Some deaths leave us speechless, not because we lack words, but because the life being mourned has left impressions too deep for ordinary words to capture. The passing of Very Rev. Fr Dr Peter Chudi Akaenyi is one such moment for me. Today, I join the Church, the Bishop of Awka Diocese Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor,Awka Diocesan Presbyterium and lay faithful, his former students, colleagues, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing him in mourning the departure of a remarkable priest, an exceptional teacher, a disciplined formator and a gallant soldier of Christ.
Yet, beneath the sadness of this moment lies a deep reservoir of gratitude. I mourn a teacher who shaped my intellectual and priestly formation, a senior priest whose dignity commanded respect, and a man whose courage and intervention at a defining moment in my life, remain indelibly etched in my memory.
I encountered Fr Peter Akaenyi during my years of formation at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, from 1994 to 2003, where he lectured us in the Department of Theology. He handled several courses in theological studies, bringing to the classroom, a rare combination of intelligence, intellectual depth, hard work, discipline and an unmistakable sense of purpose. He was not merely a man who possessed knowledge; he was a teacher who understood the responsibility that came with imparting it. His presence alone communicated seriousness, order and a commitment to excellence.
Fr Akaenyi belonged to that rare breed of teachers whose influence transcends the classroom. He was a dignified, disciplined and worthy exemplar of the kind of priest, teacher and formator every seminary would be proud to have. His was an unmistakable aura, the presence of a man who understood the demands of his vocation and took those demands seriously. In him, intellectual rigour met personal discipline, and ecclesiastical dignity found expression in conduct. He was, in the truest sense, a formator of formators.
The mention of his name commanded respect. It evoked order, discipline, maturity, seriousness and a deep sense of responsibility. These were not simply qualities to be admired in a priest; they were indispensable virtues for anyone preparing to shepherd God’s people. In his person, we encountered a model of the seriousness with which the priesthood and the formation of future priests ought to be approached.
My relationship with Fr Akaenyi, however, went beyond that of a student and his lecturer. During those years, I served as the Primus of the Awka Diocesan seminarians at Bigard Memorial Seminary and later as the General Primus of Awka Diocesan Seminarians. These responsibilities brought me into closer contact with him and afforded me opportunities to experience his leadership, judgement and appreciation of responsible service.
I vividly remember his words of commendation for the mature manner in which I discharged my duties. That acknowledgement meant a great deal to me, coming from a man whose standards were high and whose appreciation was not cheaply given. It was an affirmation that responsible leadership, discipline and service were being noticed and valued. I am grateful that the legacy of that period of service has endured in different ways, leaving impressions that have continued to speak long after those formative years.
But there is one chapter of my relationship with Fr Akaenyi that I shall never forget, even in eternity.
During our seminary journey, my colleagues, Frs Augustine Onyebuchi, Casmir Muobike and I became involved in a misunderstanding with our then home parish priest, Rev. Fr Hilary Ekwenibe. What began as a disagreement unexpectedly grew into a prolonged and complicated matter. As the situation developed, it became necessary for people who understood the circumstances to intervene and help ensure that the issues were properly examined and that those involved were treated fairly.
Fr Peter Akaenyi stepped into that difficult situation with courage and conviction. He was sufficiently acquainted with what was actually happening, and he did not stand aloof when he believed that intervention was necessary. He stood up to defend me and, by extension, my colleagues. He brought his understanding of the situation, his sense of justice and his moral courage to bear on a matter that had become deeply consequential for us.
That intervention was not an isolated act of kindness. Several other priests also played significant roles in helping us through that difficult period. Among them were Fr Peter Ebere Okpaleke, now Cardinal and Bishop of Ekwulobia; Fr Charles Umeoji; Fr James Ikeatuegwu; and Fr Cyprian Ubaka. Their contributions remain part of a chapter of my life that I remember with profound gratitude.
At the critical moment, Most Rev. Dr Simon Akwali Okafor, the then Bishop of Awka, also came in at the right time to endorse the efforts of Fr Akaenyi and the other priests who had intervened. Their collective involvement was a source of immense encouragement to us when we needed understanding, fairness and support.
Looking back today, I realise that some of the most enduring lessons we learn in life do not come from lecture notes, examinations or formal instructions. They come from witnessing people put their convictions into practice when it matters most. Fr Akaenyi taught us theology in the classroom, but through his courageous intervention, he also taught us something about justice, solidarity, responsibility and the moral obligations that accompany leadership in the Church.
He demonstrated that ecclesiastical authority is not merely a position to be occupied, but a responsibility to be exercised with prudence, courage and fairness. He showed that standing up for what one believes to be right can demand sacrifice, but that the dignity of a person and the pursuit of justice are worth defending.
For this reason, my gratitude to him is not simply the gratitude of a former student to a departed lecturer. It is the gratitude of a man who remembers someone who stood by him at a difficult moment and helped ensure that he and his colleagues were not left to face the situation alone.
