The divine mandate for the formation of the Marian girls in the Church, amongst others, is to raise up sound Catholic girls after the heart of Jesus and Mary, instill the virtue of purity and chastity in the lives of our young girls, help them discover their vocation in life, and above all, help them establish a personal relationship with Jesus and Mary our Mother. This much was revealed by Dr. (Mrs.) Ijeamaka Onyia, Coordinator, Marian Girls in her address delivered on the occasion of the 6th consecration of Marian Girls at St. Cyprian Catholic Church, New OkoOba, Agege, Lagos, recently. According to Dr. Onyia, the birth of Marian Girls came about in the parish in 2007 when Madam George, like the prophetess of old, placed one of our three months old daughters on the altar prophesying that “This girl and many others will in future be the ones dressing the altar.
” From there, Dr. Onyia said, young girls took interest in altar work that we now bring them together to teach them morals and the bible. In her words, ‘they have become so many that on the 3rd of July, 2016, the first set of 41 Marian Girls were consecrated with the encouragement of the former Parish priest, Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Nnaemeka, and Rev. Sr. Anastasia, who was then assigned to us as our spiritual director.” The guest speaker, Mrs. Chioma Eze spoke on ‘Raising Godly Children,’ to the admiration of parents, young girls and benefactors who were in attendant, including Engr. Chuks Nzei, Madam Clare George. Dr. Onyia also noted the contributions of the late Mama Benedicta Omolayole to the growth of the Marian girls in the parish, and that by His Grace, Marian Girls have spread to other parishes such as St. Rita Catholic Church, Obadeyi, Catholic Church of Presentation, Abule-Egba, and Our Lady Health of the Sick, Idi-Mangoro. The Parish priest, Very Rev. Fr. Richard Fasuyi, the Associate priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Anyanwu, Rev. Sr. Vivian Ogu, Rev. Sisters, and other visiting priests, Presidents and Chairmen of statutory organizations in the Church, friends and well-wishers were also present on the occasion.
