The Catholic Bishop of Minna, Most Rev. Dr Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu, Priests of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and other priests from different Congregations and Dioceses, Religious and lay faithful from different parts of the country gathered at the OMV community at Kwamba, Suleja, Niger State, on the 5th of April, 2019, for the Funeral Mass presided over by the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr Martin Uzoukwu, to bid farewell to Rev. Fr Emmanuel Chukwunonso Onyemeh, OMV who died March 17, 2019.

Reflecting on the Book of Job; chapter 1:20-22, the Bishop who centered his homily on the theme: THE LORD GAVE US AND HAS TAKEN BACK, 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 Fr Nonso who died March 17, 2019 and he is now resting in the Lord. Recounting on the various offices held by Fr Onyemeh and how he had impacted positively on the lives of many, Bishop Martin 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 as a Formators, Director for the Associates of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and as a Director of Retreat in the various institutions in the country. Speaking further, the Bishop stated that as Christians, we believe that our Lord Jesus Christ obtained eternal life for us through His Death and Resurrection. He charged us to place unquestionable trust in God and Jesus to provide a place of eternal rest for us in His Father's House so that where He is, we shall also be. Therefore, death is no longer an end because Jesus has transformed death to become a means to a greater end. Truly, the Lord has taken Fr Nonso back to where he truly belong. The bishop invited all to take Job as our model who was confronted with the death of the members of his family and how he realized that the human person belongs totally to God that in pain and moments of grief, Job exclaimed in total faith in God, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, let the Name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:21). Bishop Uzoukwu stated that as God's children, we are called to express our faith as Job did in relation to the death of Fr Nonso. However, Fr Nonso died as a young person when no one expected it but in reality, he has been transformed to become like Jesus Christ. As a priest of Christ, Fr Nonso did not hesitate to respond to the call of Jesus Christ to serve Him and His people. By becoming a Priest, Fr Nonso handed his life to Jesus Christ and His Church. The bishop emphasized that Fr Nonso, as a priest of God, no longer owed any allegiance to any other person or any group of persons including his biological family because that is the nature of the Priesthood.

Before concluding his homily, Bishop Martin encouraged all to put into action what we believe in. He reiterated that as we grief, we must not forget that we should not mourn like those who have no hope in eternal life because Fr Nonso has left us as one family to console and comfort one another. In so doing, we show to the world that we are the true followers of Jesus Christ.

After the Funeral Mass, Fr Nonso was taken in a procession to his final place of rest where he was laid to rest at the OMV community in Kwamba.

Surely, Fr Nonso will be greatly missed not only by the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary but by all who had came in contact with him both within and outside the country, Nigeria. 

Dearest Fr Nonso! Keep the smile always in Christ Jesus until we meet to part no more. Adieu!!!