SR. STELLA,
MY LOGOTHERAPIST
You ended your life on earth with a smile and admonition to your brothers and sisters: Here are your last words on earth: “I thank you Lord God for creating me. Thank you, Lord, for giving me the responsibility of being dedicated to you and the privilegeof dedicating my life to you. If I have finished the work, you assigned me to do on earth, you can take me if it is your will. Otherwise, dear God reduce this suffering and pain.” You told your brothers and sisters not to despair. You inspired hope in them. You told them, “Cry when you need to but know that I am happy. I am at peace with God.” You told God that you are not afraid of leaving the world but only concerned about those you are leaving behind. You prayed that God should unite and console them.
As a renowned Psychotherapist akin to Freud's psychoanalysis and Adler's individual psychology, yourapproach to life was therapeutic. You helped those who encountered you to discover their real self and the reason for their existence on earth. You helped those who reached you to value the moment and focus on the future. During your long pain when you lived on artificial oxygen, you showed your ability toendure hardship and suffering like your master Jesus Christ. You demonstrated the freedom of letting us know that you valued life. You were my therapist. I can still recall your words of wisdom at different moments. Here are some of your words on the marble:
Dear mystic rose and gentle dove, you were the first and only Woman Religious, I know to head a department in a Catholic Major Seminary. As Head of Department (HOD) of Philosophy in Saint Joseph Major Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene, you trained, formed and transformed many seminarians. Today, they are happy and successful priests.
Mother Leonie-Martha O’Karaga, Mother General Emeritus of HHCJ, thanks for allowing Sr. Dr. Stella Bassey Esirah, HHCJ, to work with me when I was the Director of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN). Sr. Stella, you made the congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus proud by being one of the pioneer members of the National Think Tank of Inter-religious Dialogue and Catholic – Methodists relations in Nigeria. You did well as a member of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Thank you, my Angelic Scholar for editing my works, writing foreword and comments on four of my books that are now available on Amazon. You were indeed a gift to me, my family and friends. Thanks a million!
I was not keen on Logotherapy until I met you who demonstrated practical logotherapy with the way you relatedwith people. You gave me wings to fly in my dreary moments. In the deep darkness of my life, you were my sunshine. All my friends who encountered you testified that you were a guiding star and guardian Angel. Oh Stellamaris, the star of the sea, March on to heaven like a great Saint.
Within July and August, your friends, Dolly Igbinijesu and Serah Omonokhua Bello were buried. What a world! You left us on the solemnity of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15, 2023). You followed Mother Mary to meet Jesus in a home where the Lord has gone to prepare for you. It is difficult to stop weeping even though Jesus has enjoined us: “Do not let your heart be troubled” (John 14:1).
Your empathy for me was deep after my spine surgery. You feared that I would die. I could not imagine that you will leave us so soon. My dear Stella, the family of Esirah are missing you! The Handmaid Sisters are missing you! Saint Joseph Majoy Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene is missing you! The world will miss you! What a world where death is rapidly snatching the young away!Sr. Stella, you were an amazon, icon, a scholar, a gentle womanwho lived and taught others how to face tomorrow. Rest in peace now my dear sister. Rest in peace forever! Adieu!
Fr. Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua
Executive Secretary
Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC)
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