St. Thomas the Apostle has been described as a brave and courageous Apostle who did not allow himself to be coarsed into accepting what he did not believe when he was told that Jesus has risen and visited in his absence. This was the position of Rev. Fr. Sebastian Apiah, Parish Priest, St. Thomas Catholic Church, OnilekereIkeja, Lagos while delivering the homily on the Parish’s Patron Feast Day held recently in the Parish. Fr. Apiah said that by the Apostle’s exemplary show of courage, Thomas became blessed when Jesus admonished him, saying; ‘you believe because you have seen, blessed are those who believe without seeing.’ Going by the Catholic Church calendar, July 3 of every year is dedicated to the bravery and memory of Saint Thomas the Apostle after whom many churches and parishes, derive their names. One of such parishes is St. Thomas Catholic Church, Onilekere.
Two major events led to naming the Church after St. Thomas. The first is the fact that Rev. Fr. Tom Walsh, an Irish priest of St. Sabina Catholic Church, Idimangoro, Agege, the mother parish of St. Thomas was instrumental to securing the property that became St. Thomas. Fr. Walsh of the SMA congregations was a man passionate about his calling and left many legacies in St. Sabina. On a sad note, the second factor was the crushing of a young boy named Thomas, one faithful Saturday evening who was trying to cross the Lagos-Abeokuta Express way right in front of the Church on his way for catechism classes. These two Thomases culminated in the choice of Thomas as the parish name, and the fact that the Apostle was found most suitable. The Parish turned the day to a carnival of some sorts, with pomp and celebration, cultural displays, awards among other side attractions.
