By Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, CSN
The Catholic Diocese of Ilorin on 27 March, 2025, commenced the ceremony to bid farewell to its Emeritus Bishop, Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, OP, who passed away on 8 March, 2025. Vigil Masses at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral, Ilorin, were scheduled for 5pm, 9pm, on March 27, 2025, and for midnight, 3am, 6am, ahead of the funeral Mass at 10am on March 28, 2025.
In his homily at the 3am Holy Mass, Rev. Fr. Francis Adedara reflected on the Christian understanding of death and the afterlife. “The dead live on in our consciousness,” he said, citing the example of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus in the Gospel of John (20:11-18). “For the Christian community, the dead should live on in our consciousness as those who have entered the new life of glory with God in heaven.”
Fr. Adedara eulogised Bishop Ayo-Maria’s sanctity of life and dedicated service to the Church and proposed him as a model for all ministers in the Lord’s vineyard. “He lives on in our memory for his sanctity of life and dedicated service to the Church, for which the Lord now says to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant'” (Mt 25:21).
The homilist emphasized the importance of faith in responding to death. “Our response to the event of death, especially the death of a Christian, should be the response of faith,” he said, citing the words of the first Preface of the Mass for the Dead: “For your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.”
Fr. Adedara concluded by praying for the repose of Bishop Ayo-Maria’s soul and for the consolation of those who mourn his passing. “May the Lord console all of us as we mourn. May God wipe away his sins and imperfections and grant him the reward of his faithfulness and service.”
The vigil Masses were attended by several bishops, led by the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, priests, religious, and lay faithful he had served during his episcopal ministry from across the diocese and beyond. The first vigil Mass 
was said by the bishop of Ilorin, Most Rev. Anselm Pendo Lawani, while Bishop Bulus Yohanna gave the homily.
