Monsignor Joseph Perkins Omesa, you were born on 15 July 1948 to Mr. Patrick and Mrs. Eliade Omesa Azija of Iraokhor, Etsako Central. From your youth, the seeds of faith, discipline, and service were planted deep within you, and they blossomed fully in your priestly vocation.
You were ordained a priest in 1974, and from that moment, you poured yourself entirely into the service of God and His Church. You served the Archdiocese of Benin City with fidelity and courage, living out your priesthood with prayerfulness, strict discipline, and great compassion.
You were a builder of churches, giving the faithful sacred spaces to worship. You were a teacher of truth, a guide for the young, and a pastor for the old. You were a selfless giver, reaching out to the poor, the broken, and the downtrodden, never tiring in your works of charity. You were a true shepherd who gave life to many, restoring hope where there was despair.
As Parish priest, you guided souls with wisdom and patience. As a member of many boards, you worked diligently, bringing insight, clarity, and dedication. In these responsibilities, you excelled greatly, leaving behind a record of faithfulness and competence. As an administrator, you combined firmness with compassion, always obedient to authority and committed to the mission of the Church.
You lived as a priest, and you died as a priest faithful to the end. On the 5th of September, 2015, at the age of 67, you were called home to your eternal reward. Yet, even after ten years, your memory continues to shine brightly.
You were selfless in giving. You were tireless in service. You were prayerful in life. You were faithful in death. You were, and remain, a real priest the kind every generation longs for, and the kind the Church treasures deeply.
May your soul continue to rest in perfect peace, Monsignor JOSEPH PERKINS OGIENENI OMESA. Your legacy lives on, and your priesthood remains a blessing to the Archdiocese of Benin City, to your entire family, and to all who knew you.
Fr Omono Paschal.
