By Godwin Utuedoye,
TORRENTS of tears flowed freely from siblings, family members, friends, Catholic clergies, religious and faithful at the diocesan priest cemetery Agbarho, during the final committal of the mortal remains of Late Rev. Fr. Louis Igberaenu Odudu on Thursday, October 11, 2019.
Very Rev. Fr. Louis Odudu
Rev. Fr. Louis Odudu whose sudden death brought a devastating shock to the entire Catholic faithful, the presbyterate of Warri Diocese, family members and friends was ordained November 17, 1987.
Final resting place of Very Rev. Fr. Louis Odudu
Delivering a homily during the funeral mass held at Sacred Heart Cathedral Warri, his classmate and closest friend, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Ambrose Oghenejode Abaka described the late priest as a humble, dedicated, unassuming, intelligent and a sportsman who never compromised his priestly vocation and values. He said; ” Fr. Odudu was a committed priest who valued and used his priestly vocation to affect positively all he ever came in contact with”.
Most Rev. John Afareha leading ArchbishopArchbishop Augustine AkubezeAkubeze of Benin City Archdiocese, Michael Elue of Issele-Uku diocese and Hyacinth Egbebo MSP of Vomadi Diocese
“We were to celebrate our 30th priestly anniversary in 2017, but Rev. Fr. Odudu was on sabbatical so we shifted the celebration to November 2018 for our 31st priestly anniversary; but today he is gone and I have cancelled the celebration of our priestly anniversary”.
He added that the Late Rev. Fr. Louis Odudu had always been a wonderful man wherever he exercised his priestly ministry while on earth. Disclosing that, during his pastoral ministries at the Holy Martyr’s of Uganda Seminary Effurun, St. Patrick’s Parish Okwagbe as parish priest, Chaplain to the Army Barracks, Parish Priest at Mother of the Redeemer Parish etc, until his secondment to the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria CSN, as Deputy Secretary General, Fr. Abaka said he always distinguished himself.
Consoling the immediate family of the deceased priest, Rev. Fr. Abaka urged them to focus on God as their brother and priest left behind a footprint that cannot be erased from memories. He stressed that Rev. Fr. Odudu is one of the most excellent priest Warri Diocese has ever produced in recent time.
Cross section of immediate family members
of Rev. Fr. Odudu at funeral Mass
He later prayed for the family for God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of Very Rev. Fr. Louis Odudu and also consoled the bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. John Afareha who is the chief mourner, noting that a lot has happened to the shepherd within the period of months,
The funeral mass of Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Louis Igberaenu Odudu was presided by Most Rev. John Afareha, Bishop of Warri Diocese, Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze, CBCN President and Archbishop of Benin-City, his classmate, Most Rev. Michael Odogwu Elue of Issele-Uku diocese as well as Most Rev. Hyacinth Egbebo, MSP of Bomadi Diocese including priests and religious from different arch/dioceses in Nigeria including the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Ralph Madu.
Priests on procession during the vigil of prayers
at Seat of Wisdom Chaplaincy where Fr. Odudu last serve
In his condolence speech, Rev. Fr. Ralph Madu stated that the news of the passing on of Rev. Fr. Louis Odudu came to him with great shock and disbelief. He described him as an unassuming, humble, peace-loving priest who carried out his priestly ministry diligently, using his time and talents for the good of the Church and humanity at large.
On his stinct at the CSN, Rev. Fr. Madu said; the late icon demonstrated credible leadership qualities during his years of service in the Catholic Secreataruat as Director of Pastoral Affairs Department, Deputy Secretary-General and as Director, NationalvCatholic Service Centre and Veritas Travels Limited.
He however assured the priests, religious and faithful of Warri Diocese of their prayers for the soul of Rev. Fr. Louis Igberaenu Odudu.
Cross section of family members at Mass
Also speaking, Chancellor of Warri Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Clement Abobo, he eulogised the brilliancy and dedication of the deceased priest, stating that God knows better as it was the time his services was needed most by the diocese that he died. He thanked the bishop who has been hit by different event of sudden death of three priests in the diocese and prayed Gud to grant him the consolation and strength to pilot the affairs of the diocese.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Louis Odudu who returned back from London in May 2018 was assigned to Seat of Wisdom Catholic Chaplaincy, Petroleum Training Institute Effurun-Nigeria where he served until he was abducted on September 15, 2018 and regained freedom the following day but unfortunately, he passed unto glory on September 19th. His death is attributed to the abduction and possible trauma and shock experienced.
The late priest was described as a gentle, ever smiling and charitable man of God, and at his burial, the atmosphere was beclouded by sorrow and grief. He was aged 58 and 30 years and ten months in the priesthood.