CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NIGERIA LAYS TO REST THE REMAINS OF BISHOP MICHAEL OLUFALAYO FAGUN
Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria – November 7, 2025|Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos
In a ceremony marked by solemn grandeur and radiant faith, the Catholic Church in Nigeria, on Friday, November 7, 2025, laid to eternal rest the remains of Most Rev. Michael Olufisayo Fagun, the pioneering Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, whose pastoral legacy and fatherly spirit left an indelible imprint on the Church in Nigeria.
The funeral Mass, a textile of liturgical beauty, episcopal dignity, and spiritual depth, was celebrated at the expansive Holy Child Catholic Secondary School Grounds, adjacent to Maria Assumpta Catholic Hospital, Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The open-air liturgy, surrounded by the serenity of the Ado skyline, gathered an impressive assembly of the Nigerian episcopacy, more than a score bishops, retinue of priests, and innumerable religious men and women, alongside lay faithful, government dignitaries, and admirers from far and near who came to bid farewell to a man many fondly called the father of faith in Ekiti.
The Chief Celebrant of the Mass was Most Rev. Gabriel ’Leke Abegunrin, the Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, under whose ecclesiastical province the Diocese of Ekiti falls. His graceful composure and reverent bearing set the tone for a liturgy that was both majestic and intimate. The homily, deeply theological and emotionally charged, was delivered by Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo of Oyo Diocese, , who spoke with both conviction and tenderness about Bishop Fagun’s life of service, describing him as “a man of faith who shepherded his flock with simplicity, fidelity, and uncommon wisdom.”
In a poignant moment that left many in tears, the final commendation rites were led by _Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos_, whose voice trembled slightly as he intoned the ancient prayers of farewell. The chant of _“In paradisum deducant te angeli”_ filled the air, evoking the sacred hope of resurrection that anchors Christian mourning.
After the final blessing, the cortege moved in dignified procession to St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti, where Bishop Fagun’s remains were gently lowered into the specially prepared episcopal vault beside the sanctuary he once consecrated. As the casket was sealed, the cathedral bells tolled slowly, twelve solemn strokes that echoed across the city, signaling the end of an earthly mission and the beginning of an eternal one.
The day’s ceremony was not merely a funeral, it was a celebration of faith, legacy, and continuity. From the first notes of the “Requiem Aeternam” to the final burst of incense, every detail spoke of reverence and gratitude. Those who attended described it as “a liturgy fit for a saint”, a farewell worthy of a pioneer who built not just churches, but souls.
Born with a heart for service and ordained to lead with humility, Bishop Michael Olufisayo Fagun became the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, when it was erected in 1972, and for decades, he nurtured its growth with fatherly devotion. He was known for his tireless evangelization, his promotion of education and healthcare, and his pastoral closeness to priests and laity alike.
As the sun dipped over Ado skyline and the congregation dispersed in quiet reflection, the words of a priest lingered softly in the air: “He built faith where there was none, and now faith has built for him a home beyond.”
Indeed, Bishop Fagun’s passing marks not the end of a story but the flowering of a legacy—one that continues to inspire, to challenge, and to bless.
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Ãmos is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Uromi and a Lecturer at CIWA, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
