One of the significant figures of Maryland is no more; the strong, tall and courageous religious who was worth taking note of and was always talked about is gone. The big Brother with a SMALL TENDER VOICE is never to be seen again. Bro. Godwin Igbokwe is gone and never to be seen again. Our hermano is never to be seen again.
Bro Godwin Igbokwe was born on the 11th day of December, 1932 to the family of Pa Fredrick and Cecilia Igbokwe of blessed memory, in Okrikama Umuokrika, Ekwerazu, Ahaizu Mbaise, Imo State. As one who was born into a staunch catholic family, he was baptized on the 22nd of December, 1932, few days after his birth, by Rev. Fr. Foremen. Bro Godwin Igbokwe received his first Holy Communion on the 9th day of March 1944, and a year later he received the sacrament of Confirmation on the 15th of December, 1945.

Bro Godwin Igbokwe from his early years had always longed to go to school and fortunately for him he came from a family that valued western education, thus he had a chance to begin this. He passed through St. Patrick’s Catholic school Ahiara, where he graduated from, with his first school leaving certificate in the year 1950. however, following the death of his father at a very tender age, Bro Godwin Igbokwe’s education stopped and he had to leave the village in the year 1958 for Port Harcourt in search of greener pastures. After spending 3 years in Port Harcourt in the year 1961 Bro. extended his search for a better life to Santa Isabel, Fernando Po, Equatorial  Guinea, (then popularly known as Panya). This was a journey by sea and the longest one ever made by Bro Godwin and he noted this in his diary as “one of the most memorable journeys of his life”. The ship finally arrived Equatorial Guinea on the 29th July 1961.

THE JOURNEY TO RELIGIOUS LIFE
While in this new home land, Brother Igbokwe had his first encounter with the Claretian Missionaries, who were then the key missionaries in charge of most mission in Equatorial Guinea. The life style of these men of God appealed to him much, especially that of the Rev Brothers. Moved by this zeal and fire to serve, Bro Godwin applied to the Congregation on the 15th day of August, 1963 and was eventually given admission into the congregation. Following his acceptance, his formation began immediately. After his postulancy and novitiate, Bro Godwin Mary Igbokwe finally had his first religious profession on March 17th, 1969. This was “a dream-come-through”. His first profession was however just a step in his initial formation formation process. After the first profession, he had a chance to visit Nigeria in 1971, which he noted as “seeing my home after 10 years away”. After this visit he went back to Equatorial Guinea and continued with other formation programs which took him to Spain, Rome and other countries before his final profession on the 14th day of August, 1976.

Two months after his final profession, Bro Godwin Igbokwe, CMF, came back to Nigeria to help Fr. Christian Ihedoro, CMF in the planning and development of the Claretian Congregation in Nigeria. He left Equatorial Guinea on the 21st October, 1976 and arrived Holy Land, Orlu (Holy Trinity Parish) on the 24th of October, 1976. He noted in his diary that his return home was “for good”. With this idea in mind Bro. Godwin Igbokwe, CMF set out contributing all he could to see that the congregation not only grow, but also that it become one of the best religious families ever. He lived to see a congregation that he was able to carry all her members in his pick- up van, grow to a number that he said he did not even know all her members again.

On the 24th of April, 1978, he moved to Nekede – Novitiate, Maryland, from where he tirelessly set out each year to visit the various communities we had then. This Maryland, Nekede community eventually became Bro Igbokwe’s home for life, a place he loved so much, desired to die in and eventually died in it.

Bro. Godwin Igbokwe, CMF, was a friend to all, brother to all, a holy man, an exemplary brother in prayers, a strong man who never stopped working and also a saint. As a friend to all he was steadily on the move to reach out to the less privilege, the physically challenged and all who called on him for help. As a brother  to all, all Nigerian Claretians stand to testify to his simplicity and encouraging way of life to all, both young and old. As a holy man Bro Igbokwe, always kept his Patron saints close to his heart (ST. Theresa- little flower, St. Margaret Alacoque, Joan of Arch, among others). He equally carried out his daily examine, read books on life of the saints and kept records of how he must apply it to his life. This he learnt from his Novitiate days and never failed to practice it till death, leaving us records of these in his diary. He was a staunch member of St. Vincent De Paul society, a society he worked for tirelessly till the end. A society he remained ever proud of as its member, a society he always encourage others to join.

THE JOURNEY BACK TO THE FATHER
As a strong man, Bro. Godwin Igbokwe, CMF, was always on the move, hardly sick and never gave up. As one who was hardly sick, Bro Igbokwe, CMF, was never known to be ill to the extent of being admitted in the hospital. Thus when he took ill last year and had to be admitted in the hospital, he confirmed that “nka abiala” (old age has come), but still Bro never gave up. He kept on springing up with one surprise after another, recovering, bouncing back and charting as usual till his admission in the hospital in the early part of this year. This later sickness, lingered for months, during which all the Maryland community members took time to visit him and spent a day or two with him.
Worthy of it is that during this period Bro still kept a record of all those who visited him despite his condition of health.
Finally, we can also say Bro was a saint. Saints are not those without weaknesses and eventually had the grace of dying a happy death. These confirmed in the insight Bro. Igbokwe had about his death during his last days on earth. First he asked to be transferred from the hospital to Maryland where he wished to die. While in his room in Maryland, a student was assigned to take special care of him and attended to his needs and listened to him till death. To this student he told the clothes to be used for his burial and even the pictures to be used. To some students who visited Bro Igbokwe the last week before he died he said “reserve your tears till Sunday evening, the proper day to cry”.
All was a demonstration of the journey of a saint home. After all his services to his Lord and Master, the midnight of Sunday 18th July, 2010, saw the beginning of his journey home, that same day he had earlier told us to reserve our tears for. On this memorable day, the student Viban Bruno, CMF who took care of Bro woke up and rushed to Bro Igbokwe’s room only to see him struggling with his last breath. He ran and called Rev. Fr. Kenneth Oguejiofor, CMF, who came in and gave him the final anointing and prayed for him. As though he was waiting for this last prayer, immediately the prayers were concluded, he gave a long breath and slept in peace.
This ended the earthly life of an exemplary man, a humble religious who tried in his small way to life a foot print in the sand of history. He was not worthy, but the good Lord chose him to work in his vineyard and used him greatly.
Brothers and sisters, before us today lies a great man, a fallen iroko, one who lived in our time with the challenges of our time and never lost hope. He is gone but can never be forgotten; lets learn from him. He is gone but he lives on. He lives in us and forever for us. Let us never forget him in our prayers. Till we meet never to part again. May the soul of Rev. Bro. Godwin Igbokwe and the souls of all the faithful departed live in perfect peace, Amen.

Dear Conferes,
We announce to you the death of our beloved brother Godwin Igbokwe, cmf. He died on the early hours of Monday 19th July, 2010. Between December 2009 and the time of his death, his health had gradually deteriorated he received medical attention at St. David hospital Ikenegbu, Owerri. He was finally discharged and since then was  taken care of by his community members. We thank them all for all the care and love shown to Bro Godwin Igbokwe, cmf. May he rest in Peace! Please remember him and his biological family in your prayers. The burial arrangement will be made public as soon as the provincial returns fron kenya on visit of animation.