June 7, 2026
Patrick Omorodion
As a young Mass Server (or altar boy as they are called these days) at St. Christopher’s Catholic School on Ikot-Ekpene Street, near the famous Mile 1 market in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, one song I loved so much in my Hymn Book back then was ‘When the roll is called up yonder’.
As a little boy of 14 years back then, I saw myself in those red and white garments of the altar boys standing with that great man of God, Fr. Christopher Obieh, as one of the chosen ones who was definitely going to be among those to make the roll call on the last day. That feeling makes me excited every day in school as Sunday approached because I will be in those red and white garments again with Fr. Obieh on the altar.
I didn’t take it for granted that it was a given that I must be chosen to serve every Sunday. I made sure I was part of the preparation for the Sunday service with our Cathechist, Mr. Ekpeyong, who can’t remember his first name now, supervising us. Apart from getting the service materials Fr. Obieh would use every Sunday ready, I made sure I partook in the rehearsal. Yes, that song, when the roll is called up yonder went like this: When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. Why have I remembered this great song today?
