S
t. Patrick Catholic Church, Al-
aba, Ojo, Lagos played host to
about 820 candidates who par-
ticipated in the sacrament of confir-
mation on Sunday, 25th August, 2019
during the 11.00 am Mass. The Chief
Celebrant was the Catholic Archbish-
op of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Ade-
wale Martins.
The host parish, St. Patrick, Alaba
presented the highest number of can-
didates with about 451 while the other
candidates were drawn from the fol-
lowing parishes: St. Thomas Aquinas,
Okoko, St. Gerard Majella Catholic
Church, Jakande, St. Joseph Catho-
lic Church, Ketu, All Saints Catholic
Church, Adaloko, Christ the King
Catholic Church, Sabo, Immaculate
Heart, Iba New Town, St. Timothy
Catholic Church, Ojodu and Catholic
Church of Transfiguration, Lekki.
In his homily, the Archbishop of La-
gos extolled the virtues of the Saints
whose names the candidates for con-
firmation took after.
He explained that the reception of
the sacrament of Confirmation ener-
gizes and makes one perfect Chris-
tians and virile soldiers of Christ.
According to him, the sacrament also
emboldens the recipients with the req-
uisite virtues to be able to defend their
faith at all timed.
While advising the newly confirmed
to join some of the societies and or-
ganization in the church so as to grow
their faith, he equally challenged them
to endeavour to emulate the lives of
the saints whose name they had taken.
In his well articulated vote of thanks,
the Parish Priest/Dean, Satellite Dean-
ery, Very Rev. Fr. Francis lke thanked
His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Ade-
wale Martins for finding time to come
to confer the sacrament of Confirma-
tion on the candidates in spite of his
tight schedules. He equally revealed
that the parish had acquired a new
property behind the priests’ residence.
