LAGOS ARCHDIOCESE HOSTS ST THOMAS MORE AWARDS AND SMA - OLA JUBILEE CELEBRATION AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL.

Amb. Edith ISIDAHOMEN

 

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, in collaboration with the Society of African Missions (SMA) and the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), came together on Saturday, June 7, 2027, to mark a rare and deeply significant five-in-one celebration at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Catholic Mission Street, Lagos Island.

 

The grand event brought together clergy, religious, lay faithful, and invited guests in a spirit of reverence and joy as they celebrated five distinct but connected milestones in the life of the Archdiocese and the Missionary congregations who helped establish Catholicism in Lagos and beyond. The celebration began with a solemn Thanksgiving Mass presided over by the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, with the homily delivered by the Vicar General of the Archdiocese, Monsignor John K. Aniagwu.

 

Monsignor Aniagwu, who is also the Episcopal Vicar for Ikeja Region, described the event as an extraordinary gathering that represents both gratitude and remembrance. He outlined the five components of the celebration thus: The Feast of Our Lady Mother of the Church (Mater Ecclesiae), the recognition of distinguished lay members of the Archdiocese, the 107th anniversary of the Society of African Missions (SMA), the 150th anniversary of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Fr. Augustine Planque, SMA, founder of the OLA Congregation.

 

In his homily, Monsignor Aniagwu reflected deeply on the theological and historical meaning of the title "Our Lady, Mother of the Church." Drawing on Scripture, particularly Acts 1:14 and John 19:26–27, he noted that the title is rooted in the presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the apostles at Pentecost and Jesus’ entrustment of Mary to the beloved disciple, John, at the foot of the Cross. He explained that this title, Mater Ecclesiae, is particularly significant for the Lagos Archdiocese, where it features in the Archdiocesan anthem and institutional identity.

 

Turning to the matter of recognition of exemplary services, Monsignor Aniagwu recalled that three years ago, Archbishop Martins instituted the St Thomas More Award to honour members of the laity who have lived outstanding Christian lives and rendered exceptional services to the Church. The award, named after the 16th-century English Martyr and former Lord Chancellor who chose fidelity to the Holy See over allegiance to King Henry VIII, symbolizes courage, faith, and dedication. Monsignor Aniagwu congratulated this year’s award recipients, describing their recognition as a sign of the Church's deep appreciation, but reminding them that the real reward lies in God’s eternal honour. “The awards you are receiving today are not retirement certificates,” he said, “but rather calls to deeper commitment and continued service to the people of God.”

 

Speaking on the role of the Missionary Congregations being honoured, he praised the enduring legacy of the Society of African Missions, founded in 1856 in Lyon, France, by Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac. The SMA Fathers, he said, were the early sowers of the Catholic faith in Nigeria, arriving first in Lagos through Fr. Francesco Borghero. Monsignor Aniagwu described them as the “Fathers of Faith” in Nigeria, whose sacrifices were foundational to the establishment of the Church across West Africa.

 

Equally celebrated were the OLA Sisters, founded in 1876 by Fr. Augustine Planque SMA, the first Superior General of the SMA. The OLA Sisters arrived in Lagos in 1878 and have since dedicated themselves to the mission of education, health, and pastoral care, especially among women and children. Monsignor Aniagwu lauded the courage and compassion with which the OLA Sisters carried out their ministry, calling them the “Mothers in the Faith” whose impact remains deeply felt in the Church today.

 

“It is impossible,” he said, “to quantify the contributions of the SMA and OLA to the growth of the Catholic Church in Nigeria. The sacrifices the Missionaries made are mind-boggling and nothing short of heroic.”

 

Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, in his own remarks, emphasized the unique privilege granted to the Archdiocese of Lagos to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady Mother of the Church on June 7 each year. While the feast is celebrated universally on the Monday following Pentecost, the Archdiocese obtained a special indulgence from the Holy See to observe it annually on this date. The Archbishop expressed deep gratitude to the SMA and OLA for their unwavering dedication to evangelization over the decades. He noted that the triple jubilee of the SMA and OLA was an opportunity not only to celebrate their past but also to reflect on their future and to challenge the faithful to emulate the founders’ courage, vision, and spiritual depth.

 

The high point of the occasion was the unveiling of the official logo for the SMA/OLA triple jubilee celebrations, which was conducted by the SMA Nigeria Provincial Superior, Very Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Zinsu, SMA, who was represented at the event by Fr. Osbert Egbe, SMA. The OLA Provincial Leader, Sr. Josephine Enemo, OLA, also took part in the unveiling.

Sr. Enemo expressed heartfelt gratitude to God for the grace to witness the Jubilee and thanked Archbishop Martins and the entire Archdiocese for their support and hospitality. She also announced that the celebration coincided with the Feast of Our Lady of Apostles, another important spiritual marker for the congregation.

 

The event, which marked the Nigerian launch of a series of global jubilee celebrations, concluded with a vote of thanks from the Cathedral Administrator, Very Rev. Fr. Paul Kehinde Ijasan. Fr. Ijasan thanked the Archbishop for initiating the annual award tradition and for his consistent support of Missionary efforts. He extended appreciation to the SMA and OLA congregations for their immeasurable contributions to the Church in Nigeria and lauded the award recipients for their steadfast faith and service.

 

Medals were presented to the awardees by the Archbishop, followed by a colourful thanksgiving procession within the Cathedral.

The five-in-one celebration was more than just a ceremonial gathering; it was a testament to the enduring legacy of missionary zeal, local faith, and ecclesiastical unity. As the Church in Lagos continues to grow in number and depth, events such as this serve as spiritual milestones—reminding the faithful of the shoulders upon which they stand and the path they must continue to walk in faith, service, and love.