St. Flavius Catholic Church Oworonshoki, recently celebrated funeral Mass for the repose of their pioneer Parish Priest, late Rev. Fr. Joseph Etim MSP and to thank God for his life and ministry in their midst. The event attracted priests of the Southern Region of the Missionary Society of St Paul, MSP, the Archdiocese of Lagos, Catholic diocese of Abeokuta, as well as the Associate Members of the Missionary Society, AMSP, representatives of the Etim family from Akwa Ibom State, friends and the host parishioners, who were decked in their premier parish uniform. In his welcome address to the congregation, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Femi Pius Oladele MSP, disclosed that the Parish considered it right and fitting to honour Fr. Joseph and commend him to the bosom of the Lord with a Mass celebrated in that Parish he coordinated its dedication. He added that, though represented at the funeral Mass and burial held in Abuja on January 27, 2021, St. Flavius parishioners desired to further express their joy and gratitude to their late first Parish Priest with their physical presence and active participation at his funeral Mass.
He thanked the Local Ordinary of Lagos, Most. Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adwewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos; the Superior General of MSP, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Callistus Isara MSP; the Southern Regional Superior of the Society; Very Rev. Fr. James Yakubu MSP, the Lagos Superior; Very Rev. Fr. Michael Etekpo MSP, the planning committee and parishioners of St. Flavius for their respective contributions to the success of the occasion. In his homily, Fr. Etekpo recalled with mixed feelings that he concelebrated the inaugural Mass of St. Flavius Quasi parish, on April 20, 2010 and formally presented late Fr. Joseph Etim MSP as the first Parish Priest. He relived the warm and enthusiastic welcome St. Flavius parishioners showered on them on that joyful day and some great pastoral dreams of the late pastor, who was, for the very first time, assuming the position of the post of Parish Priest However, in deep pains, the Homilist declared that it had equally fallen on him again to preach the funeral Mass of the same great soldier of Christ in the same church.
