By Fr. Anthony Adetayo

The Funeral Mass for Late Msgr. Gabriel Ayankoya took place on 10^th June 2022 at St. Sebastian Catholic Cathedral, Ijebu-Ode. The Mass was celebrated by his Grace Most Rev. Gabriel Leke Abegunrin; the Archbishop of Ibadan as the Principal Celebrant with other Bishops, including Bishop Peter Odetoyinbo of Abeokuta Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of Oyo Diocese and Bishop Francis Adesina of Ijebu-Ode Diocese. The homilist, Rev. Fr. Michael Adebanjo reflecting on the mystery of death and the Christian faith, stated that “the mystery of Christ’s death is the reason for our gathering to pray for Msgr. Gabriel Kole Ayankoya who should have been fifty years as a priest next year.

The Archbishop of Lagos said “though the Bible said 70 years is man’s lifespan but Msgr Ayankoya has spent 77 years and almost 50 years of serving God and God’s people as a Priets. We come to celebrate the years he spent mentoring the Priests of Ijebu-Ode Diocese. We condole with you and we are not sorrowful. We rather say a man of God was taken from among us to continue to pray over us.”

The vote of thanks on behalf of the Bishop Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina, was given by Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Kunle Balogun who noted emphatically that all the Priests of Ijebu Ode Diocese presently are the products of the Late Msgr. Gabriel Kole Ayankoya including the late Bishop Albert Fasina

The final commendation was carried out by Archbishop Martins and Msgr. Ayankoya was finally committed to the mother earth by Bishop Peter Odetoyinbo.