Dominican Friars in a farewell assembly with Brother Stephen OP
after the Morning Mass (Wednesday 17th August)
Dominican Friars in a farewell assembly with Brother Stephen OP
after the Morning Mass (Wednesday 17th August)
Thursday 18 August 2016
Tuesday 16 August 2016
Dr. Greg Adeyemi, Bro. Stephen Lucas, Mr. Chris Shobande
at a special Send Forth Lunch by Dr. Greg. during the week.
Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas OP and some good friends of the Young Christian Workers
Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas OP and Friends in a special lunch during the week
Send Forth: Senator Ben Murray-Bruce & Family Members celebrate with
Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP at the weekend
Send Forth: Senator Ben Murray-Bruce & Family Members celebrate with
Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP at the weekend. Also in attendance is the
Pastor and a Dominican Friar from St. Dominic's Parish.
Saturday 13 August 2016
Send Forth Celebration of Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP held on 13th August, 2016.
Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP been ushered in for the occasion in company of friends, members of the Organising Committee, Dominican Friar and a Sister from the Dominican Schools, Mafoluku founded by Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP.
Mr. Chris Mbanewe (L), Chairperson Organizing Send Forth Team, Dame Felicia Okoli (R); President Catholic Women Organization, Mrs. Becky E. (far-R) welcome and celebrate with Brother Stephen Lucas, OP.
Cutting of the Cake as wife of the Chairman of the Day
Mrs. Halim guides friends of Brother Stephen, OP.
Wednesday 10 August 2016
Brother Stephen Lucas, OP at a special Press Conference held in St. Dominic's Parish Yaba. Also present were the Provincial, Pastor, Dame Felicia Okoli (Chairperson, L. O. C), Mrs. Helen Hunt, Mrs. Esther Ochonogor, Mr. Gaston Santos, Mr. Okechukwu Aniche, Mr. Dotun Labinjo, Princess Funmi Oyalana, Mr. Emmanuel Ozoezi, Mr. Raphael Ezike, Mr. Emmanuel Adekeye, the Young Christian Workers and other prominent delegates including Press Men and Women from Silverbird TV, Super Screen TV, NTA, Lumen Christi, Thisday, Guardian, The Nation, Catholic Herald, etc.
Brother Stephen explained how he was assigned and arrived in Nigeria 57 years ago in obedience and started his missionary work and promoting vocations. Through these years, he founded and developed numerous projects such as the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Jude Apostolate, Society for Vocations Support (SVS), the Dominican Clinics in Makoko, Yaba and Mafoluku, St. Andre Du-Lac Church Makoko for the Egun Community, Dominican Schools in Mafoluku, Veritas Studios, Our Lady of Tarkwa-Bay and so on.
He also advised the Government and the people of Nigeria to be more tolerance and should respect their cultural diversity for peace and progress in the country. According to him, every ethnic group in Nigeria no matter how small is a blessing and that whole unit (Nigeria) must be kept together for progress. He noted that many years ago when he arrived Nigeria, there was no attention to oil in the country and the economy was agro driven. Then, one could see all the beautiful produce from different regions of the country and there was peace. He advised that the country must return to agriculture to achieve her full potential for economic growth as against solely depending on oil.
The Pastor also narrated his vocation journey and how today he is a Priest through the help of Brother Stephen Lucas, OP who now serves as his Spiritual Father. The Provincial also told how he met Brother Stephen as a very young boy in the Parish. Other delegates gave superlative experiences of the humility, sincerity, goodness and care of Brother Stephen Lucas, OP.
Check up publications this week in the news and print media for information on the conference. Our Team is also working on some video podcast for view sometime.
Monday 8 August 2016
An Obedient Servant
Reverend
Brother Stephen Donald Lucas, OP, was born on the 6th of July, 1932, in Racine,
Wisconsin, United States of America. He is fondly called ‘Brother Steve’ by
most Dominican Fathers, Brothers and Parishioners alike. His parents were
Marcella Kohlman Lucas and Walter Lucas and he has a sister, Virginia-Mary (now
Mrs. Norman Chester), who is four years younger than him.
