The Archdiocese of Lagos has wrapped up her weeklong 25th Episcopal and 40th Priestly anniversaries of Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos with ordination of eleven Priests on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. The eleven deacons to be ordained priests include, Revds. Anthony Eze, Augustine Dodo, Benedict Anike, Benjamin Odii, Callistus Onyele and Christopher Ngbede. Others are Revds. Kizito Emenalo, Martins Igbadumhe, Peter Ulasi, Raphael Onah and Emmanuel Eze, CMF.
The week-long celebration will commence on Friday, September 15, 2023, with a Musical Concert at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos. The celebration of the 40th Priestly Ordination Anniversary of Archbishop Martins and his classmates, as well as the 25th Episcopal Ordination Anniversary of His Grace comes up on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Archbishop Martins will be concelebrating the Mass with his classmates, Very Rev. Msgr. Edmond Babashay Akpala, Very Rev. Msgr. Jerome Gbenga Oduntan, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Femi Akintolu and Very Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Iweanya Ania at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos at 10am.
The Concelebrants were classmates with Archbishop Martins at Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan, and were ordained on the same day, 18th September, 1983 at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. Hence their famous name, ‘The Class of ‘83’. Other activities earmarked for the weeklong event are:
Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins Family Quiz
This is scheduled to hold on Sunday, September 17, 2023 beginning with the Holy Mass at 10am.
St. Thomas More Award of Recognition:
The award event is designed as an acknowledgement of lay persons within the Archdiocese who have dedicated their time, talents and resources to the growth of the Archdiocese either at Parish, Deanery and Archdiocesan levels. This award shall be presented to the awardees on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the end of the Holy Mass which shall begin by 10a.m at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. Charity Visitations to some less privileged homes have also been scheduled as part of the weeklong anniversaries’ celebrations.
Episcopacy of Archbishop Martins
The historic episcopacy of Archbishop Martins took its roots from Rome. Fourteen years after his ordination as a priest of the Archdiocese of Lagos, he was appointed the Bishop of Abeokuta on October 24, 1997 by Pope Saint John Paul II and consecrated on January 24, 1998. On May 25, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI on accepting the resignation of Anthony Cardinal Okogie, as Archbishop of Lagos, appointed Bishop Martins as Archbishop-elect of Lagos. A month and four days later, precisely, June 29, 2012, Bishop Martins received the pallium from the Pope Emeritus in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican, Rome.
On August 4, 2012, the Lagos Catholic faithful witnessed the Installation of Archbishop-elect Alfred Adewale Martins as the fourth Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, succeeding His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, who presided over the Metropolitan see of Lagos for 39 years. Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins has been the Chief Shepherd of Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos for 11 years, and has led the Archdiocese to exponential growth through reforms and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Clergy, Laity and friends of the Archdiocese of Lagos and Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, wish Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, many more years of service in God’s Vineyard.
