Catholic Priest insists on Igbo language @ Mass as Pa Onyeugo is buried

By George Aluo

A Catholic Priest, Rev Fr Patrick Maduike has charged parents to ensure their children learn how to speak, read and write Igbo language as a way of saving the language from going into extinction.

Fr Maduike who is the new Parish Priest of St Micheal’s Parish, Umuohiagu in Ngor Okpala local government area of Imo state said he would not allow Bible readings during mass to be in English in the rural community insisting that all hands must be on deck to save Igbo language from going into extinction.

“Our Bible readings during mass be it wedding or funeral mass must be in Igbo and parents must teach and encourage their children to speak the language,” Fr Maduike said.

The priest who spoke while delivering his homily during the funeral mass of late Ezinna Charles Onyeugo at St John’s outstation, Ojigbo, Umuohiagu on Friday charged the people to live a good life and avoid sin.

Quoting from the scripture (Isaiah 1:15) Fr Maduike warned that for a Christian to have his prayers answered by the Almighty God he must avoid sin and come with a hand that is not stained with blood.

He stressed that those serving the Living God must also abstain from idolatry as God Almighty is a jealous God that detests idolatry.

Pa Charles Onyeugo who died at 115 years was the oldest man in Ojigbo, Umuohiagu.

His son Barnabas Onyeugo while reading a short oration at the funeral mass extolled the virtues of his late father who he noted was a devote Catholic that taught his children to live an honest life.