Pictures of Father Peter's Dream

St. Peter Catholic Church (Front) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Side) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Side) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Side) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Inside) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Alter) Eziala, Owerri

Eulogy Oration for Father Peter Chukwuma Njoku
by Chinwe Obi

We knew Father Peter for about 27 years, and though surprised
and saddened by his sudden passing, we still thank God for the
opportunity of knowing him. For the lives we have settled into as
individuals and community of friends, Father Peter was a great gift
from God. Today, we derive a measure of peace remembering the
special way he touched all of our lives, in the hopes that the love
and life’ s lessens we shared will propel us forward as Christians,
members of Umunne Cultural Associations, and as Nigerians and
Africans as a whole.

On a personal level, Father Peter was both our family friend and a
source of spiritual enrichment for us. He wedded us and baptized
some of our children. We shared mutual friends, swapped life’s
stories and shared laughter on numerous occasions. In short, our
home was his home and his home was our home. We are grateful
for the role he played in all of our lives. We shall miss him.
Father Peter, however, did not just belong to our family. Indeed,
from Stillwater to Zumbrota to the Twin Cities, he belonged to
several communities in Minnesota, and he ministered to both
Catholics and non-Catholics. As we went through the different
phases of life, Fr. Peter was there for many of us in the Nigerian
and African communities. He baptized many of our children,
christened our homes and celebrated with all of us as our children
achieved different milestones in their young lives. Lately, as we
reached that age when we have begun to lose our parents and other
loved ones in our lives, we often called upon him to perform
memorial services for us. He made both himself and his church
available to us all. Above all, Father Peter made it possible for us
to anchor our spirituality in our culture when he would help
choose readings and diligently rehearse Igbo hymns with us before
any mass service.

As a member of our Igbo community, Father Peter was an
enthusiastic participant in ensuring that Umunne attained one of its
major goals—that of transmitting our culture to our youth. He
often helped those who taught the Igbo School whenever he was
needed. He organized and worked with our youth as they
rehearsed plays for Igofest. Not only that, he cared enough to
inquire after their aspirations and made sure they were following
through on achieving their goals. He had a special bond with
children and ultimately adopted a niece who lost her parents. Like
the adults, our children are still in shock that Father Peter is no
longer with us.

Our community has lost a great liaison to the larger communities
surrounding us. Father Peter was renowned for forging
relationships that benefited all of us and, especially, contributed to
the smooth running of Umunne as an organization. Many times
over the years, and through his network of friends in the printing
services, Umunne got programs and brochures published for free
or with minimum charges. Through the relationship he cultivated
with the leadership of the University of Saint Thomas, Umunne
has been able to host its cultural and conference activities at that
venue for over a decade. Through his contacts, some of our young
people, including his nephews and nieces, have been able to attend
the University as well. Indeed, our community has lost a great
champion and supporter of our community affairs.
Individuals beyond our immediate community have benefited
from Father Peter’s kindness and service. He was often called
upon to mediate and settle disputes, not just as a priest, but also as
a friend. He was the kind of friend that brought out the best in
people. His friends loved and cherished him because he was not
imposing; even as he nudged them in the right direction, he let
them be themselves and the best they could be. As my husband
and I discussed things Father Peter stood for or did, one of the
funny things we remembered was his ability to speak in different
dialects to accommodate people from different parts of Igbo land.
His ability to break the ice through humor made it possible for him
to reach across cultural and philosophical boundaries, and
ultimately made it possible for individuals to unite for a common
purpose. His love for and appreciation of people knew no bounds.
He was inclusive that way, and we have all lost our community
most energetic peacemaker.

I could go on and on, for Father Peter, at 60, led a full life. He has
done well by his family, church, community, and hopefully, by
God. Above all, the legacy of love of community and service he
left with us shall continue, by God’s grace.
To Father Peter’s brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces, our dear
friends, we extend our love. We encourage them to celebrate his
life, for his life was an extraordinary gift. May it comfort them to
realize that our Father Peter is now at peace with the Lord. Amen.
We shall remember our Father Peter always,

Dr. & Mrs. Isaac N. Obi & Family
Woodbury, Minnesota