Excitement in Church as Fr Eburuaja was introduced.
2 min read
At the end of the requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of the late Mrs Geraldine Offorji, there was a heavy presence of several priests who came from both in and outside the state to celebrate the Mass. Rev Father Isidore Igweegbe, the parish priest of St Joseph’s Catholic Church Isiozi Umuaka Autonomous Community mounted the podium to address the congregation and gave vote thanks to his priestly colleagues, he first thanked the bereaved family and all other people who came from far and near.
After announcing this, the Rev gentleman was then giving his vote of thanks to the priests who assisted him in the celebration of the requiem Mass. He thanked the priests who came and asked God to lead them safely home while leaving the venue and the congregation chorused a big amen.
There was a reverend father he mentioned his name and the church responded with a big ovation! The reverend father in focus here was Emmanuel Eburuaja, a former parish priest of St Mary’s Catholic Church Umuaka and former principal of Santa Maria Secondary School Umuaka. Fr Eburuaja who holds a chieftaincy title as Father Di Oha Mma 1 of Mgbe, is seen by many Catholics as a “jewel of inestimable value” to Umuaka people. The ovation which was followed by the church shouting, “Eburuuuu, Eburuuuu” totally struck to the smiling Eburuaja. He could not take it any longer with just a simple smile. He stood up from his seat and bowed down in acknowledgement to the church.
Shortly after this, the Mass came to an end and the priests in a procession went out to bless the corpse before heading to the Offorji family house. The ovation and the shouts of Eburuuuuu Eburuuuuu repeated again. As Fr Eburuaja was walking with his fellow priests, he was waving back to the people as he kept smiling. Even some children tried to touch him.
