The Prophetic Prayer Late Irish Reverend Father Slattery, the then Parish Priest of St Dennis Catholic Church, Bariga, had been invited in 1984 by the family of Margaret Bosede Anipole to dedicate their house at No. 1 Anipole Crescent, Soluyi, Gbagada, Lagos. The late Priest had prayed that "this land is God's land." As people uttered their responsorial amen and dispersed, Mrs. Anipole, an ardent catholic and parishioner of St. Dennis, planted the essential prophecy somewhere in the inner chambers of her heart. Medina, Soluyi and Ifako areas of Gbagada were increasingly becoming an enclave for Churches, predominantly protestant and pentecostal. The nearest Catholic Churches were St. Dominic Yaba, St Agnes Maryland, St Dennis Bariga, SS Peter & Paul, Shomolu and St Gabriel, Ladi-Lak. Exit from Soluyi, Medina or Ifako at worship hours on Sunday was hellish. This was because residents of these areas would have to wade through a sea of worshippers of Deeper Life Church and many vehicles especially mass metropolitan busses (“molue”) that moved the worshippers. Often the consequential traffic would snarl for a greater part of an hour, causing consistent lateness to Mass. Cost and inconvenience were beginning to encourage Catholics in the areas to begin to rationalize their religious obligation. Michael Ezeji and Cyprian Alalama, two Catholic residents of Soluyi discussed the growing inconvenience that Catholics residing in the Soluyi, Medina and Ifako areas encountered to attend Masses. They made up their mind to make representation to the Archdiocese.
The First Agents of the Prophecy In 1993, Archbishop Anthony Okogie, the Archbishop of Lagos visited St Gabriel Catholic Church Ladi-Lak Bariga Catholics resident in Soluyi, led by Mr Michael Ezeji presented the issue to the Archbishop Reverend Father Patrick Moore, another Irish was the Parish Priest of St Gabriel. The idea to start an outstation was actually mooted by Father Moore, following a letter written by Mr. Cyprian Alalama, to the Archbishop requesting for an outstation in Soluyi. Mr. Cyprian Alalama and Mr. Ezeji lived in the same compound in Soluyi. The Archbishop replied the letter requesting for the list of the suppliants. Incidentally Father Moore was aging and ailing. Often he would often travel. Because Father Moore always had MSP Priests visiting, there was always one to say Mass. But sometimes Mr. Linus Ugorji, the then Parish Clerk of St. Gabriel would be combing all over for Priests to say Mass. Father Moore was eventually replaced by Reverend Father Pascal Nwaezeapu, a Charismatic Priest. He did not stay long before being replaced by Father Gerald Onyejuluwa in 1996. The idea to start an outstation was among the things Father Pascal handed over to Father Gerry. (As he is fondly called).
Father Gerry, the Moses! Father Gerald Onyejuluwa, popularly called Father Gerry had just come back from Malawi. He reawakened the search for a place to begin an outstation. Father Gerry then came in with a clear agenda to set up the outstation. With an enthusiastic team from St Gabriel, he led the fulfilling apostolate of hunting for venue and members for the Church. In the fore front in the Soluyi axis was Mr. Michael Ezeji. In fact, the first fact finding visit to Soluyi by Father Gerry was to Mr. Ezeji's house. He had gone in company of Mr. H. A. A. Oriaku and Chief V.B Nwaubani. The search for a suitable compound for worship started. Many Catholics with suitable compound in Soluyi were contacted. They all gave one excuse or the other and declined.
...and a Moslem offered compound In the search, Mr. Ezeji's wife (now Late Mrs. Janet Ezeji) recalled having been seeing a woman lived in a fairly open and conducive compound. She always adorned the Sacred Hearts uniform. One evening, the couple traced her. That woman was Mrs. Margaret Bosede Anipole, who asked that the Priest be invited to meet her husband. Her husband, Alhaji Nasir Akanni Anipole, is a devout Moslem and Islamic religious leader from Ijebu, Ogun State, who then worked in Abeokuta but visited the family in Lagos at weekends. Father Gerry had made two attempts but succeeded only on his third to meet Alhaji Anipole. The meeting was a plea from the Parish Priest to grant the use of the compound for Mass. To Father Gerry's entreaty, Alhaji Anipole recollected his own reply, “As a Moslem leader, I believe we worship the same God; only methods differ. So, who am I to deny God the use of my house?” He obliged, fulfilling Father Slattery's prophecy of 13 years earlier.
