While the birth anniversary of Very Rev. Fr. Peter Damian Akpunonu was celebrated by his friends, priests and laymen alike, on February 22, the Tansi family chose to celebrate him again as a family on March 1, 2023. It was a threefold assembly in honor of Rev. Fr. Prof. Peter Damian Akpunonu, who is one of our resident priest-formators.
The first gathering was at the football field, where a football match divided the seminarians into two teams. Theologies 1 and 3 made up the Peter-Damian FC, while theologies 2 and 4 formed the Ravena FC. As it were, Peter Damian won 2:0.
The second assembly was then at the Eucharistic assembly. Fr. Peter Damian Akpunonu, who was also the chief celebrant, fed us with rich exegesis of the readings. In sum, repentance, he said, means “changing your thinking,” for prayers, almsgiving, and fasting would mean very little if there was no genuine and positive change of thinking toward God’s ways. Indeed, we were nourished body and soul.
The last assembly was at supper. A small but intimate gathering within which gracious voices were heard, amazing dances were performed, and melodious music stood in respect and honor of the celebrant
Nonetheless, when the psalmist says, “The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;” Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Peter-Damian Akpunonu was in mind. At 80, he is strong and blessed, alive and living! This is truly a divine gift that only a few have tested. We therefore stand in thanksgiving to God for such a gift to the church and to the world. We pray to God to keep sustaining him through Christ our Lord.