Given at the funeral Mass of Msgr. Philip Adesina Hoteyin, aged 81, at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, on 16 February 2026.

  • Everyone searches for meaning, but a priest can be tempted to look for it in prestige, wealth or recognition.
  • A priest's legacy is one of grace: sacraments celebrated and souls formed, not possessions.
  • He names five measures of a faithful priest: love of the Eucharist, care for souls, holiness, freedom from material things and brotherhood with other priests.
  • Saints such as the Curé of Ars found fulfilment in union with Christ, not in acclaim.

This is a summary. Read the full text on Nigeria Catholic Network.