...the birth of "Soluyi Outstation"
It was said that Father Gerry reported this to the Archbishop who asked to be allowed to pray over it. The Archbishop later approved the “Soluyi Outstation” and allowed that the outstation commence Mass at the Anipole's. The approval was announced at Mass in St Gabriel Parish on November, 23, 1997.
...A table and an umbrella were the first altar
The Anipole's compound as it was in 1997 has been transformed significantly today by years of development. The trees that had provided shade had been cut down and structures erected. The Anipoles however would nostalgically point you to the place where the make-shift altar stood and the lock-up shop that served as the Sacristy. The first Basic Christian Community (As it was called then) meeting held at the site on Friday December 19, 1997 but the first Mass took place on December 21, 1997. Father Gerry said the Mass. The altar at that first Mass was a table shaded with an umbrella held over Father Gerry by volunteers. The congregation sat in the open, on stools brought from their houses and available chips of construction blocks.
St Gabriel Parishioners provided the core of facilitation for the Mass. The first lay readers were Sir A. O. Aruya, Dr. Mrs. P.N. Ndukwu and Mr. Linus Ugorji. Later Christie Philips, Chike Osuagwu and Ben Obidegwu joined.
There could have been about 15 to 20 worshippers notably St Gabriel Parishioners, Mr. H. A.A. Oriaku , Sir. A.O. Aruya, Mr. Joseph Muoemeke, Mrs. Anipole herself, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ezeji, Mr. Chike Osuagwu, Mrs Christie Philips, Mrs. Pat Igwe, Mr. & Mrs Nedd, Mr. A.P.C Okafor, late Sylvester Orji, late Uche Eze, Mr. Valentine Anyabolu, Mrs. Joan Okafor, Emeka Abugu, Okey Ihedinma, Richard Akujiobi, Ben Obidegwu, Fabian Nwagwu, Cyprian Alalama, Cletus Ode, Fidelis Nwosu, Mr. Austin Nwadimuya, Patrick Anikwe the first catechist of St Gerald and Patrick Aromashodu. The Chris Atogus, the H. N. Okparas, the Ojeikeres, Dr. Don Ekechukwus and Mrs. Ann Ode recall joining after the first Mass. Chief Willie Obiano still recollects having to shoulder his little daughter down the walk to the Anipole's for Mass. He remembers that it was Ben Obidegwu that often arranged plastic seats for the family.
...quietly facilitated by Moslem faithful
The story is nostalgic how in the absence of a choir, hymns voluntarily intoned were followed by cranky but joyous choruses. The full picture however emerged when it is told that at some corner stood Alhaji Anipole himself safely observing the Mass and offering small comforts like scouting for additional stools and other assistance like providing sticks of matches for altar boys to re-light dead candles.
As attendance grew, canopies and chairs were hired from generous donations by members. It is recalled that in solidarity, Alhaji Iya Abudu, the Iya Adinni of Soluyi Moslem Association rented her chairs free to the growing congregation. Mr. A. P.C Okafor donated an “ahuja” public address system and provided a generating set. Mrs. Christie Philips ran the rounds in her car to bring and return the visiting Parish Priest and his altar assistants. Cletus Ode volunteered his pickup van to ferry long chairs to and fro St. Gabriel.
...a congregation remarkably deep in faith
The early members of the church would always remember the Sunday that rain bit them black and blue throughout the Mass. Mass had actually not started when it began to pour heavily. The available canopies were inadequate. Worshippers were drenched to their bones and shoes and sandals socked. They remained in the rain.
Mass started and the entrance hymn came on from voices shaky with cold. At the end of the soggy Mass and long afterwards, the day's officiating Priest Reverend Father Segun Peters hailed the indescribable demonstration of faith and remarked that he foresaw a great Church.
...membership drive was house –to-house
The early members did a lot of house-to-house membership drive, identifying and informing resident Catholics of the arrival of a new outstation. Father Gerry and elders of the mother Parish led the drive. Reinforced by the commitment to build a new Church, the growing community tended to know one another personally after Mass.
The news spread in different forms of personal massage in Soluyi. Mr. A. P. C. Okafor advised resident Catholics not only to join the growing Mass but to plan permanent membership of the prospective parish by buying up cheap lands in the neighbourhood. Ben Obidegwu canvassed people with promise to work in big capacities for the Church.
