By Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh
The special committee saddled with the responsibility of building the St. John Mary Vianney Home for Priests (SJMVHP), made a public presentation of the project to Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, some priests and distinguished guests on 15 March, 2025. SJMVHP, a priests welfare initiative of Bishop Martins, is an ultra-modern facility designed to provide a comfortable and supportive living accommodation for all priests of Lagos Archdiocese.
In a tour of the facility at an Open House ceremony, the committee members showed the distinguished guests the significant progress already made within three years, in spite of the 8 months delay experienced as a result of regulatory policies of the Lagos State Government.
While the Chairman of the Committee, Sir Anthony Ikemefuna Idigbe, SAN KSS addressed the gathering through an online medium, where he thanked the archbishop for the opportunity to serve, and briefed the body on the work so far, Fr. Anthony Fadairo, the Parish Priest and major supervisor of the SMHGG project welcomed the archbishop and all the guests to the event. He added his voice in thanking all those who have been supportive of the project from its inception up till the current 90% success.
Similarly, Archbishop Martins, the proprietor of the facility, expressed his appreciation to the committee members and all benefactors for their dedication and generousity in bringing the project thus far. He described it as a testament to their love for their priests and in consonance with the Catholic Social Teachings of the Church which emphasises the dignity of the human person.
The Secretary of the body, Oladele Olagbaju, explained that the Open House event was necessary in order to show the representatives of the clergy, the benefactors, donors, and dignitaries the the progress of work, and what still needs to be done. According to Fr. Anthony Fadairo, the primary supervisor of the project, the building comprises of 6 floors of 36 apartments. A room kitchenette and a study or sitting room. There is a bed lift that can convey up to about 12 persons, a massive sitting room on the ground floor with two other small ones on the second floor. There is also a big chapel on the ground floor with a small gallery attached.
The indefatigable priest-supervisor also noted that there are some specialized rooms for those who need special help and care, and the house is linked by a bridge to the hospital building, which is just adjacent.
The SJMVHP building is located within the St. Agnes Catholic Church Compound in Maryland, Lagos, and was launched on 28 April, 2022, with a ceremony at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island. The turning of the sod ceremony took place on 3 June, 2022. When completed the facility will serve as accommodation for elderly priests, retired priests, and priests in need of accommodation for special moments or on special duties.
Archbishops Martins, in his remark at the 2025 Chrism Mass, especially appealed for support from kind individuals, sodality groups and corporate organisations to enable the archdiocese complete this laudable project that has already achieved 90% progress. What is expected in order to fully commission the project are some finishing touches and furnishing of the rooms and service points.
There is the need for Inverter and Solar panels, electric transformer with armoured cable connection and panels, power generators, LVS CCTV, Fire alarm systems, etc, some other basic furnishing in the rooms, and a fully equipped industrial kitchen.
N.B.ย To support this laudable project, please contact any of the following persons:
Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Fadairo.ย 0802304 7322
Sir. Anthony Idigbe.ย ย 080 35403030
Mr. Yemi Aluko.ย ย 08022901007
Mr Oladele Olagbaju.ย ย 0803 403 7889
You may also transfer your donation directly into either of these project accounts, and inform any of the committee members whose name appears above:
PROVIDUS BANK NIGERIA, 1301179992, Archdiocese of Lagos St John Vianney Home
ECOBANK NIGERIA, 3490000678, Archdiocese of Lagos St John Vianney Home
May God bless and reward your generousity. Amen.
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