Nigerian priest serves Davenport parish, Marriage Tribunal

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By Anne Marie Amacher and Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger

DAVENPORT — Father Nicholas Akindele has been appointed part-time parochial vicar for St. Paul the Apostle Parish. He assumed the position from Father Willliam Kneemiller, who continues to serve at the Kahl Home in Davenport.

Fr. Akindele

Fr. Akindele, 46, was born in Egbe, Nigeria. He earned a BA in philosophy from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He completed theology studies at Urban University in Rome. On May 6, 2000, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Ajomo at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Lokoja, Nigeria.

He served as the bishop’s secretary from 2000-2004 and then as assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Kalaba from 2004-05. He served as pastor at Holy Family Parish in Odolv from 2005-09 and at St Leo Parish in Osisi from 2009-14.

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Fr. Akindele also served as director of the Pontifical Mission Societies – Propagation of the Faith for the diocese from 2000-14, chaplain for youth in the Diocese of Lokoja from 2006-12, chaplain for youth of the Abuja province from 2007-14, member of the National Missionary Council of Nigeria from 2011-14, national secretary/coordinator of the Pontifical Missionary Union from 2011-14 and defender of the bond for the Diocese of Lokoja from 2013-18.

While in the Davenport Diocese, Fr. Akindele is also working on his degree in Canon Law (church law) from the University of Leuven in Belgium. He is in the process of writing his doctoral dissertation and received permission from his diocese to get practical experience working in the Diocese of Davenport’s Marriage Tribunal. At the time, he also expressed an interest in helping out at parishes. He has agreed to work one third-time at St. Paul’s and one-third time for the diocese, leaving him another one-third block of time for his doctoral dissertation.
Fr. Akindele plans to be in the diocese for the next three to five years.

Theresa Beldock, St. Paul the Apostle’s parish secretary, said Fr. Akindele will generally celebrate Mass at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. He will celebrate other Masses from time to time so he can get to know more people in the parish. “He is a very warm person,” she said.


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