At social gatherings, Dr. Ekechukwu harped on the big relief from the rigors of the Deeper Life traffic which the new Soluyi Mass offered. Mrs. Anipole, Richard Akujiobi and Okey Ihedinma made house-to-house dissemination of the news. Mr. Ezeji as Chairman Revenue Committee and Christie Philips moved from house-to-house soliciting donations. The first recorded donations for the church was N15, 000 from Ani Onwumere and ₦15, 000 from Chief Sosanya, again, a Moslem.
...everyone did what they could to grow the Church.
The Liturgy Committee headed by Mr. Fidelis Nwosu handled largely the dressing of the make-shift altar. Assistance at Mass was initially provided by St. Gabriel; altar servers came with the Priest. Over time an embryonic choir sprang up, the core of which was the Ezeji mother and children and late Sylvester Orji. The choir then began to grow. The Sacred Heart, Legion of Mary and St. Michael Societies started at the Anipole's Compound. Membership however revolved almost around the same small group of people.
...let there be CWO and there was!
The CWO began at Anipole's too, but shortly before the relocation to the new church site. Mrs. Pat Igwe had made an announcement one day after Mass asking all women to wait behind. There were probably 15 to 17 women. The brief meeting canvassed the need to form an umbrella organization for the women. And there began Catholic Women Organization, with the inaugural executives as Pat Igwe herself as Chairperson, Mrs. Ngozi Ekechukwu Vice and Mrs. Mercy Opara Secretary. The CWO got quickly involved by levying contributions among themselves. The collections were given to the Parish Priest in support of the efforts to pay for the first parcel of the newly acquired church land.
The temporary church….a narrow structure
After less than one year of Mass at Anipole's compound, Father Gerry threw words around that people should start searching for land for the permanent Church. Elders of the Church from St Gabriel notably Mr. H.A. A. Oriaku (fondly called Ori Bobo), Sir A.O. Aruya, Mr Desmond Irurhe, Mr. Adedemi and Dr. Mrs. Ndukwu were instrumental to securing the first 4 plots of the present site. They were led by Father Gerry himself to the negotiation meeting with the agent, Alhaja Toyibat Adeniji.
The procurement from the Oloto family was facilitated by Alhaja Toyibat. After the negotiation, the Bishop's approval was sought and gotten. The first payment was made in July 1998 and site clearing commenced same month. Alhaja Toyibat helped the Church to fence in the land. Mass resumed in the new site still under canopies.
Construction of the first Church which started on July 29, 1998, was enthusiastically pursued by the building committee of St Gabriel and handled by Chief V.B. Nwubani, Mr. A.P.C Okafor donated the first set of pipes for the construction. “We all kept vigil on site as construction work went on” said Sir A. O. Aruya, “and women like Mrs. Ann Ode and Mercy Opara brought food”. This was because...
settling down was not easy!
The first challenge – possession of the land
The Church had dully purchased the piece of land from the Oloto family. But one Saturday, while Father Gerry was at confessional at St Gabriel, Chike Osuagwu and one St Geraldian raced to inform him that some people were building on the newly acquired land. That was probably the first call to an elongated effort to secure the land.
The story is longer than this but let us say that Father Gerry then withdrew all the Church money from the bank and bought building materials. In his narrative,
“the first day, we dug the foundation. The second day, we cast the structure. The third day, block work. The fourth day the wall came higher than my height!”
Men and women of timber
The construction of the Church brought to the fore Parishioners that potentially were bull dozers of men and women. Chief Nwaubani himself the engineer and building contractor, Mr. A.A. Oriaku, Sir A. Aruya, Mrs. Ann Ode, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ezeji, Mrs. Pat Igwe, Mrs. Margaret Anipole, Mrs. Mercy Opara, Mrs. Joan Okafor and a lot of other men, women and youth were all on site.
Father Gerry recollects late Sir Obiorah Okeke in fact abandoned his private business to join in the struggle whilst some came straight from work and joined the vigil as construction work went on. Notable were Barrister Ben Obidegwu, Mr. J. Muoemeke, Barrister Ugochinyere Ugoeke, Sir Chris Atogu, Mr. APC Okafor, Chike Osuagwu and Arch. Charles Ijomah.
