By Padre Mike Umoh
The Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac town, Lagos, Very Rev. Fr. Melvis Mayaki, has urged Very Rev. Fr. Paul Ighabor not to be deterred by age, but to continue in winning souls for Christ.
The Dean of Festac Deanery gave this admonition in his sermon at the Holy Mass of thanksgiving on the occasion of the 70th birthday and 36th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Very Rev. Fr. Paul Ayodele Ighabor at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Lafiaji, on Monday 28 August, 2023.
Considering the numerous dangers and factors that currently make living difficult in Nigeria, the preacher challenged the celebrant that much as he is 70 years, he must never feel old or no longer capable of working.
Quoting Robertson McQuilkin, Fr. Mayaki reminded the celebrant thus; “God planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical. But the strength and beauty of old age is spiritual. We gradually lose the strength and beauty that is temporal so we’ll be sure to concentrate on the strength and beauty that is forever.”
“So don’t be tired of working hard to achieve your dreams of inspiring the people of God and expanding God’s kingdom and touching lives for the better.
“We still need you. The Church needs you, the world needs you … continue to take care of your health, let the past be by gone and start afresh as a brand new 70 year old person,” he counselled.
Fr. Mayaki described Fr. Ighabor as, though strict and stern looking, “a kindhearted, generous, disciplined and principled man of God whose work ethics and dedication to hard work, cleanliness and evangelization of God’s people cannot be denied.” “Fr Paul is a father figure to many young ones to whose lives he has contributed immensely,” he added.
In his closing remark towards the end of the Mass, Fr Paul informed the congregation of two major reasons he was celebrating: first, to thank God for delivering him from an accident at the age of 10, which consequently brought him to Lagos and then led him to the priesthood; Secondly, to thank God for healing him of a sickness in 2014 which which deprived him of the power of speech and sight and resulted in a loss of memory. He expressed gratitude to God for healing and also to many persons whom God used as instrument to help him through those dark moments of life.
Furthermore, Fr. Paul expressed gratitude to Archbishop Alfred Martins, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, who were both absent. He thanked the many guests who graced the occasion, including Bishop John Oyejola, Monsignors Chris Edema Boyo, John Aniagwu, Bernard Okodua, Francis Ogunmodede, Gabriel Osu, Anthony Obanla, Anthony Erinle, and Paschal Nwaezeapu. He also thanked the numerous priests and sisters present and some distinguished lay faithful like Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, Dr & Mrs. Imo Itsuelli, and the entire congregation drawn from various parishes he has worked.
