By Sola Solanke
The Canon Residential of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja, Lagos, Ven Abiodun Omoyely has given reasons the diocese of Lagos West is celebrating its silver jubilee just as the diocese holds a pan-diocesan worship at the cathedral on Sunday November, 17.
Omoyelu who spoke on the anniversary theme,”This is the Lord’s Doing” during the service expressed thanks to God while noting that the reason for celebration of the diocese is its phenomenal physical and spiritual growth since its creation 25 years ago.
Phenomenal growth
He said, “The Diocesan growth, in terms of physical and spiritual,has been phenomenal, especially as it’s about the largest diocese in Africa. This is worth celebrating. We have every cause to thank God for making the diocese what it is. it can only be God.”
He also noted that the diocese has been blessed with purposeful leadership in the last 25 years. “This is another reason to celebrate. The diocese could not have been what it is if not for the purpose leadership of the pioneer Bishop, The Rt Rev Awelewa Adebiyi and the incumbent Bishop, The Rt Rt Rev Olusola James Odedeji. The Lord chose these people to make the diocese what is it today. We are eternally grateful to God” he said.
Omoyelu also thanked God for the vision and mission of the founding fathers, which propelled the transformation of the Diocese and also for the good people of the diocese. “We have every cause to thank God for the love that envelopes both the clergy, the laity; and the peace that reigns in the over 300 parishes of the diocese.” he said,
Quoting copiously from the Bible, Omoyelu agreed that the phenomenal growth of the diocese could only have been through God,while tracing its evolution from the humble beginning as a cottage worship centre to becoming a small parish and later became a Cathedral that it is today.
The celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Diocese began in grandstyle on Friday 15th November,2024 with a 12-Hour Musical Concert, divided into two parts: three hours of choral music; also divided into three parts, and nine hours of praise music, from 6pm till 6am next day.
Music ministration
The event held at the main auditorium of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral,GRA Ikeja Lagos, and had in attendance,the Diocesan,The Rt.Revd.James Olusola Odedeji as the chief host,supported by the Dean of the Cathedral,The Venerable Ebenezer Adewole, as well as other priests of the Diocese of Lagos West, especially Revd.Williams Swanzy and Revd.Michael Obembe coordinating the program.
Gospel artistes including Big Bolaji,Bimpe Alabi & Minstrels, Christabel Praise,Folakemi Faniyi, Blessing Lopez, Maureen Paul, Princess Ifemide,Apekeola and BJ Sax featured at the event.
AVMCC choir and others
Their musical presentations were interspiced with Bible readings and prayer sessions.
The choirs of AVMCC, Church of Transfiguration, Ikorodu,St.Andrews Church,Ifako, Church of Nativity,Festac,St. Jude’s,Mende,All Saints,Oshodi,and Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye,Ajao Estate were also not left out in the festival of praise.
The weeklong celebration continue on Sunday 17th November,2024 with the Diocesan Youth Summit holding at Bola Memorial Anglican Church,Ikeja Lagos from 2pm.
