By Olivia Obijiaku
The bereaved father of Bro Fidelis Makolo, the late seminarian of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria and a student of Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, Mr. Peter Makolo granted an interview to stadt daily.news after the Mass of the Feast of All Saints in St Mary’s Catholic Church Samaru Zaria on Tuesday, 1st November, 2022 when he described the death of his son as an act of God.
Mr. Peter Makolo
The father who has lost two adult sons within two years prescribes prayers for oneself as a means of remaining faithful to God in times of difficulties.
“God knows what He is doing.” The bereaved submitted. “When my son told me that he wanted to become a priest of the Most High because he was called, we prayed for him to succeed and promised to stand by him. Even though he could not make it as a priest here, I know he made it to heaven. So instead of mourning longer than necessary, we need to rejoice. He appeared to me several times and said ‘do not mourn for me. Pray for me.’ I will only pray for him.”
“God gives and takes. It may seem as if God does not know what He is doing but He knows tomorrow and why He does His things – He knows what is He is doing. He knows our future. He called him so that he may not fall into something that will reduce his zeal for Him. God called him home to rest. So, if you lose someone, pray for him because he is going somewhere that we too we go to. You can cry very well till you are satisfied but do not question God. Take it in good faith.”
The diocese had on Tuesday, 9th August, 2022 celebrated a Funeral Mass for the deceased in St. Mary’s Samaru where Diocesan Administrator and the Chief Celebrant, Very Rev Fr Michael Pius Kagarko who was chiefly mourning the pioneer Bishop George Dodo prayed for celebrations in place of burials in the diocese.
Dust to Dust
Delivering the homily, the Vocations Director of the diocese and the Rector of St Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Rev Fr. Istifanus Katung admitted that God is still good even in the most challenging circumstances. “It is when we think that God does not make sense that He makes more sense. We may be going through a particular thing but God has not abandoned us. Whatever that does not kill us makes us stronger.”
In his homily at the Mass of wake on Monday, 5th August, the Vice Rector of the Minor Seminary, Rev Fr Matthias Adugba consoled the family in the fact that their son will not die again but his death has given him a perfect condition to meet God attesting that Bro Makolo touched people of different denominations and faiths.