On behalf of my colleagues, and in particular the Ezinifite brothers involved in that experience, I say once again: thank you, Fr Peter Akaenyi. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your solidarity. Thank you for the interest you took in our welfare. Thank you for standing up for us when you could have chosen to remain silent. We shall not forget.
Earlier, I learnt from Fr Sylvester Uchenna that the Diocese of Awka had sent a message to its priests last Thursday, asking them to remember Fr Akaenyi in their prayers because he was critically ill and had been admitted to Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka. Until I received that information today, I had not known of the gravity of his condition. Had I known, I would have made every effort to rush to his bedside, to see him, pray with him and be physically present with him in those final moments. Sadly, that opportunity has passed.
There is a particular pain in learning too late that someone who occupies an important place in your life was passing through a moment of grave suffering. One begins to imagine the visit that might have been made, the hands that might have been held, the prayers that might have been offered together, and the words of gratitude that might have been spoken face to face. I would have loved to see him one more time, to thank him personally and to assure him that the good he did for us had not been forgotten.
But even in this painful realisation, I find consolation in the fact that Fr Akaenyi knew, while he was alive, how deeply we appreciated his intervention and the support we received from him and the other priests. He did not depart this world without knowing that his kindness had made a difference. That knowledge is a precious consolation to me and to my colleagues.
As I reflect on his life and ministry, I remember him not only as the brilliant lecturer who stood before us at Bigard, but also as the priest whose bearing communicated dignity, whose standards demanded discipline, and whose actions revealed the courage of his convictions. I remember a man who understood the importance of order without losing sight of justice, and who carried his responsibilities with a seriousness befitting his calling.
His service as Vicar General of the Diocese of Awka further illustrated these qualities. He brought to the office a rare measure of ecclesiastical prudence, balance and maturity. In the handling of matters that came before him, he demonstrated an appreciation of the delicate responsibilities involved in Church administration and governance. His approach reflected an understanding that the affairs of God’s Church require not only knowledge of canon law and ecclesiastical structures, but also wisdom, discernment, fairness and the ability to balance competing considerations.
I say this not from hearsay, but as one who had the privilege of witnessing aspects of his character and judgement at close quarters. I am therefore a personal witness to the fact that Fr Akaenyi was a man whose influence was felt beyond the classroom and whose contributions to the life of the Church deserve to be remembered with respect.
Today, the Church has lost a priest, the Diocese of Awka has lost a distinguished son and servant, the seminary has lost a seasoned teacher and formator, and former students like us have lost a mentor whose lessons extended far beyond theology. But the story of his life does not end with the announcement of his death. It continues in the memories he planted, the minds he formed, the responsibilities he discharged and the lives he touched.
The priesthood is not measured merely by the number of years one spends at the altar, the offices one occupies or the titles one bears. It is also measured by the quality of one’s service, the depth of one’s commitment, the integrity of one’s character and the difference one makes in the lives of others. By these measures, Fr Peter Chudi Akaenyi leaves behind a legacy worthy of honour.
Death, however painful, is the inevitable end of our earthly pilgrimage. Each of us must eventually take our turn when the Lord calls. Today, it is Fr Akaenyi. Tomorrow, it will be another. One day, it will be my turn, too. This awareness is not meant to diminish the pain of loss, but to remind us that life is a sacred trust and that the greatest tribute we can pay to those who have gone before us is to live faithfully, serve courageously and leave behind a legacy of goodness.
Fr Akaenyi, you fought your battles, discharged your duties and gave yourself to the service of God and His Church. You were a gallant soldier of Christ, a man of dignity and discipline, a teacher of uncommon intellectual ability, a formator of future priests and a pastor who understood the weight of ecclesiastical responsibility.
You came, you saw, and you conquered. Not because you were without your struggles, but because you gave your life to a mission greater than yourself. Your earthly journey has ended, but the seeds you planted will continue to grow in the lives of those you taught, guided, defended and inspired.
As we bid you farewell, I pray that the Lord whom you served with dedication will receive you into His eternal kingdom. May the mercy of Christ, the eternal High Priest, whom you represented at the altar, speak for you before the throne of grace. May the good Lord forgive your human frailties, reward your labours, console all who mourn you and grant you the crown of unfading glory in His heavenly kingdom.
Rest on, dear Fr Peter Chudi Akaenyi.
Rest on, gallant soldier of Christ.
Rest on, teacher of teachers and formator of formators.
Rest on, a priest whose dignity, discipline and courage have left an enduring mark on our lives.
Your students will remember you. Your beneficiaries will remember you. Those you stood by in moments of difficulty will remember you. And I, Fr Kizito Nonso Umennadi, will remember you with a heart full of gratitude.
Adieu, dear Father. Until we meet again in the presence of the Lord, may perpetual light shine upon you, and may you rest in perfect peace.
May the soul of Very Rev Fr Dr Peter Chudi Akaenyi, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Fr Kizito Nonso Umennadi is the Director, Department of Social Communications, Maranatha Multimedia
Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia (CADEK)
