MSGR. BRIGADIER PAUL EMONYON,
A FATHER INDEED! ADIEU!
Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua
Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja.
Dear Monsignor and Father Paul Emonyon,
On Friday the 27th of July 2018, I heard that you have passed on. That you did not speak to me as usual meant that you could have been in pains. I recalled when you called me from abroad that I should begin to write a homily for your funeral because you were going to have a heart surgery. I prayed against it and you called later to say that the doctors said that the surgery was no longer necessary. The last time I visited you was adorned with serious discussions of how we lived in Holy Cross Cathedral from 1990 to 1993. We talked about our Holy Cross Cathedral Community of Frs. Ambrose Alumiansunya, Augustine Ehigie, Cornelius Omonokhua and late Fr. Raphael Amansowoman with you as our House Superior. You were so delighted that I captured how we lived in Holy Cross Cathedral in my book, “Dreams of My Parents: My life.” I shared with you this reflection on pages 22-23:
We were six priests ordained for the diocese of Benin City on the 8th of September, 1990. My first posting was to be a curate in Holy Cross Cathedral to assist Msgr. Paul Emonyon who took care of me as a real father. I realized that all my studies in the seminary were not enough to equip me for the pastoral work in the Parish. Whatever was lacking in terms of experience was supplied by Msgr. Paul Emonyon. We were five priests in the Cathedral. Monsignor ensured that we prayed together, eat together and distribute functions. He ensured that each one of us was dedicated to duty. We lived with one heart and soul. We discussed the affairs of the Cathedral at meals aside the statutory meetings. I appreciated the unity as we took life as fun. (Dreams of My Parents, Abuja, Mac-Pama Press).
Dear Monsignor, here was your response to this passage: “This my son will never stop writing about me. I even memorized the poem, “Msgr. Emonyon, A Noble Administrator” in your first book, “Love from the Desert”. I told you that if you don’t mine I will write an encyclopedia about you. You laughed and said, keep writing! Then I greeted you with our Holy Cross Community slogan: “All correct Sir” and you did not forget your usual response, “Bloody civilians”! Oh, My Monsignor and father, we saw in you a leader who was truly a servant akin to Jesus Christ whom you served so well. You gave us the first practical training on how to live the Priesthood. You taught us that diocesan Priests can be happier when they live as a community. You were indeed a living Saint. You never called me by name. You called me: MY SON. You ensured that my mother lived with us in the Cathedral and requested that Salami Stanley Imhomoh, my nephew stayed with her. You paid the hospital bills saying that “it is better to take care of mama now than to celebrate her after death.” Thanks for baptizing my mother! Thanks for never treating us like curates. Even with your military training, you never pointed a gun at us. May God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ open the gates of paradise for you.
I recall again my last visit to you in the priests’ retirement home in Benin City. You took again another copy of one my books, “THE JOY OF SERVICE. You asked me to listen why you personally read aloud Pages 150-151 to show me that you were also a father who did not spare the rod to spoil the child in the process of peacebuilding, conflict management and resolution:
While in Holy Cross Cathedral, Benin City (1990-1993), Monsignor Paul Emonyon loved me so much. Each time he wanted to address me, he would call me “my son.” One day the Governor sent a letter to the Cathedral Administrator. I signed on his behalf and collected it as Msgr. Paul Emonyon, who was the Cathedral Administrator had travelled. When he came back, I did not know what he was told. He was very angry with me for signing for the letter. In the course of his anger, I remained silent because there was no space for a word to defend myself or explain the reason for my action. What was going through my mind was that this man was ordained a priest when I was only three years old, so I should not talk when he was angry. Secondly, I was thinking of telling him that I would never receive a message for him again. On the other hand, I thought this would be rude, so I remained silent. We had evening prayers and supper together as usual, and he entered his room. At 10.00pm, I went to knock at his door, and he responded, “Yes, come in.” I entered and sat down. Then I said, “Monsignor, I am sorry for getting you so angry this evening.” Before I could finish, he said, “my son, I have discovered the truth, you did well but I am an old man, I cannot tell you sorry, open the fridge and bring out a bottle of wine.”
Before this incident, I had just been appointed chaplain to reorganize the Catholic Charismatic Renewal that had been on suspension for some time because of the crisis in the “Corner Stone Charismatic Renewal” in the Archdiocese. Monsignor had also suspended all activities of the Charismatic Renewal in Holy Cross Cathedral. I really did not know how to begin to gather the members and form them in accordance with the Catholic tradition. They had been accused of not praying the Holy Rosary and preaching against the beliefs of the Catholic Church. I was surprised when Monsignor said, “I did not want to accept the Charismatic in this Cathedral but because of your respect, I will celebrate the inauguration Mass to let them know that you have my support to work with them as their chaplain.” With Monsignor’s support, I was able to resolve the conflict not only in the Charismatic renewal but also the conflict between the Edo choir and the Charismatic choir in the Cathedral. A good number of family conflicts were resolved through our dialogue initiatives. I made sure that Monsignor and I were on the same page in all my activities. I did not hide anything from him. That gave me his full cooperation, support and protection (Confer: Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, The Joy of Service; Dialogue of Action. Kaduna, Virtual Insignia, 2015, Pages 150-151)
Akin to Jesus after reading Isaiah 61:1 as recorded in Luke 4:18, you took a deep breath, hug me and said: “My son, having written so much about me in your various books and articles, I repeat: “Prepare a homily for my funeral.” I said, Monsignor, I am not worthy, you have Bishops as class mates, they know you better. I will however write a brief dirge and eulogy to lead you to your eternal home as my tribute to you in your funeral if I am alive then. You prayed that I must live to bury you akin to a good African father. This tribute is a fulfilment of that promise to you my dear Monsignor Paul Emonyon. I will continue to ponder the memories of your love and life in my heart like Mother Mary.
My nostalgia for our love in Holy Cross will last till the dusk of my life. Thanks for your visits to my mother at Irekpai, your visits to me at Udaba, Agenebode and Afuze where you joined Bishop Michael Fagun, the Great Emeritus of Ekiti Diocese and others to celebrate the 15th anniversary of my priesthood. These will remain forever in my thoughts and prayers. The news of your death is a confirmation that good fathers prepare for their funerals ahead of time.
Dear father, my love for you is unconditional. Greet my mother Veronica, Late Fr. Raphael Amansowoman, our community member in Holy Cross Cathedral and our grandmother (your mother) when you meet them in heaven. Dear Monsignor, I must stop now for all the men and women you inspired in life to have a space to pour out their eulogies for you. Ride on then noble Soldier of Christ! Ride on gallant Soldier of the Nigerian Army! Ride on Soldier among the Legion of Mother Mary! Ride on father of young priests! Ride on father of widows! Ride on father of Orphans! Ride on, man of integrity! Ride on man of contradiction akin to Jesus Christ! Yes, ride on and ascend to the heavenly throne with the blasts of trumpets! Ride on with the assurance of Jesus! Do not let your heart be troubled! Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you so that where he is you also shall be (John 14)! Yes, ride on for nothing can ever stop you! Father, ride on and rest in peace now! Good night good man! Adieu!
Love and Peace from your son
Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua.
Director, Department of Mission and Dialogue
Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja.
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