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Very Rev. Fr Philip Obinna Aguh, C.S.Sp.

(1939 - 2007)
Very Rev. Father Philip Obinna Aguh, CS.Sp. was born on April 30, 1939.  He was a Catholic Priest of the Holy Ghost Congregation (Spiritans), Province of Nigeria.  He hails from Ezeogba, Emekuku, Owerri in Imo State of Nigeria.  He was one of the thirty-three pioneer students in 1953 of the Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala now in Anambra State of Nigeria.  He was ordained as a priest in 1966 and has held several important ecclesiastical and administrative positions. 

He was Parish Priest of St. Michael’s Church, Urualla and St. Martins Catholic Church, Ihiala.  With the departure of Irish priests during the civil war, Rev. Philip Aguh became the First Provincial Superior, Congregation of the Holy Ghost, Province of Nigeria immediately after the war.  He later became the Assistant Secretary-General, Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar [SECAM].  He was a Senior Lecturer, Spiritan International School of Theology, Attakwu-Enugu, Spiritual Director, Spiritan Postulancy, Akabo.  He did his graduate studies in Rome and Paris and worked in various parishes in the United States including Vicksburg,  Mississippi, Austin and San Antonio, Texas. 

His works among others include Who Belongs to the Church According to Vatican II? (2002) and Sharia And the Legal Status of Non-Muslims in Islamic States in the Days of Mahomet (2002) 

He died on Friday evening, January 5, 2007 after preaching a retreat to fellow priests that day and after saying an evening mass.  While still conscious, during the few hours he stayed in the San Antonio Hospital before he died, he continued praising the Lord with this Igbo song of deep and abiding Catholic faith:
Maria, ka I cheta anyi n’ikpere Orimiri. 
Nne nke Jesu ekwena ka anyi la n’iyi. 
Ekwena ka anyi laa n’iyi, n’ikpere orimiri;
Nne nke Jesu ekwena, k’anyi laa n’iyi
[Virgin Mary!  Do remember us in the midst of the stormy ocean. Mother of Jesus, ensure that our life labors are not in vain, not in vain in the midst of the stormy ocean; Mother of Jesus, ensure that our life’s labors are not in vain.] 

It was a peaceful transition on the eve of Epiphany of the Lord.  Our deep condolences go to the Aguh family, the Holy Ghost Fathers Congregation and to his many friends all over the world.  May His soul Rest in Peace.