On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo carved out St. Theresa's Catholic Church Ilo Awela from St. Peter's parish and made it a parish. The Bishop made the pronouncement during the Cathedraticum Mass of St. Peter's Ota Deanery at Christ the King Parish, Afobaje.

 

St. Theresa's parish, which existed as an outstation under St. Peter's Ota for 25 years, has an average of 220 members including men, women, youths and children. The new Parish Priest is Revd. Fr. Otselu Ogiator, who before now was an assistant parish priest at St. Peter's, Ota. There are now 81 parishes in Abeokuta Diocese including another new parish -  Catholic Church of Resurrection, Warewa, which was created on March 21, 2025. Catholic Church of Resurrection, Warewa, situated along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, was created from the Catholic Church of Transfiguration Arepo, during the Cathedraticum Mass of St. Maria-Faustina Deanery, Arepo, on March 21, 2025, at Sacred Heart Parish, Makogi.

According to the parish priest of St. Peter's Ota, Rev. Fr. Clement Ajibola Ashade, the Bishop created the new parish so as to foster growth in all ramifications. 'The Bishop believes that any Church within a town or not far from a town has great potential to grow; more importantly is the fact that the new St. Theresa's Ilo Awela is some minutes away from the old toll-gate between Lagos and Ogun States boundaries. So, the tendency to grow fast is high because it can attract some lay faithful that travel to far places, for Sunday Mass', Fr. Ashade emphasized.

 

Fr. Ashade added that 'while the new parish - St. Theresa's Ilo Awela, has some potential to grow spiritually and physically, it is also a sign of growth to both the mother parish, St Peter's Ota, and the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta as a whole.