A Roman Catholic priest from Nigeria, Rev. Benjamin Madu, died last week, according to church officials in Massachusetts, where he served as a hospital chaplain for several years.

Local Community Mourns Loss

Madu, of the Diocese of Abakaliki, died Thursday, and his death has been called a “devastating loss” by pastor Father Jim Achadinha of the Catholic community of Gloucester and Rockport.

Achadinha said that Madu “served Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish with true joy, kindness, and generosity.” The church and local law enforcement officials haven’t released information on Madu’s death, but a representative of the Essex County District Attorney’s Office said foul play was not suspected.

Madu had been a chaplain, primarily at the hospital, since 2021, according to the archdiocese. He was due to return to Nigeria this month because his visa was expiring; the archdiocese had said he was instructed by his home diocese to return in early July instead of at the end of the month, as Madu had planned.

Under U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations, Madu had to leave the country to renew his religious worker visa, known as R-1, which was expiring this July 29, according to church officials.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.