19, CATHOLIC MISSION STREET, P. O. BOX 8, LAGOS-NIGERIA
TEL/FAX: 01- 8448669
JULY, 2015/No. 034
Monthly Bulletin /Circular
TO ALL PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS WORKING IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF
LAGOS, AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
1.
THE MONTH OF JULY: You are all welcome to the second half of the year which
begins with the month of July. As we step into this part of the year it is necessary to take
stock of our activities in the first part of the year, reflect on the things we have done, what
we have left undone and what our prospects are for the remaining year.
The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. Our Lord’s blood, which poured
out on the Cross for our Salvation, washed clean the robes of the Martyrs, and gave birth to
the Church as it flowed from His wounded side. This precious blood of Christ continues its
salvific work of protection and deliverance, purification and preservation, reparation and
restoration through his Mystical Body, the Church by providing nourishment for regeneration
and renewal of its members. This blood that coursed through the veins of Christ was part of
Sacred Humanity, made possible by the maternity of Mary, whose parents Ss. Joachim and
Anne are honoured this month (26th July). Hence, it is an aberration when people chant “the
blood of Jesus” like a slogan or phrase to be employed almost as a magic formula. It is not a
magic formula but an expression of deep faith in the power of the precious blood of Jesus to
deliver us from sin and make us whole.
May the precious blood of Jesus cleanse us from sin, deliver us from every evil and sustain
us with the power of love. Amen.
2.
LEAVE/HOLIDAYS: This is the period when most priests go on holidays. Please be
reminded of the regulations concerning approved leave allowances, purchase of flight
tickets or any other form of transportation and the duration of annual leave. Any desired
departure from the regulations must be with the approval of the Archbishop.
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3.
ST. AUGUSTINE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (PROJECT TIME) AFFILIATED TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN: Admission is in progress for the 2014/2015 Session.
With a minimum JAMB Score of 180 and above for Degree programs and 150 and above for
NCE programs, St Augustine College is the place for you. Our programs and their
Requirements include:

B.Ed. degree (Full-Time and Distance Learning Center) – 5 Credits at one sitting

NCE (Full- Time and Part-Time) – 6 Credits at two sittings.

PDE (PGDE) - First Degree or H.N.D. From any recognized tertiary institution

Catechesis
-
Practicing
and
intending
Catechist
OR
O'Level
Certificate.
For further enquiries, call – 07051491674; 07051592559; 08034919553.
4.
a.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Quarterly Returns: Please be reminded that the returns for the following Special
Collections are to be made in the Second quarter of the year: Youth, Seminary, Social
Development, Holy Childhood and Communications. Parish Priests/Priests-in-Charge who are
yet to submit their First Quarterly Returns should do so without further delay.
The Chancery also requires that all statutory levies and special collections be paid with
different cheque leaves and at the actual quarter to avoid mix-ups. Also, when making their
returns, Parish Priests or Priests-in-Charge, should ensure they attach the Blue Sheets
with the front page that has the name of the parish and the appropriate quarter on it.
b.
Caritas-Lagos Collection: Parishes yet to forward the proceeds of the special
collection for the charity works of the Archdiocese of Lagos under the management of
CARITAS-LAGOS should do so as soon as possible. This is to enable CARITAS-LAGOS
respond to pending appeals with minimum delay. Cheques should be addressed to Catholic
Archdiocese of Lagos – Caritas and “Caritas-Lagos” should be written behind. Parish
Priests and Priests-in-Charge should kindly take note of this and act accordingly.
c.
Opus Securitatis: It has come to our notice that quite a number of our Priests are
not up to date with regards to the payment of their annual premium for Opus Securitatis
Scheme. We implore all Priests to defray their outstanding payments. Please note that the
Parishes of the Priests concerned are responsible for their payments.
d.
Catechetics/Religious Education Department: The annual Education Week for comes
up from 5th July – 12th July 2015. This year’s celebration is to be marked at the Parish level,
organised by the Parish Education Committee. The theme for this year’s celebration is
“Raising a Catholic Family in a Secular World”. Posters containing sub-topics are available
for collection from the Religious Department Office, Lay Apostolate Centre, 19 Maye
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Street, Yaba. Parish Priests and Priests-in-Charge are reminded that there should be a
Special Collection in all Parishes in support of Religious Education in the Archdiocese on the
Grand Finale (i.e. 12th July, 2015).
e.
