By Beatrice Gondyi, Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Rev. Father John Keane, SMA, the Parish Priest of St. James Catholic Church, popularly known as “Chocin Fada,” located in the Herwagana area of Gombe metropolis.
Rev. Father Keane, a respected clergyman of the Catholic Diocese of Bauchi, passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, after a brief illness.
In a condolence message issued by the Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, Governor Yahaya described the late priest as a devoted servant of God whose life epitomized humility, compassion, and unwavering dedication to spiritual and humanitarian service.
The Governor noted that Rev. Father Keane’s passing is a profound loss, not only to the parishioners of St. James Catholic Church and the Bauchi Diocese but also to the entire Christian community in Gombe and beyond. He commended the late priest’s decades of pastoral work, which he said left an indelible mark on all who encountered him.
Governor Yahaya urged members of the Catholic community to uphold the moral and spiritual legacies of the late priest, whose selfless service and exemplary leadership continued to inspire faith and unity among believers.
He prayed for the peaceful repose of Rev. Father Keane’s soul and for God’s comfort upon his parishioners, the Catholic faithful, and associates who mourn his passing.
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