By Emmanuel Eko, CSN Media
The Catholic faithful and parishioners of St. Gabriel Chaplaincy on Monday, 17 January, 2022 gathered at the St. Gabriel Chaplaincy for the one year memorial of late Monsignor Ralph Madu and unveiling of the Monsignor Ralph Okechukwu Madu Foundation.In an address at the programme, the Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Most Rev. Martin Uzoukwu thanked God for the heroic life of Monsignor Madu who was a model of affability.
He described the deceased as an advocate of religious harmony, a strong promoter of ecumenism, inter-religious relationships, youth development specialist and above all a detribalised Nigerian.
While reminiscing on the life and times of the late Monsignor in his homily, the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Very Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi, stated that Monsignor Madu “left us like a comet. He left us when we felt there was more to be done.” He prayed for the repose of the soul of his immediate predecessor.
The Chairman of the unveiling ceremony and former Senator representing Imo West, Osita Izunaso, observed that the kind of life lived by late Monsignor Ralph Madu was the purpose for commemorating him through the unveiling of a foundation in his memory. He said, “by this time last year, we were receiving phone calls on the death of Monsignor Ralph Madu, which was shocking.” The former Senator however noted that “Monsignor Ralph is not dead, but alive in the Lord,” adding that “after the unveiling of the foundation in his honour, we will have a task on our hands, which is fulfilling the dreams of the initiators.”
He further stated that “preparations to immortalise him using a Foundation started in June last year, when a lot of his friends suggested we immortalise him.” The event was attended by the Bishop of Minna Diocese, Most Rev. Martin Uzoukwu, priests, religious and staff of CSN, priests from Owerri diocese, Knights and Ladies of the St. John International, parishioners of St. Gabriel Chaplaincy and other faithful.