Work toward reaching the final stage –Cleric tells Christians

This was the conclusion by Very Rev. Fr. Donatus Nwachukwu of Owerri Archdiocese in a funeral oration for two Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ in Nkpor–Agu, Anambra State recently. A press statement from the congregation’s headquarters’ spokesperson, Rev Sr. Mary Lucella Ukaegbu announced that Rev. Sr. Mary Therese Njoku and […]

This was the conclusion by Very Rev. Fr. Donatus Nwachukwu of Owerri Archdiocese in a funeral oration for two Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ in Nkpor–Agu, Anambra State recently.

A press statement from the congregation’s headquarters’ spokesperson, Rev Sr. Mary Lucella Ukaegbu announced that Rev. Sr. Mary Therese Njoku and Rev. Sr. (Dr.) Mary Cyril Enukorah died in December 2011.

Fr. Nwachukwu who took the congregation through the various stages which a grieving soul passes enumerated the stages as: denial, anger, bargaining, resignation and acceptance.

He stressed the importance of reaching the final stage which is the acceptance of God’s will.

He noted that the deceased had instructed many in virtue during their life time.

“They brought many to Christ and Christ to many through their teachings, instructions, but more importantly, through their life of witnessing,” the cleric stressed.

He called on all to emulate their virtues as many children still need to be guided in the right path.

The late Njoku was the first Vicar General of the Congregation under the former Superior General, Mother Mary Bernadette Anyogu, for 18 years.

After the Nigerian civil war in 1970, she worked very hard at reconstructing the damaged and dilapidated hospital at Emekuku in Owerri Archdiocese and later spent about 16 years of her life at Umuchu where she also worked at uplifting the maternity there to a full-fledged hospital.

She was also involved in training and preparing young girls for marriage.

The late Enukorah on her path was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and a Clinical Psychologist.

Although her career as a Clinical Psychologist was cut short by death, she was said to have helped many students, clerics and several others to rediscover their focus in life and again become psychologically stable people.

Before her death, Sr. Enukorah was a member of many professional bodies including the Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) and the Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP), where she served as the National Financial Secretary.

She was till death, the Regional Superior of the Eastern Region of the Immaculate Heart Sisters, Nigeria.

The funeral Mass which started at 10:00am at the Immaculate Heart Novitiate Chapel, Nkpor–Agu, Anambra State was concelebrated by the Catholic Bishop of Aba, Most Rev. Vincent Ezeonyia, CSSp; Most Rev. Gregory Ochiagha, Bishop Emeritus of Orlu and over 200 priests.

Religious Brothers and Sisters from various congregations as well as the Laity numbering over 1,000 attended the Mass.