TO ALL PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS WORKING IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LAGOS, AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:
- THE MONTH OF AUGUST: I heartily welcome you all to the month of August 2025.This month gives us another opportunity to pause and reflect on how far and well we have come in our journey of faith and the level of spiritual growth we have attained during the earlier part of the year, and strive to do better in the remaining part of the year. Very significant celebrations in the life of the Church this month are; the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Aug. 6) and the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug. 15). As Christians, these two great feasts draw our attention to the profound mystery of the experience of the beatific vision after our earthly sojourn. At the Transfiguration, our Lord Jesus Christ revealed his glorified self to Peter, James and John who were with him on Mount Tabor, thereby giving them a foretaste of heaven. The Solemnity of the Assumption enlivens in us the hope that, we too like Our Blessed Mother who was assumed body and soul, into heaven will one day become partakers of the heavenly banquet.
- SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION: This Holy Day of Obligation in the Church’s Liturgical Calendar, is celebrated on the 15th of August every year. It is one of the four dogmas of the Church on the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Church teaches in this dogma, that Our Blessed Virgin Mary, having been preserved from the stain of original sin and having completed the course of her earthly life, was by the power of God taken into heaven body and soul, since her spotless body could not be allowed to suffer the corruption of the grave. The Assumption of Our Blessed Virgin Mary was declared a dogma by the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius XII in the year 1950. Let us like Mary strive towards perfection so that we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven.
- Archdiocesan Novena for the Solemnity of the Assumption: This Archdiocesan Novena in preparation for the Solemnity of the Assumption comes up from Sunday, 6th August to Monday, 14th August, 2025 at the Archdiocesan Marian Shrine, Maryland. The theme for this year’s Novena is” Mary, Epitome of God’s Grace – Ephesians 1:11/Luke 1:28” Time: 4:30pm daily. The closing Mass for the Novena will be celebrated by the Archbishop on day of the Solemnity i.e. 15th August 2025. All are encouraged to participate in the procession and closing Mass at the Marian Shrine, Maryland.
- Singles’ Day with the Archbishop: This Archdiocesan Programme organised by the Directorate of the Catholic Lay Apostolate in conjunction with the Archdiocesan body of the Confraternity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help will come up as follows: Theme: Finding Love God’s Way: Discussing Courtship, Dating and Discernment Date: Saturday, 23rd August, 2025 Venue: Catholic Church of the Ascension, International Airport Road, Ikeja Time: 10:00am starting with the Holy Mass Fee: N5,000.00 per person.