It was a historic moment of joy, thanksgiving, and spiritual celebration as Most Reverend Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, dedicated the newly completed Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church building, Tedi-Muwo, in Ojo, Lagos State.
The magnificent edifice, beautifully adorned with sacred images and newly installed fittings, reflects the selflessness, commitment, and sacrifices of parishioners who worked tirelessly for nearly ten years to build a befitting house of worship for God.
The celebration began with a solemn procession led by Archbishop Martins, accompanied by priests, parishioners, and other participants into the new church building.
At the entrance, members of the building committee led by Mr Ogochukwu Obi, formally handed over the church documents and keys to the Archbishop, who in turn presented them to the Parish Priest.
The priest then opened the church doors, symbolizing the official entry of the faithful into the new place of worship, as the procession continued inside for the dedication rites.
The Archbishop later blessed holy water, which was sprinkled on the congregation and around the church building as part of the purification and dedication ceremony.
In his homily, Archbishop Martins described the occasion as a special day of divine grace and urged the faithful to remain grateful to God.
“This is the day the Lord has made for us. We must rejoice and be grateful for the grace that has enabled us to complete this beautiful house where the Word of God will be proclaimed and the Holy Spirit celebrated,” he said.
Archbishop Martins, who said the ceremony was his first major public assignment after returning from Rome, conveyed the goodwill and prayers of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XVI, whom Nigerian bishops met during their Ad Limina visit.
According to the Archbishop, the Pope expressed deep love and concern for Nigeria, especially in view of insecurity, killings, kidnappings, and the anxiety faced by many citizens.
“The Holy Father told us how much he loves Nigeria and how much he continually prays for us,” Archbishop Martins said. “He said he is aware of the pain, the worry and the anxiety that many people, especially the young, are experiencing because of insecurity, banditry, and terrorism.”
“He assured us of his compassion and his readiness to bring the plight of Nigerians to the attention of the world so that help can come,” he added.
Archbishop Martins therefore called on the faithful to continue praying for the Pope and for peace in Nigeria.
“We pray that God will bless our Holy Father and strengthen the Church in these challenging times. May the gates of hell never prevail against the Church,” he said.
The Archbishop congratulated the parish community for their perseverance, generosity, and unity in bringing the project to completion.
“I know that it was not easy to bring this project to completion. Therefore, I rejoice with you and congratulate you for your perseverance, focus, and generosity,” he said. “May the joy we celebrate today never depart from your homes.”
He also commended the priests who had served the parish over the years, particularly the members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer for their leadership and pastoral guidance.
Archbishop Martins specially praised the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Thompson, describing him as a determined leader who guided the parish through the difficult journey of completing the church building.
“In a special way, let me congratulate Father Anthony Thompson, who has been like Joshua, leading the people of this parish to the promised land of this new church building,” he said.
The Archbishop also urged parishioners to remember in prayer the late Fr. JohnCross, who worked on the project but passed on before the dedication ceremony.
Tracing the biblical significance of dedicating a church building, Archbishop Martins reminded the congregation that while the physical structure is important, the Church is ultimately the community of believers.
“We must be proud not only because of the beauty of this building but because of what it represents,” he said. “The Church is not merely a structure of bricks and stones; it is the people of God who gather here to encounter the Lord.”
He explained that the sprinkling of holy water during the ceremony symbolizes purification and also reminds Christians of their baptism.
“That holy water sanctifies this building and dedicates it to the worship of God. At the same time, it reminds us of our baptism when we were washed from sin and made children of God,” he said.
Archbishop Martins also urged the faithful to build a community rooted in love, unity, and care for one another.
“In the early Church, people looked at Christians and said, ‘See how they love one another.’ Let that be the testimony of this parish,” he said. “When people see your love and unity, they too will come to know Christ.”
The dedication rite continued with the chanting of the Litany of the Saints, taking worshippers on a deep spiritual journey.
During the ceremony, the relic of Gerald Majella was deposited on the altar by the Archbishop, followed by the chanting of the hymn “The Body of the Saints.”
Standing without his mitre, the Archbishop then offered the solemn prayer of dedication and anointed the altar and the walls of the church. This was followed by the incensation of the altar and the entire church building as incense burned in a brazier placed on the altar.
Speaking after the ceremony, the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Thompson, described the dedication as a dream fulfilled for the parish community.
“This is truly a dream come true for us. For many years we prayed, sacrificed and worked together for this moment. Today we thank God who made it possible,” he said.
Father Thompson, who described the parish as a community where love thrives, said they will continue to deepen love among parishioners, adding that the presence of the church has contributed to rapid development in the area.
“It has truly been a journey of faith. At times it was very challenging; at other times it was beautiful. There were moments of tears and moments of great joy. But today we are gathered here to celebrate the love and grace that have made this achievement possible,” he said.
“All glory be to God, and we pray that He will continue to lead and guide us through Christ our Lord.”
He also expressed appreciation to priests, benefactors, and parishioners for their support.
“To my parishioners, I must say that every contribution mattered. I often say that the person who gives fifty naira is just as important as the one who gives fifty thousand naira. That has been my experience in this parish,” he said.
“There was a time when someone suggested that we should stop the project for six months. But the parishioners encouraged me not to stop. They said, ‘As long as you are not tired of working, we will not be tired of supporting.’ That spirit of unity and determination has brought us this far.”
Chairman, Church Dedication Committee, Hon. Donald Chukwujekwu, also praised God for the successful completion of the project, noting that he felt privileged that the building was completed and dedicated during his tenure.
“We give God all the glory because without His grace and the support of parishioners, this project would not have been possible,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head of Media and Publicity for the dedication, Mrs. Ifeoma Okpala of Radio Nigeria, expressed gratitude to God for being part of the project from its inception many years ago to its dedication.
“Today is truly a historic day for me. For the first time, I am witnessing a church that I saw from the foundation through to completion and now its dedication. This is indeed marvelous in our eyes, and I give all the glory to God,” she said.
“It is a very exciting moment for me, and one that will remain in my memory for a long time. I pray that this church will continue to bring the Christian community together so that they may grow and spread in love.”
Many parishioners expressed overwhelming joy, saying their hearts were filled with gratitude to God.
The event ended in a festive atmosphere with food, music, and entertainment as parishioners, friends of the church, and community members—including many non-Catholics—joined in the celebration.
Dozens of priests and a large crowd of faithful attended the ceremony, many dressed in specially designed dedication uniforms representing various societies within the church including the traditional institutions.
Reporting By Innocent Onoh