Wake Keep Mass: Kaduna Archdiocese Mourns, CrossNews Editor, Maurice Eluchie

…He was not only a committed Catholic but committed Worker- Ndagoso

…He was a wonderful fellow- Ezeigbo

..He was supposed to be priest, says Sister

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Catholic Community of Kaduna Archdiocese, has mourned late Mazi Maurice Nnaedozie Eluchie, who died on February 17th, 2025 in Kaduna, after a prolonged illness.

Maurice was the Editor, The Cross news Newspaper and Treasurer of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Executive Council ( APEC) among others

Speaking to NewsdailyNigeria, shortly after the Wake Keep Mass, at the St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kaduna on Monday, the celebrant and chief shepherd of the Archdiocese of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man- Oso Ndagoso, describing him said

” Maurice was indeed not only a committed Catholic but was also a committed worker and he was almost every where I mean for a longtime, if anything you are doing in the church and Maurice was not there then something was wrong

” and like I mentioned in the church the history of our communications office would be incomplete, without Maurice, I mean he’s a pioneer member of the team that started the communications office and he died working there, so he was indeed a very committed and dedicated member of our team and we will miss him, so all we can say is that the Almighty God who gave him to us and has called him back grant him the reward of eternal life and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss”

Ndagoso also admonished the living ” I think it is said that we should try and write our homilies while we are still alive am saying this kind of things, because of the way he lived his life, because he was committed and showed dedication to the course of the gospel, in whatever work you gave him; and was actually the Treasurer of our APEC and most of the Pastoral policies that we have, Maurice was part of them,

” So he has left a very good example behind for others and I can see even the crowd that gathered today for his wake keep Mass is a testimony to the Kind of person that he was, so it’s my sincere hope and prayer that the good qualities he has left behind, that people will try to emulate especially, on hardworking and dedication” he reiterated

Similarly, Ezeigbo Kaduna, Igwe Engr. Silvanus Aneke, said the deceased was a ‘wonderful person” and was the Assistant secretary of Ezeigbo in council, ” he has been a wonderful fellow, in character, diligent in service, truthful, and when you see his name you see Maurice Eluchi JP, that JP is courtesy the Ezeigbo Kaduna , because he played a role with regards to the peace of the Igbo community, the role that touched my heart, so when the state government allotted chance for pilgrimage,in Jerusalem, I gave it to him

” Because that role he played was instrumental to the peace that reigned in Kaduna at that, because he wrote a petition and I acted on it, so he was a wonder fellow, truthful and hardworking, so we are not happy that we have to lose him at this stage, but God knows, we cannot know better than God, so we give God all the glory ” he stressed.

In the same vein, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on legal matters, Barrister Vitus Ewuzie, said ‘ it’s quite unfortunate that we gathered here for this very sad reason ,because Maurice Eluchi, was a community leader, social organiser and any assignment you give him for the communal interest, he will discharge it creditably well, and he’s more in the activities of the community and the church, and anything happening in the church you must see him there,

” he’s a notable figure in St Joseph’s cathedral, ever since, I know this cathedral, that’s about 3 decades ago; so his loss is quite a sad event for the entire people of St Joseph’s cathedral and the entire Kaduna Archdiocese, but we can not question God, it’s God wish it happened and it was a home call and I believe that he’s in the bosom of the Lord” he averred

Earlier, the Homilist, Cathedral Administrator, St Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral Kaduna, Very Rev. Fr Isaac Patrick Musa, , said ” Maurice was a Parishioner of St Joseph’s cathedral, Kaduna, and an active parishioner and very dedicated and a valuable parishioner for that matter, and has been someone who rendered services selflessly and whenever given responsibility he gives his best and all

“the closest relationship I had with him was when I was constituting the Harvest and Bazaar committee of 2022 and I personally requested that should be the Chairman and he obliged.”

Adding that with the 100 percent support given to the committee, the Cathedral had a very smooth and good harvest that year ” he was able to mobilize present and even past parishioners within this cathedral even those, I never knew, he was able to go back in history and invited them back to this cathedral”

He also said there were so many parishioners who have worked for quiet a longtime and left and they were not recognized, ” but through his suggestion we are able to invite and gave them awards, to sort of recognise their contributions in the past, and since then, I think every harvest committee chairman since that time always borrow a leaf from what he did, so he has been a good parishioner” he stressed.

The immediate elder sister of late Maurice, Mrs Chiaka Madu, mourning her kid brother, hinted ” I came to see him unfortunately on his sick bed before he could enjoy my stay the Lord took him away, we cannot but thank God, we are six children of our Father and Maurice was the last born”she said

According to her ” Maurice was supposed to be Priest, because most of his life is tailored towards Church activities, and, he can keep secrets, even the people in Rome or Vatican city, if they want any inquiry, they contact Maurice, so Maurice is an encyclopedia, he’s an epitome of knowledge, he tolerates people alot, his humility was to a fault, and of a truth, his love has no bound,

” because even when I came to him in his house after his demise, I was surprised and afraid when dogs came and peeped, and neighbors were now saying these are the dogs he gives food while he was alive,, even the mad people at the cathedral gate traced his house and came. ( 2 women and one man), and I was told that these are people he use to stay with at the gate or Catechist’s house, then I said which kind of person is this? she added.”

The deceased was 60 years of age and is expected to be laid to rest on 29th March, 2025, at his hometown at Orji, Uratta, Owerri North, Imo state. Nigeria.