By Sonnie Ekwowusi
The death of Fr. Joseph Tormo Ederra hit us hard. In fact, when the news of his passing broke, many of us who knew him were devastated. His death was unexpected. As you and I know very well, death is a thief: it strikes at the most inauspicious time. Before death struck, Fr. Joseph, a priest of the Catholic Prelature of Opus Dei, died on January 5, 2026, aged 73.
A Spaniard by birth, Fr. Joseph came to Nigeria in 1986 at the age of 33, barely six years after his ordination to the priesthood, and he never left Nigeria until death came calling. Thus, Fr. Joseph spent a gargantuan 40 years in Nigeria serving the Church and all mankind in different pastoral capacities in Ijebu-Ode, Ibadan, Enugu, and Lagos. Fr. Joseph had an unpretentious love for Nigeria. He loved Nigeria. He loved Nigerians. He ate Nigerian native food and relished Nigerian cultural heritage. He particularly liked Nigerian pepper and enjoyed plenty of it in his food.
Fr. Joseph, for me, will be most remembered for his calmness, humility, and tireless dedication to his pastoral work and service to others. He was a Catholic priest whose life, like that of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, spoke more loudly than his words. Humble to the core, he never sought recognition or applause, content to serve quietly in the background. He carried himself without airs—unassuming in manner and simple in taste—comfortable among the poor and the learned alike, never drawing attention to himself.
Serenity was Fr. Joseph’s natural disposition. In moments of tension or disagreement, his presence brought a quiet steadiness, as though peace followed him wherever he went. He listened more than he spoke, and when he did speak, his words were measured, gentle, and thoughtful. There was no harshness in him, no impatience—only a reassuring serenity that put troubled hearts at ease.
If you went for spiritual direction with Fr. Joseph and laid before him the most worrying spiritual problem, he would first look at you with reassuring serenity and peace, after which he would likely tell you: “Do everything with Jesus. When you have something worrying you, bring it up with Our Lord. He listens to you. He sees you. He loves you.” This is quintessential Fr. Joseph—a priest who gave cheerfulness, serenity, and peace to all souls.
His humility was not feigned but deeply rooted in his understanding of priesthood as service. He saw himself as an instrument, not the centre; as a shepherd walking with his flock, not above it. He carried his priestly duties—celebrating the sacraments, visiting the sick, comforting the grieving, guiding the faithful—with a quiet faithfulness that never drew attention yet left a lasting impression.
Peace marked his entire life. He bore difficulties without complaint and accepted suffering with trust in God’s will.
For years, Fr. Joseph suffered from many illnesses which inflicted severe pain on him, yet he never complained about his numerous ailments. In those painful situations, you would always see him clutching his Rosary, praying it as he paced up and down. Shortly before his death, he suffered from an illness that caused sleepless nights, uncontrollable coughing, and excruciating pain. Yet he bore his illness with peace and Christian equanimity.
Those who encountered Fr. Joseph often left feeling lighter, consoled, and closer to God, even if they could not explain why. In his simplicity, calm spirit, and humble service, he embodied the Gospel he preached, leaving behind not noise or controversy, but a legacy of gentle holiness.
It was genuinely difficult to see him upset by anything. Even in situations that would ordinarily provoke anger, frustration, or anxiety, he remained composed and untroubled. Life’s pressures, misunderstandings, and setbacks seemed unable to disturb his inner peace. He faced problems with quiet acceptance, as though he had already entrusted every outcome to God. When others were agitated, he was calm.
When voices were raised, his remained gentle. He did not dismiss difficulties, but approached them with patience and trust rather than agitation. His serenity was not indifference; it was the fruit of deep faith and self-mastery. He understood that many things lay beyond human control and saw no value in anger or agitation.
Those who knew him often remarked that they could hardly recall a moment when he lost his temper or showed irritation. Even under pressure, his demeanour was steady, reassuring, and peaceful. In this way, his life became a silent lesson: that true strength lies in calmness, and that a heart anchored in God is not easily shaken.
Fr. Joseph was the first priest put in charge of Iroto Conference Centre, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. Those who attended spiritual retreats at Iroto Conference Centre and received spiritual direction from Fr. Joseph often felt very close to God, because Fr. Joseph himself quietly reflected God’s presence in the way he related to people. His friendliness and unassuming manner put souls at ease. In his presence, people did not feel judged, hurried, or overpowered by authority; instead, they felt welcomed and listened to. This openness allowed them to speak honestly about their struggles, hopes, and doubts—essential for genuine spiritual growth.
Fr. Joseph did not draw attention to himself or his own importance. Rather, his humility created space for God to act. By listening patiently and speaking gently, he helped direct hearts away from himself and toward God. His calmness and simplicity made it clear that spiritual direction was not about clever words or dramatic gestures, but about quietly discerning God’s will in everyday life.
Because he lived what he taught, his counsel carried a quiet authenticity. His peaceful spirit, faith, and trust in God communicated—often without many words—that God is near, loving, and attentive. In such an atmosphere, those who sought his guidance naturally experienced a deeper sense of God’s closeness, not because the priest imposed it, but because his life and demeanour pointed consistently and transparently to God.
Fr. Joseph was a diehard football supporter of Valencia FC. I often wondered why he continued supporting Valencia even when they lost most of their matches. Being a Barcelona fan, I often said to Fr. Joseph: “Fr. Joseph, why can’t you stop supporting Valencia and join us at Barcelona FC, the winning team?” To which he would respond: “Valencia forever.”
In his eulogy, someone who had lived with Fr. Joseph commented that he had a great capacity for work and carried out each task with dedication and precision, finishing everything down to the last detail. His was a life of silent, meticulous work and repair in the house where he lived.
Fr. Joseph’s life could clearly be seen as a reflection of his deep trust in God and his constant conversation with Him. This trust was not expressed in dramatic claims or outward displays, but in the quiet consistency of his daily life. He lived with a calm assurance that God was in charge, and this confidence shaped his reactions to difficulties, misunderstandings, and disappointments. Because he entrusted everything to God, little seemed capable of disturbing his inner peace.
His regular conversation with God—through prayer, silence, and faithful celebration of the sacraments—formed the foundation of his character. Prayer was not an occasional activity for him, but the atmosphere in which he lived. This habitual turning to God refined his thoughts, softened his words, and purified his intentions. As a result, his actions flowed naturally from a heart attuned to God’s will. Those who lived with him testify that in his free moments he was always seen with his Rosary beads, reciting the Rosary.
What most people encountered in Fr. Joseph was not merely a learned priest or a skilled spiritual guide, but a man whose life had been shaped by continual dialogue with God. His trust made him humble, his prayer made him attentive, and his closeness to God made others feel that God Himself was near. In this way, his life became a quiet testimony that a priest who truly lives in conversation with God inevitably leads others to trust Him more deeply as well.
I believe Fr. Joseph continues to live in the hearts and minds of many people whose spiritual lives were enriched through their dealings with him. He lives in the great ideals which he lived for and died for.
Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Joseph, O Lord.
Sonnie Ekwowusi is a Member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian Newspaper
