ST ANNE MEDIA TEAM

Children are one of God’s greatest gifts to the world. They are living signs of His hope, and boundless love. In their laughter, we hear echoes of heaven. In their trust, we see faith in its simplest, purest form. Jesus knew this well. He welcomed children as friends. He took them in His arms, blessed them, and told His disciples: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). He even said that to enter the Kingdom of God, we must become like a child (Matthew 18:3). We must be open, humble, and quick to believe.

On May 31st, 2026, St Anne Sasa celebrated these beautiful gifts in the parish and across the whole. As a norm in the parish, it is a day we mark every two years. The celebration started with the Holy Mass. In the spirit of the celebration, the children took part in liturgy, serving as lectors, Church wardens, choristers and altar servers.

The parish priest, Rev. Fr. Peter Ajeigbe, first of all, appreciated parents for their cooperation. He commended the parents for their support and cooperation over time. He thanked them for their dedication to always bringing their children to Church for rehearsals and other Church activities. He praised them for being ever ready to support their children in serving God and their trust in allowing the children to do the will of God, irrespective of their ages.

He further went on to address the children. He referred to them as “quality children”. Having studied them over time, he noted that in their service to God, they had grown confident. In carrying out their regular duties in Church, they had grown bold and courageous.  He also praised their devotion to spiritual exercises.

The Parish Priest offered a profound reflection on the Holy Trinity. He delved into the unity and cooperation that binds the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He eloquently described the Trinity as a living model for human relationships, urging all families within the congregation to strive to emulate this sacred paradigm. He encouraged families to cultivate relationships characterized by love and a strong bond, with a special emphasis on the nurturing and protection of children. He illustrated the impact of discord within families through the popular saying “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers." In this context, he clarified that the "grass" represents the children, whose well-being and growth are affected by conflict. He further advocated that the essence and importance of familyhood should be instilled in the children.

The second part of the celebration took place in the Parish hall where parishioners gathered to celebrate the children. The parish PPC chairperson, Mrs Sabina Aniagolu, gave the opening address. She encouraged the children to never stop dreaming and trying. They should be tenacious and determined in all they do till they achieve their dreams. She also urged them to beware of bad influence while being kind, responsible and considerate.

The celebration continued with the children participating in activities like choreography, games, dances and spelling bee. It’s worthy of note that the children from the outstation in Lagbeja also joined in the numerous presentations and celebrations. 

The celebration ended with prizes presented to the winners of different competitions and activities that took place in the hall.