Catholic Priest laments excessive spending at funerals

A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ebuka Afomah has criticised the extravagant spending during funerals and wake keep for the death. Fr. Afomah who is the Assistant Parish Priest of St. Cyprian Catholic Church, Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos spoke at the Requiem Mass organised for late Mr. Patrick Ijoko, a parishioner, on Friday, April 28, 2023. He also condemned in strong terms the craving for food and other forms of entertainment without which some people would turn their backs on the mourner, rather than reflect on the true meaning of life after death. In his words, “The family at this time needs the support of individuals and groups to successfully lay to rest their loved one.” Taking the readings from the books of Revelation and John, Fr. Afomah said as Christians who believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ after dead, we have hope that he (Patrick) shall resurrect with the Lord and that the grave would not hold the believer captive. He commiserated with the wife, children and grandchildren, relatives and friends of the deceased and breadwinner, and asked the family to take the irreparable loss in submission to the will of God and the believe that Patrick lived a fulfilled life. The Funeral Mass was attended by members of the CMO, Confraternity of Christian Mothers, societies among other statutory organisations in the church. The remains of Patrick Ijoko, aged 63, were interred at his country home, Anyugbe, Igede in Yala Local Council Area of Cross River State on Monday, May1, 2023.