By: Amb. Anthony Akalugo
VERY REV. MSGR. JOHN KANEBI ASUQUO ANIAGWU, PARISH PRIEST OF ST. LEO’S Church IKEJA AND VICAR GENERAL OF LAGOS CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE MARKS 80TH BIRTHDAY
Great is the faithfulness of God who has blessed us bountifully with the gift of good men and resources and humanity. I rejoice in the spirit because it pleases God this day to make us have reasons to celebrate.
Why do I say so? The scriptures admonish us to celebrate with those who celebrate, that is to Forster communalism and integral love for each other. Fr John deserves all to roll out trumpet and drums to celebrate.
Fr John or Pa Jay, as he is fondly called is a man of too many parts. This is coming from one who had the opportunity to enjoy his tutelage of administrative grooming and spiritual mentorship.
I came to know Msgr JKA Aniagwu when I moved over to Lagos in 2008, transfered from Port Harcourt, to work in Lagos. Residing in Ikeja, I had the privilege of identifying with St. Leo’s Catholic Church, whose parish priest is Fr John. It was a great experience.
I integrated perfectly in the parish and enjoyed the full ambience and simplicity of the parish with high standard of respect, responsibility and candour.
Fr John proved to be an oracle of the scriptures, a man whose deep knowledge of the faith and scriptures, church dogma and theology would humble any person to realise that his being a seasoned educationist means something different from just going to the pulpit. He eloquently demonstrated the fact that he is a first class product and a teacher of international repute.
He is imbued with wisdom, love, charity, charisma, deep interpretation of scriptures, excellent sermon and outstanding church administration. He has his eyes on everything in the church including the various organs and sodalities. With Fr. John as your mentor, you can’t get it wrong in church administration and general life proceedings.
When I joined St. Cecilia’s Choir, where I served as the Secretary General, the head of administration, joining the choirmaster to Parish Council meetings, I came much closer to Fr John. No doubt he is a master of administration and a man who relates with all without any measure of segregation.
Through the institution of Catholic Study Group, which holds on Mondays, he gives clear meaning and interpretation to church doctrines and practices of faith, an amazing opportunity to reveal the church tradition and spirit of the dictum of faith.
When I was about to complete my first tenure of office, as the Secretary, Fr. John appointed me as the Vice Chairman Liturgy Committee of St. Leos. That appointment came at a time I never knew that my little effort at the choir was being noticed by the great Fr. John.
Being the Vice Chairman of Liturgy Committee meant that I supervised all the 5 choir groups of the parish, all the liturgical groups such as Mass Servers or altar team, Lay readers or Board of Lectors, Church Wardens and indeed all liturgical service groups.
The position of Liturgical Committee whose chairman is the parish priest afforded me the opportunity of playing my little role in advancing the spiritual wellbeing of the parish and brought me face to face with Fr John, to drink from his wealth of knowledge.
Not only were my twin children baptised in the parish under his watch, he strongly supported me and showed me generosity when I needed it. He would listen to you and just act without a mention and I realised from testimonies of many around that each had witnessed and experienced a touch of charity in one way or the other from him. That is the man Fr John, an unassuming mentor and a firm spiritual director and a true father to all.
When I received an invitation to move down to the east to engage in public service, Fr. John Kanebi Asuquo blessed and commissioned me to move, assuring me that service to humanity in the public sector is an advancement of the aura of the altar. He urged me to go and uphold the teachings of the faith in the circle of public leaders, no doubt he is an oracle of good living. He is a man that is truly indescribable, all-round and totally given to integration of faith in social Reengineering.
His touch of excellence has continued to grow the family of St Leo’s Catholic Church and priests and parishioners have continued to enjoy the ambience of faith and social interaction for which St. Leo’s parish is outstanding. He is a core Marian priest, mature and humane.
I heartily felicitate with Fr John, Pa Jay, my mentor per excellence, Vicar General of Lagos Catholic Archdiocese and the Rector of Rectors for attaining four scores of age in life. It is our celebration and the celebration of all because a man who continues to inspire deep Catholic faith and enrichment of social regeneration is witnessing longevity with health and vitality.
We pray that God will continue to uphold you, lead you on and make you to continue to shine even more in this evening of your life. As you play your golf and serve humanity, we all love and imitate your love for God and humanity.
Congratulations and happy birthday Very Rev. Msgr. John Kanebi Asuquo Aniagwu, Ad Multos Anos….
© Amb. Anthony Akalugo
Leadership Sustainability Coach, 2024
