By Olivia Obijiaku
The Diocesan Chaplain of Marian Societies, Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Rev Fr. Felix Zakari Fidson was the homilist at the Funeral Mass for a staunch member of Sacred Heart of Jesus society and Precious Blood apostolate, late Mrs. Grace George Emodi who died in October, 2022.
At the Mass which, took place in St John’s Catholic Church, Muchia on Saturday, 5th November, 2022 and presided over by the Dean of Sabo Gari Deanery and Parish Priest of St John’s, Very Rev Fr. Peter Ogwuche, Fr. Fidson cited the deceased wife of Evang George Emodi as someone whose exemplary life and family have been felt by the clergy and the lay faithful of the parish over the years.
A cross section of the faithful at the cemetery
“Mrs. Emodi was like the five wise virgins in today’s Gospel who keep their lamps burning.” The priest attested. “She tried to serve God while on earth. I remember, I worked here as a seminarian about thirteen years ago and there is no how you will come to St John’s without knowing this family. She has done her best and has left an example for us to follow.
“Death is certain but at times, we take little interest in death yet nobody knows the hour of death. Sometimes though, those who serve God faithfully, God will reveal to them that they are going to die and they die happy because they have hope of immortality. Our salvation is the most important thing but sometimes, we pay more attention to other things that are important but not too necessary.”
“During my ‘youth service,’ in the hands of kidnappers, after sometime, I was not conscious of whether I brushed my mouth or my hair was bushy. All I was concerned about was prayer to my God. These things are important but not necessary. There are so many things we cannot borrow at the moment of death. You cannot borrow kindness and love at the moment of death. So, what is required of us is to keep the light burning in Christ so that when that time comes, our lights will still be burning. May God give us the grace to die a happy death.”
Fr Ogwuche commits mama’s mortal remains to mother earth
Reacting to the decision to bury the deceased in Zaria, the homilist said that beyond a place of burial, what matters is dying in Christ because at the end of time, the mortal bodies would be no more.
On behalf of the family, one of the deceased daughters, Sis Catherine Emodi thanked the community for identifying with them and invited them to accompany them to Depot NA Cemetery for interment and to their family house thereafter praying God’s blessings and protection upon them all.
