The Parish Priest, Associate Priests, religious and lay Faithful of St. Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos have put things in top gear towards the 70th anniversary celebration of the church coming up next year, precisely on January 21, 2024 This was made known by Rev. Fr. Charles Onwordi, the Parish Priest while addressing media men at a press conference organised by the 70th Anniversary Committee, held on August 8, being Solemnity of St. Dominic de Guzman at the church hall, to unveil activities lined up for the celebration. Fr. Onwordi disclosed that the parish was entrusted to the pastoral care of the Order of Preachers, a religious congregation within the Universal Church, called the Dominicans because of the founder, St. Dominic de Guzman, a Catholic priest who was born on August 8, 1170 in Caluerega, Spain and died on August 6,1221.
Speaking on the life and unique place of St. Dominic in the Parish, Fr. Onwordi said St. Dominic founded the Order of Preachers to combat the erroneous teachings he discovered that had become prevalent in southern France in his time, as he encountered many confused people who believed that the physical world was evil, and created by an evil god. He said the Dominicans who had come to Africa at the request of Archbishop David Matthew were invited by the then Archbishop of Lagos, Archbishop Leo Taylor, through a formal letter to take responsibility of the then new Yaba mission established in 1933 that was not a parish yet.
According to him, the outstation/Mass center named St. Patrick’s Church under St. Paul Ebute-Metta, was run by the SMA Fathers. He added that among priests of the Order of Preachers of the American Province of St. Albert the Great, who arrived Lagos in March, 1951 to assume responsibility of Dominicans in the Archdiocese of Lagos, Fr. J.M. Dempsey was appointed Vicar and Superior of St. Patrick’s Yaba Mission with Fr. A Kinsella assisting him. He disclosed that in February 1952, St. Paul’s Ebute-Metta, became a canonical parish, and owing to its growth the St. Patrick’s Mission was canonically erected as a parish in January, 1954, adding that it was at this ceremony that the name of the old mission was changed to St. Dominic’s which has had 10 pastors in the 70 years of its existence.
Among achievements and services rendered in the society, Fr. Onwordi said St. Dominic’s has been a pacesetter, as it established the first parish clinic in the country in the early 70s, providing primary health care, especially to those living in the margins of society. He said one of the things to do as the parish celebrates 70 years of her existence is the establishment of a hospital and diagnostic centre to meet the medical needs of the people at a time when qualitative health care is not readily available, as he prayed that with the aid of people of goodwill and corporate organisations, this dream would soon be a reality.
Parish Feast and cultural Day will be held today, Sunday, August 13. The parish also planned a Give Back programme, which will encompass scholarships for seventy indigent students, medical outreach in November 2023, sports, including walking competition on November 25, Mass for the dead November 26, 70th anniversary nine lessons and carols as well as gala/dinner night in December, 2023; seminar/symposium on January 14, 2024 and the grand finale on January 21, 2024.
