He knew it was time to go. In fact, he actually informed his children ahead. He chose to do that on the last day of 2011. On that day he informed his children that it was time to go. And he truly meant it. By January 19, 2012, Pa Joachim Olabode Feyisetan, a catechist and teacher of catechism, took his final breath at the age of 92.
Feyisetan was subsequently buried on Friday, February 10, at the Catholic Church Cemetery, Itesi, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Prior to his interment, a funeral mass was held at the St Peters & Paul Catholic Cathedral, Itesi, Abeokuta.
At the service, what was meant to be a sober occasion turned into a carnival of sorts. The venue for the burial service was filled to the brim. Everyone who knew the Feyisetans was in attendance – bishops, priests, traditional chiefs, catechists, professionals from all walks of life, church faithful and many more. The same turnout was witnessed at the service of songs held on Thursday, February 9 at the same venue.
At both service, it was all eulogies for Feyisetan. During the sermon delivered by Reverend Fr Emmanuel Oriyomi, one of the many priests Feyisetan mentored as a father, the deceased’s commitment to the service of his creator was brought to the fore. Oriyomi described Feyisetan as someone who “lived in conformity to the dictates of God’s precepts and strong belief in the mystery of the incarnation of the word of God tailored towards the ransom of human race by the fullness of the paschal mystery.” Explaining this, the priest said, “He held on to the cross in his final 21 days until his hands became swollen and he would not let anyone take it from him.”
Known as the catechist of catechists, Feyisetan who had earlier nursed the ambition of becoming a priest but was prevented by his parents, still found a way of devoting his life to the service of the Lord by teaching Catechism and composing liturgical songs.
In fact, many of those who were born from the 1950s and who grew up in the cathedral parish between then and 1999 passed through Feyisetan’s tutelage in elementary theology and the rudiments of serving at Mass. Among those taught by him are the Most Reverend Alfred Martins, Catholic Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese; Very Rev. Christopher Ajala, a monsignor; Reverend Fr Patrick Feyisetan, his son; Stephen Sobooye; Emmanuel Oriyomi; Michael Adeogun; and many other priests and religious as well as vast majority of lay people religiously devoted to knowing God and following His ways.
A Jerusalem pilgrim, Feyisetan had his elementary education at the missionary school in Topo, Badagry, Lagos, where he graduated with a Standard Six certificate, which at that time qualified him to take up a teaching appointment with the Catholic Mission Education Department.
From that point on, he had devoted his life to the service of humanity and God and this explains why he will be missed by all and sundry.
