The Archbishop of Benin City, Most Rev. Dr Augustine Akubeze, Bishop of Bomadi, Most Rev. Dr Hyacinth Egbebor, Priests, Religious and lay faithful from different parts of the country gathered at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral, Warri on the 13th of March, 2018 at the Funeral Mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Warri, Most Rev. Dr John Okeoghene Afareha, to bid farewell to Rt Rev. Msgr Joachim Ogheneochuko Aghware (aka Msgr Cardy) who died February 22, 2018.
Reflecting on the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 11:28-30, Rev. Fr Dr Jude Ufuoma Sagbodje who was the homilist at the funeral Mass, stated that the Lord promises to give rest not just to our body but also to our soul just as He (the Lord) had done to Msgr Joachim Aghware who died February 22, 2018, and he is now resting in the Lord. Recounting on the various offices held by Msgr Cardy and how he had impacted positively on the lives of many, Fr Sagbodje said, "his pastoral zeal cannot be overemphasized, his attentiveness to people at the confessional was very exceptional and pronounced in all the places he had worked. Msgr Joachim was truly obedient to death." Citing the Letter to the Hebrews (5:7), Fr Jude quoted, "In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father]." Truly our prayers were heard and God offered Msgr Aghware a place where there will be no longer surgery or medical care. After 36 years of active priestly service, the Lord had called Msgr Joachim to Himself. Of course, the Lord had been faithful to Msgr Aghware till his death as he survived series of heart attacks during his lifetime as reiterated by the homilist.
Before concluding his homily, Fr Sagbodje cited a text from the 13th Station of the Cross used by the Catholic Diocese of Warri, which states, "those you love will part from you and you too will die one day, a day you do not know, are you prepare for it?" That was the question sympathizes were left to ponder with.
After the Funeral Mass, Msgr Aghware was taken in a motorcade to the Diocesan Priests' cemetery at Agbarho where he was laid to rest. Actually Msgr Cardy will be highly remembered for his famous expression: Whatever is good is good and whatever is bad is bad!
Surely, Msgr Cardy will be greatly missed not only by the Catholic Diocese of Warri or by all who had came in contact with him both within and outside the country, Nigeria but also the Nigeria Delegation of the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. It was gathered that whenever Msgr Joachim saw an Oblate priest, he always had the desire that the Priests of the Congregation should come to his diocese to work. A desire that was not achieved before his departure.
Sanctus Cardy! Adieu!!!