The late Sir Dike was called back home at the ripe age of 101, on December 9, 2025 and buried in Nigeria on February 7, 2026.
The Memorial Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. John Felix Awaitey Formedza Jnr., Parish Priest of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Amankwakrom, and con-celebrated by Rev. Fr. Solomon Gbeglo, who works at the Alfons Merten’s Centre, Donkorkrom.
In a homily during the Mass, Fr. Awaitey underscored that the Mass was celebrated, not to re-enact the burial of the late Chief Dike, but to pray and to thank God for his life; a life well lived.
The Mass was also offered by the faith community, to pray for God’s consolation on Sr. Cecilia Dike, and for all the Holy Rosary Sisters in the Vicariate, that God may continue to use them in transforming the various communities in which they carry out their apostolates.
Underpinning the power of the Resurrection in the life of every Christian, the Priest challenged the faithful to re-examine their trust and faith in the Resurrection, buttressing that for Christians, “death is not an end to life, but a transition into a new life”.
Reflecting on Psalm 90:10-12 which teaches about the shortness of human life, with a span of “70 or 80 for those who are strong,” Fr. Awaitey opined that celebrating someone who was 101years old, meant that he was indeed very strong and that God favoured him.
“The grace of God was abundantly present in his life,” he underlined.
He lauded the committed service of the late patriarch to the Church, adding that the very fact that one of his daughters became a religious was a testament to the fact that he served God and loved God, over and above all.
He reminded the faithful that each one of them, just like the late Sir Aaron, has a purpose for which they were brought to the world, and so, whatever they are charged to do, they should do it with all their minds.
“Do it with passion, and work as if there is no tomorrow. Work as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God,” he urged.
The Priest who doubles as Vocations Director for the Vicariate challenged the Christians to lead impactful, selfless, community-oriented and purpose-driven lives, geared towards Heaven, after the example of Chief Dike, who, having been asked by the Church to make a request of what he wanted as a reward for his devoted services to the Church, he asked that a school he had established be upgraded into a College of Education, so that it could be of greater benefit to the community.
“He thought about the future of the community in making his request,” he affirmed, maintaining that a person’s achievement in life is not what he has acquired as an individual while he lived, but the legacy he leaves for the people of the next generation.
“Today we have gathered to celebrate a man who was an educator, a church man to the core, a father, a husband, a community-oriented man, a man who sang, taught songs and led the choir as a choir master. A man who led his people as a labour master, and above all, a man, who interpreted God’s word during Liturgical celebrations, for his people to understand whatever the Priest preached in his days,” he extolled.
Fr. Awaitey further urged his Parishioners to be intentional about the kind of relationships they build, encouraging them to build “bridges and not boundaries,” and relate with one another in peace, unity, and harmony.
“Let us allow others to simply live. Let us give hope to the down-trodden. Let us continue to put on smiles on the faces of people who are in pain,” he solicited.
Adding, he maintained that a spark of flame from an individual could keep the whole world alight with God’s goodness, favour and mercy.
Making reference to a line in David Diop’s Poem titled “the Vultures,” which reads “they know all the books but do not know love,” the Priest entreated that such should never be said of the Priests, Religious and lay faithful gathered, since they are all called to love one another (John 13:34-35) as is the only way to identify them as belonging to Christ.
They must begin to live lives modelled on the pattern and standards of Jesus himself, and not based on worldly standards, and should “dare to dream; dream to make a difference in our world, to make a difference in the society, to make our community better”.
He prayed for the eternal repose of the soul of Sir Aaron and that he may sing joyfully with the choirs of Heaven as he did while he was alive as a choir master.
The Biography of the late Chief Dike read at the end of the Memorial Mass by his daughter, Sr. Cecilia Dike, MSHR, described him as “a devout Catholic who served the Church with distinction”. He distinguished himself as a teacher, administrator, choirmaster, games master, labour master and interpreter during liturgical celebrations due to his strong command of the English language. He joined the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM), “not as an honour but in defence of the Catholic faith, rising through dedication to the fourth Degree of the Order”. He was also a Papal Medalist, in recognition of his steadfast service to the Church.
“Sir Aaron Dike led a life of purpose, marked by faith, educational advancement, selfless service and community development. His legacy endures in the institutions he helped build and the lives he shaped,” reads his biography.
Sr. Nkechi Caroline Oraebosi, the recently re-elected Regional Leader of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Ghana Region, extended special thanks to the Parish Priest and faithful for their thoughtfulness in organizing a memorial Mass for their father. She appreciated all present for sacrificing their time and resources to come and celebrate with them, and prayed for God’s abundant blessings upon them.
The leader further extended profound gratitude to the Church community and all who had gathered, for the second collection that was done to support the bereaved family, as is customarily done in Ghana.
Present at the Mass were the Holy Rosary Sisters and their Pre-candidates, two Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (SMMC), Kwaekese Community, some staff of Holy Rosary Catholic Health Centre, Amankwakrom, where Sr. Cecilia lives and works, among other Parishioners.
There were refreshments at the Holy Rosary Catholic Health Centre Canteen, Amankwakrom, after the Mass.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR, (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate)