Priestly Ordination: The North-West Africa Province of the Society of Jesus invites
the Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful to the Priestly Ordination of Seven (7) of their
Conferees scheduled as follows:
Ordaining Prelate: Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins,
Archbishop, Metropolitan See of Lagos
f.
Date:
18th July, 2015
Venue:
Christ the King Catholic Church, Ilasamaja, Lagos
Apostolate of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ: The month of July is a special
month for devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus. We honour and adore the Precious Blood
of the spotless Lamb through which we are saved from sin. We therefore encourage
members of this Apostolate and all who are interested to participate actively in the novena
prayer to the Precious Blood of Jesus scheduled for 20th – 30th July. It will be concluded
with the sacrifice of the Holy Mass scheduled as follows:
g.
Venue:
St. Francis Catholic Church, Oregun
Date:
Friday, 31st July, 2015
Time:
12:00 Noon
St Monica’s Orphanage Home, Iju: St. Monica Orphanage will be 10 years in August
2015. There will be a thanksgiving Mass and N 100 Million Fund Raising event to build a new
Ultra Modern Home for our children.
Date:
Venue:
Saturday, 1st August, 2015
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus (E.H.J) Generalate Ikeja
(adjacent St Leo’s Catholic Church)
Time:
10:00 AM.
Chief Celebrant: Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins
A grand reception and launching of the new building comes up immediately after the Mass.
Donations can be made directly through this account:
Account Name: St Monica’s Fund Raising Project.
Account No: 6060139370, Fidelity Bank.
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h.
Singles Day with the Archbishop: This year’s Singles Day with the Archbishop comes
up on Saturday, 22nd August, 2015. More information will be provided in subsequent bulletin.
i.
Archbishop's Robo Call: The inaugural broadcast of Archbishop Alfred Adewale
Martins’ monthly prayer to mobile networks of Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese was
launched last month. This medium of communication has been adopted by the Chancery
through the E-Parish Portal project to contribute to the growing spiritual needs of the
faithful in their respective parishes and also to sustain the evangelization efforts in the
Archdiocese. For more details, please contact Nkem on 08060105232 or 08095294659.
j.
Family and Human Life Unit (FHLU): This is to inform individuals who wish to be
trained to work in the area of Marriage, Family and Human Life, Counselling or Social Work
that training is scheduled to hold as follows:
 Marriage Theology and Lived Experience: Full time course running for 10 weeks on
every Tuesday , from 15th September – 17th November, 2015
 Human Psychology and Christian Counselling Course Part 2: (For Participants who
have attended the Basic Christian Counselling Course Part 1) will hold on one Friday a
month, beginning from 23rd October, 2015 for ten months.
 Billings Ovulation Method of Natural Family Planning: One Saturday a month for 7
months, beginning from 3rd October, 2015.
 Basic Christian Counselling Course Part 1: One Friday a Month for 3 months,
beginning from 13th November, 2015.
Venue: Church & Society Building, 19, Maye Street, off Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba
Cost: 3,500.00 per month (includes Tea Break & Lunch)
Graduation & Certificate Fees: Marriage Theology & Lived Experience – N 5,000.00
Human Psychology and Christian Counselling Course Part 2
Billings Ovulation Method of Natural Family Planning
Basic Christian Counselling Course Part 1
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
N 5,000.00
N 2,500.00
N 1,500.00
For more information/enquiries, please call 08033804494, 08028489999
k. Archdiocesan Choir Competition: The Archdiocesan bi-annual Choir Competition
holds this year. The competition is geared towards the education of choristers and
improvement in the quality of liturgical singing. The competition commenced last month at
the Deanery level. Parish Priests are requested to register their Parish choirs with the sum
of N15,000.00. Kindly use the details below to make your payments:
a. Account Name: Lagos Archdiocesan Music Commission account.
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b. Account Number:4110025101
c. Bank Name: Fidelity.
