By Olivia Obijiaku
In an atmosphere filled with fond memories of over twelve years of togetherness, St Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Hanwa Zaria celebrated their Supplying Priest, Very Rev Fr. Prof Joseph Haruna Mamman who clocked seventy years of age as well as forty five years in the Catholic priesthood recently. During his last Mass in the parish as the supplying priest, on Sunday, August 25, 2024. the parish led by Very Rev Fr. Henry Atuma extolled the honoree for all that he has been to God, the Church and humanity. Fr. Atuma asserted that Fr. Mamman followed what the Lord commanded His people to do in the Great Commission, Mt.28:19-20, adding that he has imparted people of other countries and religions without limitation. He told the celebrant that, “even a billion naira cannot pay for what you have done for people. You prepared banquets for so many. You led and guided so many to the right path.”
Anchoring a session on the life and impart of Fr. Mamman, the Chairman of the Sent Forth Committee, Dr. Augustine Ohashiegbulam described the day as both a happy and a sad one, thanking God for the gift of the priest to parish, one who came at a time when he was very sick and when the parish was panting for survival.
Aside the one million naira given to the priest in appreciation for his selfless services to the parish, representatives of Catholic Men Organization (CMO); Catholic Women Organization (CWO); Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON); Parish Laity Council; and some individuals gave life transforming testimonies of how the priest who just retired from the services of Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU). Zaria touched them positively as a parish, families and individuals. They disclosed that, “He came to our parish when he was really down and he agreed to supply to us. He has imparted enough into our lives. He preaches what he does. We have some preachers who preach what they do not do but Fr. Mamman does the same thing he asks you to do. He is such a great personality and a perfect reflection of a priest after God’s heart. Fr., your homilies will be greatly missed. You live for everybody, belonging to every family, yet belonging to none.”
“He has been a pillar in this parish since 2011. He came in and the bazaar of that year saw Father’s presence. He and his friends saw to fifty percent of what was used to start the roofing of the Church. With his assistance in 2013, we raised over our five million naira target and we fenced the Church to avoid intruders. He did the terrazzo here and so many other things. There is nothing that is so beautiful in this parish that Fr. Mamman’s name is not written on. The parish you are going to is blessed. Do not forget us.”
From the representative of his department, Christian Religious Studies, “He is blessed and he is a blessing to people. God used Fr. Mamman to employ seven lecturers in the department. He does not only employ, he also mentors those he employed. Out of the seven, six of us are professors. Father is not only Father of the Catholics, he is a universal Father. Anywhere you call Father, he will answer, even if nobody Fr. Mamman will be there. He has really touched.”
Reacting to all the good things said about him, Prof Mamman professed that, “I enjoyed working in the parish. Without you, this priesthood would not have been a happy one. God called me and you provided the atmosphere for me to work. As I say, ‘Thank God’, I thank you too. It is my great pleasure to see what the Church has become today. I cannot leave this parish without leaving something behind. I will give fifty thousand naira to support Children’s Harvest. I will give the Church an inverter, four batteries, six panels, so that when you come to pray here and see light, you will remember Fr. Mamman. By the grace of God, by October, you will not be buying fuel again. May God take the glory for all you have said about me!”
Remembering the dead, the prayed for the happy repose of Mrs. Theresa Bowyer who donated the land for the Church building, Barr Madaki and others whom he met in the parish.
Fr. Mamman advised them place value on people and to invest in them because people are riches He assured them that those who influence others positively always have people around them in their times of need no matter what their problems are. He enjoined them to make unconditional love a reality in the parish.
