The atmosphere in St. Leo community and indeed, the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos was agog with activities recently when Rt. Rev. Msgr. John K.A. Aniagwu, Vicar General, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos and Parish Priest, St. Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos, celebrated his 80th birthday with grandeur. The ceremony brought together clergy and lay faithful from the Lagos Archdiocese and beyond, including Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops who were there to celebrate with their friend, former rector and teacher. They took the opportunity to pour encomiums on the celebrant, fondly referred to as the ‘Rector of rectors’.
Speaking on behalf of the clergy, religious and lay faithful of Lagos Archdiocese, as well as His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos wished Msgr. Aniagwu a happy birthday, praying that the Lord in His goodness will grant the celebrant many more years in good health of mind and body. Thanking the Monsignor, Archbishop Martins said he has been a beacon of commitment to the priesthood and dedicated to service; selfless service, for that matter. He said: “Recently, I heard that when you were asked what you will like to be remembered for, you said you will like to be remembered as a happy priest. And I thought that that is the summary of everything that a priest should be, a happy priest.
“That is what you have taught all the days of your seminary career. That is what you have taught all the days of your Parish Pastoral life. That is what you have taught as a leader of priests and people, as Vicar General. And that is what you will continue to be to all of us. And so, we say thank you for being the happy priest that you are. We shall all try to emulate you and be happy, in spite of whatever may come our way. May God in His goodness bless you, keep you, and continue to provide all your needs as you journey into the years to come.” While delivering the homily, Most Rev. (Dr.) Anthony Ewherido, Bishop of Warri Diocese said the people have gathered together to celebrate and thank God for a man who has been so wonderfully blessed in life, a great child of God whom God has used in different capacities to impart His blessings on humanity.
According to him, Msgr. Aniagwu has spent 80 years of life, serving God in total obedience, in pursuit of excellence as a way of life with notable disdain for mediocrity, either in his personal strive or in his expectation of others. Bishop Ewherido said though the job of a priest is not an easy one, God has blessed the celebrant with his faithfulness all the way, and God’s grace and mercy have brought him thus far, adding that he has lived 80 phenomenal years that would have been different but for the grace and mercy of God. In his vote of thanks Msgr. Aniagwu said he did not know how he has been able to make it to 80 years of age, adding that he does not see 80 as anything that he was entitled to, as it is the free unmerited gift of God.
He said when one receives a gift like this one, what else can they say but ‘thank you God.’ He added that, that is what he intends to be doing as long as the rest of his life shall last; just saying each and every day, ‘Thank you God.’ The celebrant said, when he was asked few days to his 80th birthday how it felt to be 80, he responded that he didn’t know how an 80 year old person was supposed to feel because he was not yet 80 then, and now that he is 80, he still doesn’t know how an 80 year old person is supposed to feel. According to him, besides reaching the landmark of 80, which scripture says is for the strong, he is still reasonably fit and strong, adding that he owes all these to God.
The Vicar General said he doesn’t know anything he has done or not done that can explain where and how he finds himself at this time, noting that if he had a thousand tongues and a thousand years to live, he will never be able to thank God enough for his life and condition that he finds himself in at 80. He thanked all the people that journeyed with him all these years and those he has been privileged to live and work with, beginning with Most Rev. J.K.A. Aggey, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, among others who he said have shown him kindness.
