……Parish Shuts down Weekday Activities to Mourn Dalok
By Ignatius Okorocha
The body of late Catechist Baba Sir Sylvester Dalok arrived Christ The King Catholic church Kurudu on Thursday October 18, 2022 amidst wailing, crying and weeping by Parishioners of CKC Kurudu majority of whose lives have been touched by the catechist while he was serving the church since it’s inception.
The Parish Priest, Christ the King Catholic church (CKC) Kurudu Rev Fr. Moses Soussoukpor had suspended all the Weekday Activities of the parish to give the late Catechist a befitting burial.
According to programme of events, the parish organized a candle procession in honour of the catechist from Police Housing Estate to the parish center on Tuesday October 16,2022 which was attended by so many parishioners.
On October 17,2022 the parish organized service of songs in rememberace of the catechist. The event attracted the participation of all registered choristers in the parish.
The body of the catechist was brought into the church complex on Thursday October 18,2022 and laid in state having left his residence in Karish where he started his missionary journey to CKC Kurudu a coupe years ago.
On its arrival to CKC Kurudu where the body was exposed for parishioners to behold their highly respected and loving catechist, the parish priest, his associates and parishioners let loose their emotions and wept uncontrollably recounting the lives and time of the man they fondly call Sir, Baba, Sir Sylvester Dalok.
On entering into the church premises at about 6pm, the weather suddenly changed and there was a heavy downpour to the amazement of parishioners signifying the entry of a great man.
The Parish declared an all night vigil/wake keep in honour of their beloved Catechist. The event was marked by a funeral mass officiated by the auxiliary Bishop of Abuja archdiocese, His Lordship, Rev.Dr Anselm.
In his sermon, the pioneer Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Jerome Ituah who arrived to Nigeria from UK to attend the funeral of Catechist Dalok, said the catechist died a saint. He briefly gave a testimony to support his declaration.
According Fr Ituah, Sir Dalok carried out his missionary work with great Passion and love.
He appealed to the parish priest, Fr Moses Soussoukpor to immortalize the late Catechist Dalok for his good work on earth.
The Parish on Friday, October 19,2022 organized co-celebrated Holy Mass to mark the last journey of the catechist Dalok in the parish proceeding the final interment in his home town in Plateau state.
The ceremony which took off at about 7am in the morning, was officiated by the immediate past archbishop of Abuja,Cardinal John Onayikan who worked with late Catechist Dalok on his appointment as the archbishop of Abuja archdiocese.
In his sermon, the Cardinal who marvelled at the show of love and respect to late Catechist by the parish said his lives and time in the Archdiocese is a pointer to that of a Saint.
According to him, Dalok lived a good Christian life, no wonder he was given the same funeral ceremony like that of a priest.
Recall that prior to the commencement of the programme of events marking the burial arrangement of late Catechist Sylvester Dalok, the Parish Priest, Fr Moses set up a committee headed by Rev Fr Gabriel Ihunai OCD.
