It was a joyful Sunday at St. James Catholic Church, Olorunda as friends, well-wishers and indeed all the parishioners gathered to rejoice in thanksgiving to God and to celebrate their former Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Vincent Opeyemi Alabi.

The celebration which started with holy Mass had good number of the parishioners, friends and family of the former Parish Priest in attendance. In his homily, Rev. Fr. Vincent recalled how the journey started in September 2019. He said developing St. James, Olorunda to the status of a parish was the mandate given to him by His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr) Gabriel Abegunrin.

As the Church lights the candle of peace on this second Sunday of Advent, we have to underscore the need for the community of God's people to leave in peace. Leaving in peace will bring unity, leaving in peace will bring development, and inner joy associated with the light of the coming Messiah, the Cleric declared.

"In every human society, there abound to be cliques and factions. And unfortunately, these do not allow us to be in peace with one another". the Priest said. He therefore urged all the parishioners to shun factions of any type, and focus on leaving in peace with one another to ensure continuous development of the Church. He said when we have peace among us, the light of the coming Messiah will shine very well in our lives.

He thanked the Archbishop, His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr) Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin for giving him the opportunity to serve in Olorunda. He thanked all the benefactors and benefactresses for their immense support and indeed all the parishioners for their consistent prayers. He said "When we started, it was very tough. Nobody knew how and where to start from. The general economy was so bad, occasioned by the Covid-19 pandermic. No body to turn to for any assistance". It was really a difficult period. However, we thank God we pulled through, and here we are celebrating our successes. The highlight of the event was presentation of send forth gifts by the Parish Laity Council.

In his welcome address, the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Joseph Akerele thanked God for what He had done to the parish through the former Parish Priest. He prayed for God continuous blessing upon him.

The parishioners also took their turn to show their sincere gratitude to God for giving them Fr. Vincent at a time his services and ideas were most needed at the parish. 

In a farewell speech presented by the Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), he enumerated the landmark achievements and successes the Church recorded under the leadership of the former Parish Priest to include painting of both the inner and outer parts of the Church, planting of flowers around the Church compound to ensure beautiful and serene environment to worship, furnishing of the Sacristy with interior decorations and all colours of vestments, building of a four bedroom duplex Rectory and procurement of two plots of land opposite the Church for the building of Catholic School and a Mini Health Centre.

It was indeed a joyful moment of thanksgiving and celebration as the Church choir were rendering various melodious songs with their angelic voices.