Father Felix Dalimpuo, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Newark, died suddenly Nov. 4, 2015, during a visit to his native Ghana. He was 52.
Father Dalimpuo was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Tamale, Ghana, on July 24, 1993, but has been serving in the United States since June 2004, when he came to Ithaca on a sabbatical. He served as sacramental minister at Ithaca’s St. Catherine of Siena Parish during that yearlong sabbatical, then traveled to California to study at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. After earning his master’s degree in bioethics, he returned to the Diocese of Rochester and spent the summer of 2007 serving in Blessed Trinity/St. Patrick parishes in Tioga County. After that he served at Rochester’s Immaculate Conception and St. Bridget parishes while completing a residency program in clinical pastoral education at the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital.
After completing his residency program, Father Dalimpuo served as temporary parochial administrator at St. Michael Parish in Newark until 2009, when he became the parish’s pastor. The priest enjoyed serving in America, and became a United States citizen on May 15, 2015.
"I love my ministry and I love what I do," Father Dalimpuo told the Catholic Courier after taking the Oath of Allegiance this past spring. "America is a land of opportunities, and I wanted to share in those opportunities. It has been a long journey, and I am happy at this point."
The people of St. Michael Parish threw a party for Father Dalimpuo after he became a U.S. citizen last spring, and had been eagerly anticipating his return to Newark after his autumn visit to his homeland. Parishioners and staff members alike loved their pastor, and were deeply saddened to learn of his passing, according to Patricia Albrecht, the parish’s temporary pastoral administrator.
"It’s a terrible loss to our community," said Albrecht, who served as pastoral associate during Father Dalimpuo’s seven years at the Newark parish. "We miss most of all his smile, his sense of humor and just his sense of presence among us. He was our leader, yes, but he was just one with us."
Father Dalimpuo’s Mass of Christian Burial and interment will take place in the Archdiocese of Tamale. Bishop Salvatore R. Matano will celebrate a memorial Mass Nov. 7, 2015, at St. Michael Church, located at 401 S. Main St. in Newark.
