By Uchenna Eletuo/
The Lagos Catholic Faithful have announced plans to honour the first indigenous Bishop, Most. Rev. John Kwao Amuzu-Aggey, on the 50th anniversary of his efforts in the development of the Catholic Church.
According to the church, honouring the great gospel preacher these trying times in the life of the faithful will help people toe the line of the shepherd in their daily lives to overcome conventional adversaries.
Mrs Abimbola Isiyemi-Haastrup, the Chairperson, Archbishop John Kwao-Aggey 50th Memorial Anniversary Committee, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Lagos.
Isiyemi-Haastrup said that the life and times of Aggey in the Lagos Archdiocese was impactful and should be re-echoed for the faithful to draw divine inspiration from.
She said that the post-humous birthday mass on March 5 at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja Lagos, would afford the faithful a nostalgic feeling to rededicate their faith to God.
She said the thanksgiving mass on March 13 at Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos would be another avenue to thank God for blessing the Catholic community with a builder and reformist in the person of Archbishop Aggey.
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the passing unto glory of the first indigenous Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. JKA Aggey.
“Since his demise, the Catholic Church has grown in leaps and bounds, thanks to the sacrificial labour of the priests, who planted and watered the seed in what is now known as Lagos Archdiocese.
“Thanks, in particular to our first indigenous shepherd, Archbishop JKA Aggey.
“The iconic Holy Cross Cathedral where Archbishop Aggey’s voice resounded unforgettably several decades ago is not just symbolic. It is also a return to visit our spiritual father because his remains are interred right inside the cathedral.
“The occasion of the golden anniversary of his demise affords us an opportunity to review his contributions to the lives of God’s people within the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos and beyond.
“In our digital era when the world seems to have run amok, perhaps a return to the sedate ways of old and a retelling of the stories of great men, who trod this earth before us, can help us chart a way forward.
“John Kwao Amuzu Aggey was born of Togolese parents in Anecho, in what was then known as Togoland, on March 5, 1908. He was brought to Lagos where there was a thriving Togolese community at a very early age.
“After his primary education, he enrolled at St. Gregory’s College after which he worked as a clerk at the General Post Office. He heard the Call of a priestly vocation and responded positively.
“Between 1930 and 1933, he attended the St. Theresa’s Minor Seminary, Oke-Are, Ibadan, after which he proceeded to the major seminary in Asaba for Philosophy studies. Between 1938 and 1943, he had his theology training at the SS Peter and Paul Major Seminary then located in Benin.
“He was ordained priest on April 16, 1944, in Lagos; a very rare event at the time, following in the footsteps Fathers; Julius Oni, Lawrence Layode and Stephen Adewuyi who were consecrated as priests in 1929.
“He served in many parishes in Lagos and Ijebu areas and, together with his bosom friend and fellow priest, Fr. Anthony Saliu Sanusi, was instrumental to inspiring some young men to opt for the priesthood.
“We proudly count among the fruits of their labour another equally renowned shepherd, Most Rev. Dr Felix Alaba-Job, Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese who was then their protégé.
“On Aug. 4, 1957, he was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Lagos to assist the then Archbishop Leo Hale Tailor.
“He succeeded Tailor as archbishop in 1965, a position he held until he heard the last bugle on March 14, 1972. Aggey served as a priest for about 28 years, and a bishop for 14 impactful years,” she said.
She added that Lagos Archdiocese had come a long way in development through the foundation laid by the reverend Archbishop
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