Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos
“It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins.” (2 Maccabees 12:46)
This enduring truth of Sacred Scripture find one of their most solemn expressions in the Church’s ancient tradition of the Novemdiales, the nine days of prayer during which the People of God commend the soul of a departed faithful to the infinite mercy of God through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and other suffrages. It is a sacred period when grief is transformed into prayer, mourning into hope, and death itself is contemplated in the radiant light of Christ’s Resurrection. Following the sudden passing of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Benin City, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, the Catholic Church in Nigeria has entered this profound spiritual pilgrimage, as bishops, priests, religious and the lay faithful unite in one continuous chorus of intercession for the eternal repose of a shepherd whose life was spent in bearing witness to the Truth.
The atmosphere of prayer was set almost immediately after the announcement of his death. In an official communication, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, informed the Archdiocese of Benin City that the Holy See had acted following “the untimely and sudden death of Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze” by providing for the interim pastoral governance of the Archdiocese, while at the same time extending heartfelt condolences and assuring the local Church of the Holy See’s spiritual closeness during this moment of profound bereavement.
From that moment, what began as sorrow quickly blossomed into a remarkable national movement of prayer. Across Nigeria, cathedral bells have tolled, Requiem Masses have multiplied, the Office of the Dead has been solemnly recited, Rosaries and Divine Mercy Chaplets have ascended to heaven, Eucharistic Adoration has been offered in suffrage for the departed Archbishop, Spiritual Bouquets have been compiled, candles have been lit in hopeful expectation of the Resurrection, and countless faithful have joined the Church’s ancient Novemdiales, accompanying their beloved shepherd with the greatest gift the Church can offer her departed children, the Holy Eucharist.
Derived from the Latin expression Novem Dies, meaning “Nine Days,” the Novemdiales refers to the Church’s ancient practice of offering nine consecutive days of prayer, particularly the Holy Eucharist, for the repose of the soul of a deceased member of the faithful. The practice has its origins in the earliest centuries of Christianity and later became firmly established within the liturgical life of the Roman Church.
Accordingly, Novemdiales consists of “nine consecutive days of mourning, marked by Eucharistic celebrations held in suffrage for the deceased.” Although universally prescribed following the death of a Roman Pontiff, the same spiritual tradition has long found expression throughout dioceses across the world whenever bishops, archbishops, priests or eminent members of the faithful are called home by the Lord. It is a solemn period during which the Church, as one family of faith, accompanies her departed shepherd with the greatest gift she possesses, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, while imploring God to grant him eternal rest and everlasting light.
For Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze, this sacred tradition has found remarkable expression throughout Nigeria as dioceses, parishes, religious congregations, ecclesiastical institutions, organisations and associations continue to organise Eucharistic celebrations, Offices of the Dead, Rosaries, Divine Mercy Chaplets, Holy Hours, memorial services, candlelight processions and Spiritual Bouquets for the peaceful repose of his soul.
Barely hours after news of his passing became public, the Archdiocese of Benin City, the local Church he shepherded until his death, gathered its entire Presbyterium in prayer. The priests assembled to celebrate the Holy Eucharist for the repose of the soul of their beloved Archbishop, entrusting to the mercy of God the shepherd who had devoted decades of his priestly and episcopal ministry to proclaiming the Gospel, nurturing vocations and building the local Church.
The prayerful momentum has since spread across the country.
Earlier on Sunday, July 12, 2026, as reported by the National Director of Social Communication, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, who shared a close friendship with the late Archbishop Akubeze, led the faithful of the Archdiocese of Lagos in fervent prayers for the eternal repose of his brother bishop, inviting priests, religious and the lay faithful to unite spiritually with the grieving Archdiocese of Benin City.
The Catholic Diocese of Uromi, where Archbishop Akubeze served as its pioneer Bishop before his translation to Benin City, equally announced a diocesan Requiem Mass through its Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Odenore Oseabulu.
The notice reads:
NOTICE OF REQUIEM MASS FOR THE LATE ARCHBISHOP AUGUSTINE OBIORA AKUBEZE.
Good evening Frs. Kindly be notified of the Requiem Mass for the late Most Rev Augustine Obiora Akubeze (Pioneer Bishop of Uromi Diocese), on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Cathedral, Uromi. May he continue to rest in peace.
The announcement has generated enormous anticipation among the clergy, religious and lay faithful of Uromi Diocese, many of whom still cherish vivid memories of the late Archbishop’s pioneering pastoral leadership that laid the foundation upon which the young Diocese continues to flourish today.
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), the administrative headquarters of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), also became a centre of national prayer for the departed Archbishop.
