Catholics remember Irish missionary-bishop in Nigeria

Bishop Senan Louis O’Donnell of Maiduguri, who died at the age of 96, was known as much for his prayer and kindness as for his humor

Eulogies have been pouring following the recent death of Retired Bishop Senan Louis O’Donnell OSA of Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram insurgents have held sway for two decades, killing dozens and destroying lives and livelihoods.

The retired prelate who died April 12 at a hospital in Dun Laoghaire, a suburban coastal town in Dublin, Ireland, was described by his fellow Augustinian Friar as one who “had a long and good life.” Preaching at the requiem at John’s Lane Church in Dublin, Father Padraig Daly OSA remembered him as “a man of great intelligence.” “Many of his bon mots and descriptions of people are not repeatable, but they will go down for a long time in Augustinian lore” Father Daly said.

“I anointed him and gave him communion. He told us then that he was ready to meet the Lord. And what better time to go, he felt than Easter. He was disappointed to wake up alive the following morning. The Lord did take him, however, during the Easter Octave,” Father Daly said.

“Huge understanding of human frailty”
According to the Augustinian priest, O’Donnell “entertained us with recollections and stories. He was committed to his prayer and office. And he always found a word of encouragement for those who were foundering. His little notes of appreciation of small achievements and successes to people around the province were treasured.”  “He was a man of great kindness. Although he worked hard to keep that side of himself hidden, many people in trouble or crisis found him a staunch advocate and support, with huge understanding of human frailty,” according to Father Daly.

Father Joseph Davou, another priest from the Augustinian province of Nigeria, who lived with the late bishop, lauded his service to God in the West African country. “He lived a life of humility… he also had a unique way of humour, making the community enjoy a good laugh.”

Nigerian Bishop Stephen Mamza Dami of Yola, who was ordained by the late bishop as a priest of Maiduguri Diocese, represented bishops from northeastern Nigeria. There were nine Nigerian priests, one from Cameroon, Irish priests and religious who worked in Nigeria as well as the Ambassador of Nigeria to Ireland at the funeral.

“With the rosary, Boko Haram is defeated”
Born in February 1927 in Ireland’s Scattery Island and ordained a priest for the Augustinian Order in July 1955, O’Donnell had a university degree before joining the congregation.

After his priestly ordination, O’Donnell moved to Nigeria, where he was to spend most of his life engaging in teaching at the Teachers’ Training College, St. Peter’s Minor Seminary Yola, where he was involved in the training of future priests and in Nguru, a border town near Niger, at the edge of the desert.

Appointed Bishop of Maiduguri in 1993 by John Paul II, the Irish missionary worked tirelessly in building up the local Church that later stood in good stead when the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2003.

According to FatherDonatusTizhe, Vicar General ofMaiduguri, the late bishop, even after retirement, would always pray for the thousands of Christian faithful dislodged from their homes by insurgents with many fleeing to neighbouring Chad and Cameroon and others, living in Internally Displaced Persons camps. That is why the diocese will pray that “With the rosary, Boko Haram is defeated.”

Bishop O’Donnell retired in 2003 at the age of 76 and was succeeded by a Nigerian bishop, Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, who later became Archbishop of Kaduna. Bishop O’Donnell spent the last years of his retirement in Ireland.