By Val Obienyem
Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor turned 72 yesterday. Slightly over 40 years as a priest and a little over 17 years as a bishop, he belongs to the older generation of the Catholic priesthood in Nigeria. He has indeed come a long way in his priestly life.
Your chosen episcopal motto, “Caritas mea cum omnibus vobis in Christo Jesu” (“My love is with you all in Christ Jesus”), aligns deeply with the essence of Christ’s message to His Church.
In these words from 1 Corinthians 16:24, St. Paul encapsulates a love that transcends all boundaries, a love rooted in Christ and extended to all. This motto beautifully reflects the spirit of your pastoral ministry: a commitment to love and serve all people in the name of Christ.
Each time I see our Lord Bishop, I observe him labouring through personal example to bring others back to the ideals of Christ. He has not missed the opportunity to support causes that bring positive development to the Church and humanity. Do you know where he lives? In an age when some ordained ministers are competing to live in kingly palaces, his modest abode among seminarians on a spiritual year speaks volumes about his apostolic values.
Though unassuming, our bishop possesses a high intellect, strong conviction, and an immense force and unity of character. His pronouncements as a Bishop are characterised by clarity and logical thought, with a fitness and pungency of phrase that could make him an unassuming Aquinas or an orthodox Abelard. He has a tender side and can be kind, patient, and personally tolerant. Yet, in matters of doctrine and morals, he allows no deviation from the dogmas or ethics of the Church.
At times, he is visibly burdened, and this becomes palpable when he speaks. His sermons – imbued with eloquence and profound emotion – confront the moral decay and vices plaguing society. His concern extends beyond the present, reflecting a deep-seated worry about what the children of today will become in the future, given the current state of the world. He conveys this concern not just as an a worried observer but as a shepherd deeply interested in the well-being of his flock. Each word he utters is punctuated with a sense of urgency and care, stirring the hearts of all who listen and compelling them to reflect on their own roles in shaping a more virtuous society.
As he turns 72, we join all people of goodwill in wishing him many more years in the Lord’s vineyard. Whenever an evaluation is done – at the right time – all will marvel at the development the diocese witnessed under him, from the 21st-century Peter University to advancements in various sectors.