5. Family Week 2015: This years’ celebration will begin with a Conference titled
“Father, Mother, Son and Daughter Conference” on Saturday, 1st August, 2015 at 19, Maye
Street, Off Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba from 10:00 AM. The Family Week Celebration
in all Parishes with the theme “Mission to Love – The Family Fully Alive” begins on the 9th
August and ends on 15th August.
6.
Weekend Events: Our attention has been drawn to a recurrent trend in many
parishes in the Archdiocese where societies organize Weekend Programmes/Events that
run from Friday to Sunday. While these spiritual exercises, retreats and revivals are good
in themselves, they should however not affect the Sunday Liturgical Assembly of the Parish.
We hereby direct that such programmes end Saturday evening. All societies concerned
should please take note.
7.
Lagos Archdiocesan Website and Twitter: For information and update on events in
the Archdiocese, kindly visit the Archdiocesan Website at www.lagosarchdiocese.org Also,
follow us via our twitter handle: @lag_archdiocese.
8.
Website for Vocations Directorate: This is to bring to your notice that the
Vocations Directorate of our Archdiocese now has a functional website. The address is
www.arclagvocations.org
9.
Admission Requirements to Major Seminary for Lagos Archdiocese: We implore
Parish Priests to inform aspirants from their Parishes that requirements for admission into
the Major Seminary through the Archdiocese of Lagos include the following:
 Must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
 Credit in Six (6) Subjects, which must include C.R.K., English and Mathematics in not
more than two sittings.
 Aspirants should be between 18 and 25 years old. Graduates may be older.
For
more
information,
please
visit
the
Vocations
Directorate
Website
at
www.arclagvocations.org
10. PRIESTLY ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY: We congratulate, rejoice and request
your prayers for Reverend Fathers’. John Agbolade, Paul Ighabor, Anthony Oyeniyi, Anthony
Okeke, Jacob Usman, Emmanuel Idoko, Titus Opadokun, Michael Afrifa, Sebastian Appiah,
Anthony Boateng, Paschal Aggrey Seiku, Christopher Chafa, Emmanuel Babalola, Jonathan
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Okafor, Obinna Agu, Anthony Eboh, Kwis Patrick, Patrick Agbodi, Suakor John Blaise, Jude
Odiaka, Chioma Nwosu, Aghadi Onu, Chijioke Azuawusiefe, Itua Egbor, Chukwuma Mueme,
Kelechi Ahamefula, Gbariel Ubong Attai, Anthony Nworu, Vincent Udoye, Raphael Kalu,
Ohaekwe Magnus, Callistus Ojike, Edwin Nwakzie, Emmanuel Omoroke. Others are Rev. Frs.
Joachim Osigwe, Anthony Edogame, Nicholas Okeke, Collins Akhigbe, Felix Udolisa, Ignatius
Saiki, Frederick Tettey, Emmanuel Taiwo, Joseph Okotie, Cornelius Ewuoso, Charles Nwordi,
Augustine Awodipe, Calistus Nwachukwu, Joseph Yusuf, Vincent Ezezue, Samuel Kurungu,
Henry Ogbonna, Kenmaria Onuoha, Paul Adegoriola, Remigius Okere, Henry Omeika, Linus
Imoedemhe, Desmond Ebulue, Jude Dibia, Mike Offordum, Anthony Nyong, Nicholas
Ibeneme, Jenfa Adedayo, Uvenus Iheme, Gregory Ndaeyo, Jacob Adeyemi, Christian Eze,
Jude Dimonyekwere, Samuel Umana, Ogbodo Hyacinth, Augustine Nwodo, George Egbetu,
Edogbo Andrew, Victor Orilua, Cajetan Odoh, Michael Eke, Henry Omonisaye, Jude
Anyaehie, Emmanuel Ubi, Anthony Brown-Ugbomeh and Emmanuel Ajah whose sacerdotal
ordination Anniversaries occur this month. May God grant them lasting joy and the grace of
final perseverance. Ad multos annos.
11. BEREAVEMENT: We announce with a heavy heart the demise of Pa. Patrick Adeniyi
Abatan the father of Rev. Fr. Peter Abatan, who died in the month of June, 2015. Kindly
celebrate Mass for the repose of his soul and consolation to the family. May God grant him
eternal rest. Amen.
(Signed)
+ Alfred Adewale Martins
Archbishop, Metropolitan See of Lagos.
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