| The Church is quite a big organization abounding with | | | | Charismatic organization was until it was banned and |
| social gifts that are necessary for the growth of man | | | | reopened for membership considered one of the |
| in his Festac Town environment and beyond. It is | | | | most potent in the world of Catholic churches in |
| also an organization that builds hope and develops the | | | | Lagos State. At the moment, it is undergoing the |
| future of its worshippers having been administered | | | | process of re-development. |
| by god-fearing priests who have the knack for | | | | |
| development, touching the lives of the devoted | | | | Another feature of the Rev. Sisters and members of |
| worshippers in the church. It is indeed one church | | | | staff found in the church office is the amiable and |
| uniquely different from churches and it takes its | | | | warmth nature always coming from them. It is this |
| numerous advantages from its immediate area of | | | | wonderful and distinctive trait of attending to the |
| location being Festac Town, one of the largest | | | | members of the church that endear them to the |
| estates in West Africa. | | | | callers at large. The church is indeed a blessing to the |
| | | | | generality of its Festac Town worshippers and |
| The origin of the Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac | | | | beyond. |
| Town can be traced to the 1977 movements of | | | | |
| early settlers into Festac town at the completion of | | | | The church could also offer a useful help to individuals |
| the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) ceremony | | | | getting married in the church. Although the marriage |
| hosted in the country in the same year. The early | | | | class usually offered them runs for six months which |
| residents of the estate were mainly Catholics who | | | | critics believe extensively takes away half of the one |
| needed a place of worship. The requests of these | | | | year of the marriage arrangement of couple-to-be, |
| residents to the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) the | | | | the marriage course still relevantly offers its |
| sole administrators of the estate yielded the desired | | | | attendants what is needed to make them live as |
| results when in the same year; they were allocated | | | | happy couples. Facilitators of the program are quite |
| with a piece of land at the 22 Road present location. | | | | learned and full of experiences as it relates to the |
| It is fascinating to note that the early worshipper | | | | institution of marriage, which is considered one of the |
| began worshipping in a make-shift structure around | | | | seven sacraments of the Catholic faith. |
| the site until the recent structure was completed. | | | | |
| | | | | The path to wedding in the church goes with an |
| This church is now a multi-purpose building housing a | | | | acceptable norm, instilling the would-be-couples with |
| hospital with up-to-date facilities and wards, | | | | proper counseling and coaching that remind them that |
| conference halls, library, book-shops, church offices, a | | | | marriage requires personal self commitments and that |
| youth-development centre etc. It is strategically | | | | it is an institution ordained by the Almighty God who |
| located along 22 Road considered to be the heart of | | | | wishes that it never ends in divorce. A non member |
| the town very close to the Post-Office, Nigerian | | | | of the church who wishes consummation of his |
| Telecommunication (NITEL) building, Water works, | | | | wedding in the church may be required to attend a |
| Local Government Council which can be accessed | | | | catechism class, which will lead to his baptism if he is |
| from behind, Power Holding Company building, and | | | | yet to do so, and eventually his confirmation as |
| lots of shops. The church is therefore centrally | | | | these processes will enable him receive his first holy |
| located in the commercial heart of the town. | | | | communion before his marriage. It is after these |
| | | | | processes have been completed; with marriage banns |
| It has been pointed out that the strength of the | | | | effectively taken care of that such wedding can take |
| church lies in its effective organization carried out by | | | | place in the church. The 6 months marriage course is |
| a team of learned individuals and personalities many | | | | also mandatory. |
| of who strive to make it an envy of other churches | | | | |
| around which indeed it is. The various youth | | | | Holy family Catholic Church is not all for those wishing |
| organizations have also been a source of potency to | | | | to get married as there are open numerous societies |
| the church that has educated, enlightened and | | | | open for singles alike. These societies are too |
| well-thoughtful youths as members. The church is | | | | numerous to mention and will be treated in my next |
| also the most populous church in Festac Town with | | | | article, however, what is necessary here for proper |
| quite a lot of out-stations in and around the town. | | | | understanding is that it is a structure that takes care |
| | | | | of the young and old alike. |
| The Holy Family Catholic Church is a parish with some | | | | |
| of its out-stations scattered around the town and | | | | The various choirs of the church with awe-inspiring |
| can be found on 6th Avenue, 7th Avenue, 1st | | | | tones and voices are also huge gifts to the church |
| Avenue, 23 Road (by 402 Road) etc. Many of these | | | | that is not lacking in youth membership. |
| out-stations are still under construction and the parish | | | | Outstandingly, the 8.00am adult mass at the upper |
| is doing all within its means to ensure that they are | | | | hall of the church is a force to reckon with. This |
| completed within a reasonable time. | | | | explains why even children and youths do not |
| | | | | overlook attending the service. The sonorous and |
| The parish has also had some well-respected priests | | | | well-coordinated choir often gloriously thrills |
| in the past who invested their competence into | | | | worshippers and put them in worship mood. Whether |
| bringing it to its present admirable condition today. | | | | African or hymns, it touches the minds of the people |
| Many of these priests still visit the church and | | | | who always want more. The 6.15 am is also great |
| proffers constructive and practical advice that have | | | | and replete with praise-singing voices. |
| always been to the favour to the church, offering it | | | | |
| the opportunity for continuous growth. This makes it | | | | Of great note is the social contribution of the church |
| a spiritual home as well as a social organization. | | | | to charity. Some of the societies of the church |
| | | | | support the widows and widowers, help the poor by |
| The New Jerusalem arm of the Charismatic | | | | making available to them clothing, food-stuff, monies, |
| Movement of the church with many of its societies | | | | drugs etc. The charity arms of the church also take |
| such as Evangelical, Greeters etc has also been a | | | | frequent trips to prisons, carrying out humanitarian |
| foundation of the spiritual growth of the church, | | | | works and helping them to give their lives to God |
| helping in no small way to make the church one big | | | | with success. |
| family with lovely and united branches. This | | | | |