Holy Eucharist keeps priests alive – Cardinal Onaiyekan

Recently, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, celebrated his 75th birthday. He took time to visit St. Mary’s Home for the Orphanage in Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In this brief interview with ENE OSANG, he speaks about his challenges, his vision for the church and what he would have been doing if he wasn’t a priest.

Why the decision to visit St. Mary’s Home for the Orphanage in Gwagwalada amongst the many orphanage homes in Abuja?

You know a lot of things were organised for me as I celebrated my 75th birthday, but amongst all I said they should include my orphans because it could be anyone down there. I wanted the children to enjoy my birthday celebration; that is why I am here.

Your Eminence, what would you say are the high points of your priestly life?

It’s a daily high point for me, everyday I climb the altar to celebrate the Eucharist is a high point for me because the Eucharist is a serious matter. That’s what keeps priests alive.

Do you have any major challenges as a priest?

Challenges there are and the biggest comes from me; my inability to measure up to what I should be. I keep struggling to the extent that the grace of God allows us; but like I said everyday at the Mass when I am weak, then I am strong.

What would you have done differently?

I have not regretted being a Reverend Father; I would have always been a Reverend Father. I wouldn’t have not really much differently, but at every moment I try to follow the will of God and I would not have changed it for anything.

How would you assess the church today?

The church is a community of men and women of faith who try to live their lives according to the demands of the Gospel. To a large extent they succeed, sometimes they don’t succeed; but this is how life is and we have to be ready to accommodate one another. We rely heavily on the grace of God who in his mercy carries us along.

On that note where do you vision the church?

It’s not even the matter of me visioning; it’s a question of faith that the church will always be, always stand firm because that is the promise God has made. ‘You are Peter and upon you I build my church and the gates of hell shall never prevail against you’ so, the church will always succeed.

How do you manage to stay humble even in this exalted position?

I am just myself: it is when you are big that you do big things. I am small and I do things accordingly. Those who think they are big do things to make them appear big, but the truth is that we are nothing before God. We are all just what we are and I do things accordingly. Those who think they are big do things to make them appear big, but the truth is that we are nothing before God; we are all just what we are.

What would you be remembered for?

That is not my headache, rather the headache of those who want to remember me. I don’t even want to remember myself…… (Laughs)

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