Samuel Egadu
16 March 2008
FATHER Joseph Bill, a world renowned miracle worker, is dead. The Vincentian Congregation priest died in Gulu Friday. He was 80.
Fr. Bill, an Indian, arrived in Gulu early this week for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Crusade. He died at St. Mary's Hospital, Lacor, Gulu, after suffering a heart attack.The charismatic preacher started his mission in East Africa in 1992, then rolled it out to Europe, United States, Canada and Asia.
Wherever he went, he held spiritual retreats and crusades that attracted thousands of Christians and non-Christians who sought healing and other miracles. Hundreds of people confessed getting healed after Fr Bill's prayers.
According to his website, www.frbill.net, Fr. Bill, V.C. M.A Ph.D. M.A. was to celebrate his golden priestly jubilee in October this year in Kerala, India.
"Don't miss the opportunity of joining Fr. Bill for the great celebration of his Golden Jubilee and take time out for his world renowned Healing Retreats this year," the message posted on the website reads in parts.
Gulu Archdiocese Vicar General, Matthew Odongo said on Friday that Fr. Bill got a heart attack on Thursday and was admitted at Lacor Hospital where he died.
His death shocked hundreds of Christians who had turned up for the crusade. Sunday Monitor yesterday learnt that the Fr. Bill will be buried in Entebbe.
Fr. Bill was born on February 23, 1928 and was ordained priest in 1958. He worked in various capacities as a priest in his home diocese in Kerala, India culminating in a long administrative position in the church.
At 48 years of age, he suffered two heart attacks, which left him bed-ridden for 45 days. His doctor warned him that he should not undertake any strenuous physical activity .
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
dear fr. really sorry to hear the death of fr. bill .today only i read for the first time the curate's dairy may 2008 edition.fr.eugene moon lazarus had passed me on .i had written a letter to fr. bill thinking that he's alive but before posting the letter i have gained the knowledge that he's no more i had written the letter for some petition but now i think he'll interceed for me from heaven above . may his soul rest in eternal peace.
dear fr. really sorry to hear the death of fr. bill .today only i read for the first time the curate's dairy may 2008 edition.fr.eugene moon lazarus had passed me on .i had written a letter to fr. bill thinking that he's alive but before posting the letter i have gained the knowledge that he's no more i had written the letter for some petition but now i think he'll interceed for me from heaven above . may his soul rest in eternal peace.