BY REV. FR. LEO OLUWASEYI AWOJINRIN

The third of July, 2020 will remain a sad for the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode as a whole and Bishop Francis Adesina in particular. This was simply because on that day, the former Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Msgr. Valentine Awoyemi was called back to glory.

During an interview with the Partner Newspaper on Thursday, 10th July, the day of the burial of Msgr. Valentine Awoyemi, the Bishop lamented that he had lost a very valuable collaborator. Recounting how their collaborative journey began from the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul, bodija, Ibadan while he was the Rector and Msgr. Val was the President of the Alumni of the same institution. He mentioned how he served as his Secretary in that same association.

Arriving Ijebu-Ode Diocese as a Bishop, the Local Ordinary, Francis Adesina narrated how he had begun to settle down gradually with some assistance from his detailed and efficient Chancellor. The Prelate stated it categorically that he will describe the event of the death of Msgr. with the analogy of the computer and the hard drive. He said: “Just when my computer was still booting, my hard drive crashed”. Obviously saddened by the death of Msgr. Valentine Awoyemi, his only consolation was that he is now in a better place after serving the Church and the Diocese meritoriously.

We continue to condone with the Bishop, Most Rev. Francis Obafemi ADESINA, the Bishop Emeritus, Most Rev. Albert Ayinde Fasina, the Priests, Religious, laity of Ijebu-Ode Diocese and the family of Msgr. Valentine Awoyemi on this great loss. Msgr. Awoyemi died after a very brief illness. May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in perfect peace, Amen!