He made his
solemn vows on July 29, 1959. When his Provincial called him to inform him that
he had been transferred to Yaba, in Africa, he was momentarily stunned, but
being the obedient servant that he is, he obeyed and came down to Africa and
has stayed right here at St. Dominic’s, for Fifty-Seven years. A lot of
Parishioners are distressed at the thought of not seeing Brother Steve again,
as he is considered an African in Oyibo skin.
A friend,
who has contributed greatly to the Church; St. Dominic (he has a strong interest in medicine), Society for
Vocation Support, St. Jude Apostolate, just to mention a few. We are indeed
very grateful to God, for the simplicity, sincerity and humility clearly
evident in the life of our Brother. As we say goodbye to a true servant of God
and send him forth on Saturday, August 13th, we urge all and sundry to continue
to pray for him. As we can be sure, he is praying for us.
Rev. Fr. Felix Onemheghie, OP
Pastor, St.
Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba.
Wednesday 3 August 2016
Dear Friends,
Kindly be informed that our Director and Founder of the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus in St. Dominic's Catholic Church, Yaba and St. Jude Apostolate in the Province of St. Joseph the Worker (Nigeria & Ghana) will be returning to the U.S.A. for good.
Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP came on Mission to Nigeria Fifty-Seven (57) years ago. He has worked tirelessly and fruitfully in Nigeria since then. He has just celebrated his Eighty-Fourth (84) Birthday on 6th July.
Brother was sent by St. Albert the Great Province, Chicago U.S.A. to Nigeria. Presently, he is on transfer back to his home Province, St. Albert the Great in Chicago to begin his new assignment. We thank him immensely for his meritorious and selfless service to God and Humanity in the Province of St. Joseph the Worker, Nigeria and Ghana.
We pray that our Good Lord will continue to care, guide and bless him...Amen. Please, remember him in your prayers.
BROTHER STEPHEN LUCAS, OP FAREWELL MESSAGE DELIVERED ON 26TH JULY, 2016 AT THE JULY CLOSING NOVENA TO ST. JUDE THADDEUS IN HONOUR OF
STs. JOACHIM AND ANNE.
Dear Friends of St. Jude,
Our July Novena of Masses honouring St. Jude ends today. We were blessed with the homilies of Father Samuel Onyiba, OP. thank you for sharing this novena with us. Father Samuel was ordained two years ago today, 26th July 2014 on the Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin. Father Samuel, today we all wish you a Happy Anniversary of ordination.
Speaking of sharing, I would like to share something about my own life with you. While I was on home leave in Chicago, just a few months ago, our Dominican Provincial in Chicago and I had coffee together after one of our morning Mass. He told me then that he would like me to return to the States and work with our Brothers there. My being resigned to Chicago was a topic on the table for a long time, so I was not too surprised.
Obedience in the religious life is one of our greatest joys. In fact, if I was not obedient 57 years ago when I was assigned to Nigeria I would have never had the opportunity to know you and also I would have never “founded” the Shrine of St. Jude and the St. Jude Apostolate in our parish of St. Dominic’s. Therefore, I have accepted with joy my new assignment, but somehow, there is sorrow too because I will miss you all. Let’s pray for each other as I begin my new assignment. We will pass out a card with my name on it, please put it in your prayer book, and when you see it, say a Hail Mary for me.
Please remember our candles at the Shrine. Presently we have over 120 white candles burning. You are welcome to join our clients and benefactors in lighting a candle for your intentions, a plaque displaying your name or the name of your loved one or special intention will be mounted below your candle. St. Francis of Assisi once said, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle”. Visit the Shrine before you leave the church this morning / afternoon / evening and collect your application form for a memorable candle, to burn for a whole year. Our St. Jude Staff are waiting for you at the Shrine right now ready to answer any question you have for them. REMEMBER, As long as a candle burns in your name, it represents you in prayer.
