History

CHURCH HISTORY

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION, ORI-OKE, EJIGBO

The Catholic Church of the Annunciation Ori-Oke, Ejigbo started as a Mass centre on 18th June, 2003 at the residence of one Barrister A.F.O Kwentua located at 15/17 Chris Idowu street. Prior for this time, the residence in question had served as the Basic Christian Community Centre (no. 7) of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ejigbo, our mother parish under the pastoral care of Fr. Michael Onwudiegwu. With time, the community grew to become an outstation of St. Peter catholic church, Ejigbo and on the 4th of February, 2007 the first Mass was celebrated at the present site where the church is now located. Fr. Thaddeus Okafor was the parish priest at the time.

In 2015, the Catholic Church of the Annunciation was made a Quasi-parish with Fr. Paschal Aggrey as the first Priest-In-Charge. He formally resumed on November 16th, 2015. The parish rented a duplex on Afolabi Obe street, which served as the priest’s residence for some years before the present clergy house was built. Construction work started in March, 2020. It was blessed on 18th January, 2022 by the Archbishop.

In 2016, the parish bought a property, (a twin-duplex) which is currently part of the church compound in order to have more land for future development. The Archbishop assisted greatly in the purchase of the property.

The main project at hand is the proposed Church building. We are still at the stage of the paper work. The architectural drawing which has undergone various amendments in order to comply with the building regulations of Lagos State is currently at the Archbishop’s office for his approval.

On the 29th of September, 2024 a fundraising for the church building project took place here in the parish. What was raised is a far cry from what is needed. So the fundraising will be a continuous exercise until the project is completed.

In August, 2025, the temporary place of worship was erected so as to make way for the new church building project.

• The name, Catholic Church of the Annunciation, was chosen by the former Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie
• The Parish started on 18th June, 2003 as a Mass centre of St. Peter Catholic Church, Ejigbo
• It was made a Quasi-Parish in 2015 and the first Priest-In-Charge, Rev Fr Paschal Aggrey took charge formally on November 16, 2015.
• The clergy house, built by Fr Paschal Aggrey, was blessed by His Grace , Most Rev Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins on 18th January, 2022
• Small Christian Communities (SCC) were inaugurated in the parish on 1st December, 2019
• The first group wedding involving 48 couples took place on 25th February, 2017
• The history of the parish has been documented in a book form and released on 8th March, 2025 by Fr. Anthony Oyeniyi
• The Temporary Place of worship was erected between the first and second weeks of August, 2025 in order to make way for the new church building project