On the official Facebook page of the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria appeared the reflection titled:
CSN Prays for Archbishop Akubeze: A Life That Preached Love
The statement recalled:
On Friday, 10 July, the priests and staff of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and the agencies of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) gathered to pray for the repose of the soul of the late Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, former President of the CBCN and Archbishop of Benin City. The observance began with the Office of the Dead in the morning and, later in the afternoon, by a Requiem Mass.
Preaching during the Mass, the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, reflected on Archbishop Akubeze’s enduring legacy of humble charity.
Drawing from the teaching of St Thomas Aquinas, he reminded the congregation:
Amare est velle alicui bonum, to love is to will the good of the other.*
He continued:
Archbishop Akubeze was a man of few words, but his entire life was an eloquent sermon on love. His generosity, appreciation, gentleness and concern for others made that love visible. For him, authority was not about power or privilege, but service in love. He understood leadership as the sincere desire and commitment to seek the good of those entrusted to his care.
The faithful were consequently challenged to emulate the late Archbishop’s exemplary life by cultivating generosity, gratitude, humility and servant leadership in their daily relationships.
In a poignant national gesture of mourning, both the Nigerian National Flag and the Flag of the Holy See flying within the premises of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria were lowered to half-mast in honour of the departed former President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
As the prayers continue to multiply, another deeply symbolic initiative has emerged in the form of a nationwide Spiritual Bouquet.
The invitation states:
SPIRITUAL BOUQUET FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF ARCHBISHOP AUGUSTINE OBIORA AKUBEZE
Dear friends,
Let us unite our hearts in prayer for the peaceful repose of the soul of our beloved Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze. We invite you to contribute to this Spiritual Bouquet by pledging prayers and pious acts to be offered on his behalf.
The Spiritual Bouquet provides an opportunity for bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, seminarians and the lay faithful to offer Holy Masses, Rosaries, Divine Mercy Chaplets, Eucharistic Adoration, fasting, personal sacrifices, Stations of the Cross, spiritual communions, acts of charity, works of mercy and other devotional exercises as gifts of love for the eternal repose of Archbishop Akubeze’s soul.
Within the Archdiocese of Benin City itself, Holy Cross Cathedral has equally become the focal point of intense prayer. The Cathedral announced two special Eucharistic celebrations dedicated to the repose of the Archbishop’s soul, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., providing clergy and faithful with additional opportunities to participate in the Church’s supreme prayer for the dead.
Outside the Cathedral, individual parishes have also joined in the Novemdiales.
Rev. Fr. Palmer Ikponmwoba announced a Memorial Mass in the following words:
NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE
This to put on the know that there will be Memorial Mass for Our beloved Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze on Monday, July 13, at 5:00 p.m. The venue is St Matthew Catholic Church, Ogbe, Off Irhirhi Road, Off Airport Road before Iyekogba Estate, Benin City. Please note that there will be no African time. Come one, come all.
The youth of the Archdiocese have likewise chosen to honour their late shepherd through a solemn Candlelight Procession.
The official announcement issued by the Chaplain, Executives and Extended Council reads:
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Dearly Beloved,We wish to inform all youths of the Archdiocese as well as members of CGO, NFCS, NACC and YCS of a Candlelight Procession in memory of our late Archbishop, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze.
Date: Wednesday, 15th July 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m. prompt
Venue: Holy Cross Cathedral
All deanery and parish presidents are hereby encouraged to be in attendance with their youths as we pay homage to our late Archbishop.
*Note: All youths should endeavour to come with a candle.
*Dress code: All Black.
Requiescat in Pace, Your Grace.
The procession is expected to gather hundreds of young Catholics carrying lighted candles through the Cathedral precincts as visible symbols of faith in Christ, the Light of the World, and of hope in the resurrection promised to all who die in Him.
Beyond these organised activities, many parishes have incorporated special petitions for Archbishop Akubeze during the Prayer of the Faithful at Mass, while numerous religious communities continue to include him in the Liturgy of the Hours, especially the Office of the Dead. Families have also organised Rosaries and private moments of prayer in their homes, reflecting the profound affection the faithful nurtured for their departed Archbishop.
As the Novemdiales continues, every Eucharistic celebration, every Rosary, every Divine Mercy Chaplet, every Holy Hour, every candle lit in silent prayer and every Spiritual Bouquet offered across Nigeria becomes a powerful testimony that the communion of saints transcends death. The Church does not merely mourn her departed shepherd; she accompanies him with prayer, entrusting him to the boundless mercy of the Good Shepherd whom he faithfully served throughout his priestly and episcopal ministry.
In death, as in life, Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze continues to unite the People of God. From Benin City to Lagos, from Uromi to Abuja, from cathedrals to chapels, from bishops to children, from priests to consecrated men and women, and from organised ecclesial bodies to countless ordinary faithful, the same prayer now rises to heaven with one voice:
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos, priest of the Catholic Diocese of Uromi & a Lecturer at CIWA, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
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