The second challenge - the auto-mechanics
The first Harvest and Bazaar was held in November, 1998 and chaired by A.P.C. Okafor, while Chief Willie Obiano was the Principal Bazaar Opener. In 1999, the Outstation Pastoral Council had been constituted for the new Church throwing up new leadership persons like the radical late Sir Obiorah Okeke as the 1st Vice Chairman the debonair late Sir Chris Ojeikere as 2nd Vice Chairman and Barrister Ben Obidegwu as Secretary. This gradually brought a change in frontline names involved in settling the Church.
The Church later also bought the adjacent 3 plots in addition, from the same owner, a part of which was occupied by a group of auto-mechanics, which threw up another tortuous challenge.
The story also as better shortened by saying that there were arrest and counter arrests. But one day yakatayakata went their shacks as children, men and women of the Church descended on their workshop and loaded the debris away. Later they wrote an apology letter to the Church and copied the Cardinal. That ended the story of the mechanics.
The first temporary Church
The initial structure which excluded the extensions that were later included, was narrower and was roofed in August 1998. The extensions were added to accommodate the rising population. The pews in the Church were all donated by families. Late Sir Chris Ojeikere donated the first 10.
Foundation for the Reverend Father's house
The difficulties, feelings of hurt, hopelessness, disappointment, fear of defeat, betrayal and abandonment which summarizes the story of St. Gerald for Father Gerry personally came to a relief in 2005 when he performed the formal foundation laying ceremony for the Reverend father's house which was completed and blessed in June, 2007. The house stands as the first remarkable testimony of the church's triumph over the challenges. It is pertinent to mention that Rev. Fr. Anthony Afangide who took over from the founding priest, Rev. Fr. Gerald Onyejuluwa supervised the construction of the Fr's house.
Names for St Gerald of Aurillac but after Father Gerry, the founding Priest
Sir A. O. Aruya, Mr J. Muoemeke, Chief V. B. Nwubani and Mr. H.A.A Oriaku had gone to see the then Archbishop (who had become Cardinal) Okogie on progress of the new church and the need for a name. The Archbishop was said to have asked them back to suggest 3 names through the Parish Priest. St Anthony (after the Archbishop's Patron Saint), St Gerald (after Father Jerry's Patron Saint) and Queen of Peace were suggested. It was said that St. Michael had come up in the preliminary discussions, which was dropped since St Gabriel is also an Archangel.
Therefore St. Anthony, Queen of Peace and St. Gerald were forwarded. It is said that St Anthony was dropped because it already existed. Queen of Peace had already been taken by St. Agnes. The Archbishop therefore named the new Church for St Gerald of Aurillac but after the founding Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Gerald Onyejuluwa.
Growth was eminent
Having completed the Rev, Father's house, the outstation was elevated to a Quasi-Parish in 2008 with Rev. Father Innocent Chiamaka as the first Priest-in-Charge. A main shift church was constructed at the back where we now have the second car park.
In view of the rapid growth being recorded every year, there was need for a bigger and more befitting place of worship. Consequently, in 2009, with strong faith in God, work on the magnificent permanent church building started. On October 2nd, 2010, the foundation laying ceremony was formally conducted by His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Okogie with Rev. Father Sebastine Ngene as the Priest in Charge having replaced Rev. Fr. Innocent Chiamaka.
Our mission statement is "Deep Spiritual commitment as a Driving Force of Grass root Evangelism", which surely denotes that we are committed in helping each and every individual grow spiritually in both creative and practical ways of worshiping God. Communicating the message of love, hope and faith, our God has bestowed in our beautiful hearts amongst ourselves has been a goal of ours as we need God and each other to fulfill our God given destinies.
Sunday Masses Schedule 06:30am | 09:30am | 06:00pm 07:00am (Children Mass)
Every Sunday: 5:00pm - 06:00pm
Every Friday: 06:30pm
Monday - Friday: 6:30am
Saturday: 07:00am
Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 6:30pm
Infant: First Saturday every month
Retreat for Parents and God Parents: Last Saturday of the Month before the said date
For Adult: Easter Season
For further information, Please visit the parish office
Saturday: After Morning Masses
Wednesday: After 6:30pm Evening Masses
Saturday: 04:00pm - 06:00pm
Sunday: 04:00pm - 06:00pm
Monday - Friday: 09:00am - 02:00pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
Time: 10:00am - 02:00pm
Father's Off Day - Thursday
