St. Jude's Church, Mafoluku CHURCH:
Jude's Church is located at Mafoluku, Oshodi. The land, within walking distance of the Murtala Mohammed International Airort was purchased as far back as 1965. It was however, only put into effective use in March 1979 when the Vicariate Council approved the building of a flat, which would later house the St. Catherine of Siena Medical Centre. By February, 1980, the place was made a parish while the Medical centre was blessed in January 1981. The Dominican Arts moved in by September 1983 while the Medical Missionaries of Mary, MMM Convent, also located there was built in 1985. The Archbishop of Lagos gave the go-ahead for the Dominican Sisters to start a Nursery/Primary school there on the 30th of May 1989. The school actually began in 1991.
Rev. Fr. Patrick Laffey S. P established an outstation of St. John the Evangelist, Oshodi at Mafoluku in 1984. He started the construction of a warehouse-styled church in May 1985 which was ready by December 1985. A request was made to the Archbishop in August 1987 for St. Jude's parish; this was granted on the 1st of January 1989 and the parish was handed to the Dominicans. It was served for a while from Yaba until Justus Pokrzewinski arrived in September 1989 as the first Resident Pastor. He was joined by Fr. Nicodemus Ugwu.
The Parish, which initially started with a population of about two thousand, was growing very rapidly, thus there was a need for a bigger church. In 1990, the Resident Pastor asked Lozano for an architectural design for a new church. By the end of 1990, the old church was torn down and a temporary shed erected. The foundation was completed in 1991 while the main structure was erected between 1993 and 1996. In 1997, Fr. Nicodemus Ugwu became the Pastor and he supervised the finishing stage of construction. The dedication of the church was done on the 24th of October, 1999.
The formal House of St. Joseph was established on the 5th of February 1990, with Fr. Justus Pokrzewinski as the first Superior Pastor; he later left in 1997 to Ibadan as Novice Master. Also in April 1989, Gilbert Thesing took up residence there as the Vice Provincial. Others who have worked there in different capacities are: Fr. Nick Ugwu (from July 1989 to May 1991 and from October 1997 to date; Dominic Okure from September 1991 to August 1995 and November 1996). Fr. Nick is back there as Pastor Superior and he is assisted by Fr. Gabriel Feyisetan, Fr. Fidelis Okudolo and Fr. Augustine Agwulonu.
St. Jude Parish, which started modestly in 1989 with a congregation of about two thousand has since grown. With a newer and bigger church, the congregation is now estimated at between ten to fifteen thousand.
The number of masses has also increased from two to four on Sundays while daily masses are held twice (morning and evening) except Tuesday which has morning mass only. Confessions are heard on Saturday between 5.00 - 6.30 p.m. The parish office serves the parishioners on a daily basis except Sunday. The parish has an outstation of St. Peter Claver in Ajao Estate and is looking for land to establish others.
DOMINICAN NURSERY & PRIMARY SCHOOL
The school shares the same compound with the St. Jude Church and is located beside the St. Catherine of Siena Medical Centre. It was inaugurated on the 23rd of October, 1993 by the Archbishop of Lagos, Bishop Olubunmi Okogie. It is run by the Dominicans and is presently headed by Rev. Sr. Bernadette Edwin O. P.
It started with about 420 students with a few classes and was initially headed by Sister Margaret Hussain, O.P. until the present Head Mistress took over in 1996. The school has since blossomed into a large school serving the needs of children all over Lagos. There are about 1000 students with 26 classes ranging from nursery 1, 2 & 3 to primary 6. Four sets of primary six students have already graduated with brilliant success. The school employs about 40 well-trained teachers and other 15 non-teaching staff. The children have access to computer as well as music & French lessons. The supervision of the school is left to Rev. Mother Imelda Fortuna O. P. while the Board of Directors (Governors) is headed by the Provincial, Rev. Fr. Tom McDermott.
It is the belief of the school that children deserve a well-rounded education: Extra Curricula activities are therefore organized by the school regularly, some of which are: ZURIKA, an operetta performed at the MUSON Centre, singing competitions as well as Christmas Carols/Concerts. The unique thing about the school is that, in spite of the high standard, fees are still kept within the range of the average parishioners or Nigerians. In fact, there are many underprivileged children attending the school free of charge.
THE DOMINICAN VOCATIONAL AND TRAINING CENTRE, MAFOLUKU
This centre is also situated within the compound of St. Jude, Mafoluku. It is run by Sister Marilena Ruggia, O.P. It started in 1992 to provide training in sewing, needlework and catering. Students are given a nine months training after which a certificate is issued to successful ones.
The unique things about the centre is that a lot of students who have passed through there are retained to make beautiful needlework pieces which are sold out, thus giving them a means of livelihood.
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