Father Samuel will bless us with the first class relic of St. Jude at the final blessing of this Mass.
Once again Father Samuel, we wish you a Happy, Holy anniversary of your ordination.
The Boxes in the front of the Church will accept your offering for supporting, and spreading devotion to St. Jude, and our endless love and support for the poor. If the choir would assist us with a song the collection will begin.
May the Giver of all good things bless and keep you now and always … Amen
Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP
Director
Kindly be informed that our Director and Founder of the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus in St. Dominic's Catholic Church, Yaba and St. Jude Apostolate in the Province of St. Joseph the Worker (Nigeria & Ghana) will be returning to the U.S.A. for good.
Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP came on Mission to Nigeria Fifty-Seven (57) years ago. He has worked tirelessly and fruitfully in Nigeria since then. He has just celebrated his Eighty-Fourth (84) Birthday on 6th July.
Brother was sent by St. Albert the Great Province, Chicago U.S.A. to Nigeria. Presently, he is on transfer back to his home Province, St. Albert the Great in Chicago to begin his new assignment. We thank him immensely for his meritorious and selfless service to God and Humanity in the Province of St. Joseph the Worker, Nigeria and Ghana.
We pray that our Good Lord will continue to care, guide and bless him...Amen. Please, remember him in your prayers.
BROTHER STEPHEN LUCAS, OP FAREWELL MESSAGE DELIVERED ON 26TH JULY, 2016 AT THE JULY CLOSING NOVENA TO ST. JUDE THADDEUS IN HONOUR OF
STs. JOACHIM AND ANNE.
Dear Friends of St. Jude,
Our July Novena of Masses honouring St. Jude ends today. We were blessed with the homilies of Father Samuel Onyiba, OP. thank you for sharing this novena with us. Father Samuel was ordained two years ago today, 26th July 2014 on the Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin. Father Samuel, today we all wish you a Happy Anniversary of ordination.
Speaking of sharing, I would like to share something about my own life with you. While I was on home leave in Chicago, just a few months ago, our Dominican Provincial in Chicago and I had coffee together after one of our morning Mass. He told me then that he would like me to return to the States and work with our Brothers there. My being resigned to Chicago was a topic on the table for a long time, so I was not too surprised.
Obedience in the religious life is one of our greatest joys. In fact, if I was not obedient 57 years ago when I was assigned to Nigeria I would have never had the opportunity to know you and also I would have never “founded” the Shrine of St. Jude and the St. Jude Apostolate in our parish of St. Dominic’s. Therefore, I have accepted with joy my new assignment, but somehow, there is sorrow too because I will miss you all. Let’s pray for each other as I begin my new assignment. We will pass out a card with my name on it, please put it in your prayer book, and when you see it, say a Hail Mary for me.
Please remember our candles at the Shrine. Presently we have over 120 white candles burning. You are welcome to join our clients and benefactors in lighting a candle for your intentions, a plaque displaying your name or the name of your loved one or special intention will be mounted below your candle. St. Francis of Assisi once said, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle”. Visit the Shrine before you leave the church this morning / afternoon / evening and collect your application form for a memorable candle, to burn for a whole year. Our St. Jude Staff are waiting for you at the Shrine right now ready to answer any question you have for them. REMEMBER, As long as a candle burns in your name, it represents you in prayer.
Father Samuel will bless us with the first class relic of St. Jude at the final blessing of this Mass.
Once again Father Samuel, we wish you a Happy, Holy anniversary of your ordination.
The Boxes in the front of the Church will accept your offering for supporting, and spreading devotion to St. Jude, and our endless love and support for the poor. If the choir would assist us with a song the collection will begin.
May the Giver of all good things bless and keep you now and always … Amen
Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP
Director
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)