A Catholic calls a Parish his or her home because it is a good “fit” for the individual. It is a place where the spiritual needs of the person are met, and those belonging to the Parish are a true family offering love and support, and helping to build up one another as members of the Mystical Body of Christ. Some members of Missionary childhood Association (MCA) shared articles titled ‘My Parish, My Second Home’. Excerpts:
‘Fr. Michael gives free musical training to winners of the Missionary childhood Association (MCA) Talent Hunt’
St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Ebute Meta was founded in 1900 (currently 123 years) and it is the first Roman Catholic Church on Lagos Mainland. By 1895, the Church acquired the present location of St. Paul’s Catholic Church from De Souza family in 1895. The current Parish Priest is Very Rev. Fr. Michael Christian Okonkwo who happens to be the Dean of Yaba Deanery and the Director of the Cecilian Music Academy. Fr. Michael is also giving free musical training to the winners of the Missionary childhood Association (MCA) Talent Hunt of which I am a part of. The name of our Assistant Parish Priest is Rev. Fr. Peter Abiona. The Parish also houses Pauline Food which deals in food processing and packaging, it is also an empowerment programme. I am proud to be a member of the Church. Apart from the Holy Mass, I go to the parish often because of Catechism and our MCA activities, in which I am the current President. The name of our parish Coordinator is Mrs. Margaret Mordi.
•Adinnu C. Emmanuel, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Ebute-Metta, Yaba Deanery
‘At Children’s Mass, the Priest celebrating the Mass would ask questions and gift the children who answered correctly, thus encourage the children to listen attentively to the Word of God’
The name of my Parish is St. Anthony Catholic Church, Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos. It is under Surulere deanery. The name of my Parish Priest is Very Rev. Msgr Bernard Ayodele Okodua. He is the Episcopal Vicar of Lagos Region. The Associate Parish Priest is Rev. Fr. Victor Okhiria. My Parish consists of many organisations and societies which are grouped under one laity. A Laity Council is a council where Presidents and Secretaries of all lay organizations and societies come together to talk about the welfare of the Church. In conclusion, as a member of MCA, I have witnessed many occasions in which my Parish Priest, Very Rev. Msgr Bernard Ayodele Okodua, who is a lover of children, would immediately pay the fees of any MCA programme happening in order for the children to participate. During the children’s Mass, the Priest celebrating the Mass would ask questions and would gift the children who answered correctly, this always encourage the children to listen attentively to the Word of God. I love my Parish so much that I’m always looking forward to Saturdays and Sundays so as to attend MCA programmess, Legion of Mary meeting and Mass (especially to answer biblical questions for gift from Priest).
• Emmanuel Uro, St. Anthony Catholic Church, Gbaja, Surulere, Surulere Deanery
‘My Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Anthony Okeke is the best Parish Priest any parishioner can have’
The name of my parish is Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Onireke, it is a very big and beautiful Church. Every second Sunday, we have blessing of Mothers and Babies; on every third Sunday, we welcome visitors and new parishioners; and on every last Sunday, we celebrate Birthdays and Anniversaries. We have four major organisations in the Catholic Church. They are: C.M.O (Catholic Men Organisation), C.W.O (Catholic Women Organisation), C.Y.O.N (Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria) and M.C.A (Missionary Childhood Association). The name of my Parish Priest is Rev. Fr. Anthony Okeke. He is the best Parish Priest any parishioner can have. The name of our Assistant Parish Priest is Rev. Fr. Dominic Okonwa. We have about 5,000 Parishioners in the Church. I love Holy Spirit Catholic Church because the Church is always neat and the Priests are very wonderful.
• Ugbene Stephanie – Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Onireke, Satellite Deanery
‘My dad, Mr. Albert Gomez, is the Music Director of the Parish Choir, which is currently the best Choir in Nigeria’
The name of my Parish is Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Victoria Island Lagos. The Church is one of the most beautiful in Nigeria. We also have a beautiful hall called “The Hall” where we have most of our Church’s events. Our parish priest is Rev. Fr. Julius Olaitan, his two Assistants are Fr. Oscar John Obi and Fr. John NjorTeah. After Mass every Sunday, we stay around the Church and we speak to one another. The Lagos Resource Center sells snacks, and we all stay around eating and discussing with each other. I participate in the Church as a Junior Church Warden and I am also a Chorister. My dad, Mr. Albert Gomez, is the music director of the choir, which is currently the best Choir in Nigeria. I love my Church and it feels like my second home, I am so happy that my siblings and I attend this prestigious parish which teaches us love, integrity and most of all the love of God.
• Mimi Oluwasemilore Gomez, Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island,Lagos Island Deanery.
‘My parish is a cool and peaceful place to worship’
My parish’s name is Holy family Catholic Church, Festac town. The name of my Parish Priest is Very Rev. Fr. Melvis Mayaki and his Associate Priest is Rev. Fr. Mark Okojie. My parish consists of many societal groups and organisations such as the M.C.A, Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saint Anthony, C.M.O, C.W.O, Y.C.W etc. There are also other programmes and retreats we carry out. I like my parish because it is a cool and peaceful place to worship.
•Chimeremnma Christabel Onunze, Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac, Festac Deanery
‘My Parish is welcoming; it is home away from home’
A parish is a stable community of faithful Christians within a particular Church, whose pastoral care has been entrusted to a Parish Priest, under the authority of the diocesan Bishop. A Church is a religious community as a whole or a body or organisation of Christian believers, just as a Home is a place where you have peace of mind and also feel comfortable and safe. I always have a feeling of joy and happiness when going to my parish. The reason for this joy and happiness is all the friendship, compassion and love that everyone gives in our parish, my Parish is welcoming which makes me happy to say, it is home away from home because I have friends there that are welcoming. So we can all grow spiritually and encourage each other.
• Nwaobi Emmanuel Kelechi, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu Owu-Ikorodu, Ijede Deanery.
‘I enjoy attending the Children’s Mass because the Homily is quite easy to understand’
The name of my Parish is Ss. Mulumba and David Catholic Church, Lawanson and our Patron Saints are Saints David and Mulumba. My Parish organises spiritual and educative programmes for all parishioners. I enjoy attending the Children’s Mass because the Homily is quite easy to understand. The MCA assists in making the children good educationally and spiritually because we practice all we are being taught at the meetings or outdoor functions. Our Parish Slogan is “SS Mulumba and David” and our response is “where God answers prayers”.
• Ochi Charles, Ss. Mulumba and David Catholic Church, Lawanson, Surulere Deanery.
