Archbishop Adewale Martins.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, has unveiled a week-long programme to celebrate the 25th Episcopal and 40th Priestly ordination anniversary of Most Rev. (Dr.) Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
The line-up of events will feature Holy Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos on September 16, 2023.
The Mass will be a double celebration for the Archbishop. Apart from marking the 25th anniversary of the Episcopacy, it will also be his 40th Priestly ordination anniversary, which he will be celebrating with Rev. Msgr. Edmond Babashay Akpala, Rev. Msgr. Jerome Gbenga Oduntan, Rev. Fr. Michael Femi Akintolu, and Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Iweanya Ania.
These celebrants were classmates with Archbishop Martins at Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan and were ordained on the same day, September 18, 1983 at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. Hence, their famous name, ‘The class of 83’.
The activities for the celebration will commence on Friday September 15, 2023, with a musical concert at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Other events planned for the dual anniversary include the ordination of priests, grand finale of a quiz challenge involving families from parishes across the Archdiocese, and visits to some charity comes.
The week of celebrations will be rounded off on Sunday, September 23, 2023 with Holy Mass, followed by the presentation of awards to the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese in recognition of their selfless services to the Church and humanity.
The historic Episcopacy of Archbishop Martins took its root from Rome 14 years after his ordination as a priest of the Archdiocese of Lagos. He was appointed the Bishop of Abeokuta on October 24, 1997 by Pope Saint John Paul II, and consecrated on January 24, 1998.
On May 25, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI on accepting the resignation of Anthony Cardinal Okojie as Archbishop of Lagos, appointed Bishop Martins as Archbishop-elect of Lagos. On August 4, 2012, he was installed the 4th Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos.
