Rev. Fr. Cyril O. Apassa, Ed.D., age 76, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020 in Longview, Texas following a long illness. He was born Feb. 4,1944 in Aba, Nigeria.
Fr. Cyril attended the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Nigeria (an affiliate of the Pontifical Urban University of Rome). He also attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria as well as the Catholic Institute, Parish, France. He was ordained in April 1971 for the Diocese of Umuahia, Nigeria, but later moved to the Diocese of Aba, Nigeria. In 1996, Fr. Cyril was awarded a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. That same year he moved to Reno, Nevada where his primary ministry was to serve those who have a preference for the Extraordinary Form of the Sacred Liturgy. He is also the author of The Spirituality of Christian Marriage where he highlights how all married persons are called to respond to God’s call to holiness.
While in the Diocese of Reno, Fr. Cyril was assigned primarily to St.Therese of the Little Flower, but also served as Chaplain at the then Washoe Medical Center, St. Mary of the Mountains in Virginia City and at the Holy Spirit Mission in Washoe Valley. Fr. Cyril retired in February 2010 due to his illness and later moved to Longview to be closer to family.
He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Williams, cousins, and a host of nieces and nephews.
A rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec.17 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning. Final committal and burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, TX at 1 o'clock in the afternoon and will be presided over by Bishop Joseph Strickland, Bishop of the Diocese of Tyler.
In lieu flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Mary’s Catholic School Library Fund, 405 Hollybrook Dr., Longview, TX 75605 or at https://osvonlinegiving.com/4457
We give God the glory for his life was devoted to a ministry of love and service to others while he was with us. He will be fondly missed by his relatives and friends and the people of St. Mary’s Catholic Church & School.
May his gentle soul rest in the bosom of our Lord.