Written By DANIEL UZA

He was born in St. Vincent on April 18, 1931, the last of nine siblings. At the time, most of the population in St. Vincent were Anglicans and Catholicism was all but scorned in that country. His father was a Presbyterian and his mother an Anglican, as were most of his siblings, himself included.

He insisted on going to the Catholic Church from then on. When this was told to his parents, after careful consideration, they told him that they did not mind and he could continue going to the Catholic Church if he wished, but, they will never give him permission to become a Catholic. The parish priest, Fr. Charles, was very friendly with the family and this helped break down some of the prejudices the family had against Catholics.

He eventually became a Catholic and moved to Trinidad to attend Mt. St. Benedict’s College. It was in his final year at Mt. St. Benedict’s that he made his decision to become a priest. He went to St. Mary’s College to speak to the principal, Fr. James Brett.

There was an intercol match that day against QRC and Fr. Brett was about to leave to attend the match when Angus approached him. “Father, I would like to see you for a few minutes” he asked.

READ: https://www.metrovillazone.com.ng/2018/10/life-of-rev-fr-angus-fraser.html

“Oh, most certainly, what can I do for you?” Fr. Brett replied. Without hesitation, he said, “I would like to be a Holy Ghost Father.” “Oh, that’s excellent!” Fr. Brett replied and, owing to his haste to attend the intercol match, he added, “I will hand you over right away to Fr. Cristobal Valdez and you will come to see him when he is back from the football match.” When they arrived at Fr. Valdez’s office, however, providence had it that he had not yet left for the football match. He told him that he would have to visit weekly for spiritual guidance.

Thus, for the rest of the academic year, he made the 15-mile weekly journey from St. Benedict to Port of Spain. When the school year finished, Fr. Valdez insisted that he attend St. Mary’s College for his Higher Certificate studies so that his spiritual guidance could be accelerated.

He completed his Novitiate at the University of Montreal, Canada and returned to St. Mary’s College to do his “prefecting” as a teacher. He taught 30 classes a week for three years and was then posted to the Holy Ghost Theological College, Dublin, Ireland, where he was eventually ordained on July 12, 1959. He was posted to Nigeria and has remained there ever since, expect for a brief period at the Holy Ghost College in Radlett, England.

He is the founder and Master General of the Via Christi Society, a Public Association aspiring to become a Society of Apostolic Life of Diocesan Right. Its objective is to form young men into priests. The first group completed Postulancy in 1995. To date, the Society has produced over 20 priests, some of whom have been posted in the Caribbean, primarily St. Lucia.

He had held the position of Principal of Mt. St. Gabriel’s Secondary School, Makurdi, Nigeria from 1971 to 2014 ,and was conferred with the national award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (M.F.R.) by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2005.

It is said that he is a master of non-verbal communication and no one who has met him has remained the same.

Some of the school's old students who past under his tutelage include;
Iyorchia Ayu, Former Senate President.

Mike Kaase Aondoakaa,SAN Former Justice Minister and AGF,Nigeria.

Innocent "2face"Idibia, Foremost Nigerian musician.

Bishop William Avenya,Catholic bishop of Gboko.

Bishop Peter Adoboh,Catholic bishop of Katsina-Ala.

Terhemen Tarzoor and Terseer Tsumba,both former speakers of Benue State House of Assembly.

Mark Gbillah, Member House of Reps

Terfa Ityav, Former Member, House of Reps.

Prof Anthony Ijohor, SSG, Benue State

Late Senator Emmanuel Okpede,Former Senator and deputy governor of Nassarawa.

Former House of Reps Acting Speaker Terngu Tsegba
Others include Hon Herman Hembe, Former Member of House of Reps.

Hon.David Idoko,Former Member, house of reps
Legal Luminaries such as Damian Dodo SAN,Prof.Tony Ijoho SAN.

Justice J.Ikegh of Federal Court of Appeal.
Many others, Past Commisioners, Prominent industrialists,
Community Leaders, Catholic Priests and Journalists such as my humble self Mr.Daniel Uza.

Reverend Father Angus Fraser died on Sunday Evening of 7th October, 2018 by 7:30pm after a brief illness at Princess Royal Hospital, Farnborough near Orpington, United Kingdom where he went for treatment.

Farewell my principal.
He knew every boarding student by name.
My little stay at MSG cant be written without him
He remains the best!!.(best teacher in nigeria by president bill clinton).
One of your little angels bid thee farewell