow down and think

i try to remember that as bad as my feet hurt, at least no one has been driving nails through them or making me haul dimensional lumber up the cobblestones.

[Ilsa]

13. That is very thoughtful of you. He will be in

my prayers as well, along with our neighbors living through this injustice.

[sarisataka]

8. A mortal sin severs the sinner from God and unless repented before death the person faces damnation

Back in the day suicide was considered an unforgivable mortal sin as it ends in the person's death. They could not have a funeral in the Church nor be buried on Church ground as they were condemned to hell.

Today a more nuanced view is taken of suicide, that the person's mental state can be a mitigating factor. The Church will now perform a funeral mass praying for God's mercy as only He and the deceased know the reason and mental state that led the person committing suicide.

[calimary]

10. Seems to me it's important to take the judgmentalism out of the picture.

I often find myself asking myself “who are you to judge?”

[sarisataka]

11. As I understand, that was the theological argument

it is not our place to say who is and who is not worthy of God's mercy.

[Ilsa]

12. Thank you very much. And it's

good to know the Catholic church has evolved on this. My Catholic friends had explained some of this to me when we were kids 55-60 years ago.

[mahina]

7. That is just horrible and I'm very sorry to hear it.

Glosta 😢