By Peter Enesi
I am angry with God. For an unanswered prayer.
Since I came across a rare gem in the person of the, Very Rev Fr Emmanuel Patrick (Augustinian Priest) from Kafanchan Diocese, I have been earnestly pleading with God to grant me an infinitesimal part of his rare virtues particularly the grace of giving. Sin of covetousnes or jealousy, you may judge? Not exactly. His care, selfless generosity and kindness are uncommon and unparalleled.
No wonder, the homilist in his 30th priestly anniversary celebration, turned to Fr Emma and asked him pointedly, are you a human being? The homilist added that he has never seen the celebrant quarreling with anyone or being angry with anyone.
When I observed these virtues in his earlier Seminary training over 30 years ago I attributed his behaviour to the normal or average Semnarians to be above board in preparation for ordination to Priesthood. After his ordination, he has been demonstrating these virtues even to an exceptionally higher degree.
As close as we are, Fr. Emma didn’t invite me to his 30th anniversary celebration which falls on 23rd July ostensibly because of the risk involved in the long distance between Lokoja and Abuja. He detests and hesitates inconveniencing anyone. He rarely asks for a favour. It was his Sister Dr (Mrs.) Regina John who extended the invitation to me. Whatever goes to Fr Emma as a Priest from people, is always exaggerated by him. My family and I have benefited from him tremendously both spiritually and materially. The litany of favours from him is endless. Take for instance his frequent visits to us in Festac and 1004, Victoria Island, Lagos from Coker (his Parish)amidst the unending and excruciating Lagos traffic jam.
Equally endless are the categories of others he has benefited. A very detribalized quintessential Priest.
I will end this eulogy with a brief story.
There was a monk praying along a beach. He suddenly came across a precious pearl. He picked it. Someone observing the monk from afar approached him to dash him the pearl as he has neither wife nor children. The monk gladly obliged without any hesitation. After three days, this man returned the pearl to the monk with a request. The man ‘s prayer? That God should grant him the grace of giving out cheerfully without minding the cost.
Fr Emma should be praying for us to be generous like himself particularly in this era of man’s inhumanity to man.
Fr, congratulation. Ad multos annos. May your type increase in our country, Nigeria and the world at large.
Peter B Enesi writes from Lokoja