At 10.00am, I was at Okija. This date last year, my great friend and namesake, Very Rev. Fr Denis Ononuju Obiaga, after a solemn Missa exequialis concelebrated by bishops and very many priests including his sons - members of the Holy Family Fathers and Brothers of the Youth (HFFBY) - was interred near the grotto of our Blessed Mother Mary in the Generalate of the HFFBY.
          Today the Church celebrated the memorial of St Denis and his companions, martyrs.
          We gathered this morning to thank the Lord for the gift of Father Denis Ononuju, to pray for his eternal repose and for the growth, unity and progress of the two institutes (Holy Family Sisters of the Needy and Holy Family Fathers and Brothers of the Youth) he founded. I presided at the Mass, which was concelebrated by many Priests. In prayer: Hear with favour our prayers, which we humbly offer, O Lord, for the salvation of the soul of Denis, your servant and Priest, that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to your name, may rejoice in the perpetual company of your Saints.
          After the Mass in the Church, we proceeded to the grave of Fr Denis Ononuju. There, Fr Franklin Okafor (the Superior General of HFFBY), led us in prayer. Lunch.