Jacob BABALOLA (Staff Writer)

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin on Thursday, 7th May, 2026 visited St. Anne Catholic Church, Ogbere, Ibadan and blessed the Parish’s Tabernacle and the Grotto of Our Lady of Grace.

The ceremony, which took place in the evening, however, witnessed large turn-out of Priests, Seminarians, Religious, Catechists and parishioners from both the Mother parish and Outstations in their different lay organizations’ uniforms.

The parishioners could not hide their joy at receiving the Archbishop in the parish as they trooped out singing and dancing to welcome the Chief Shepherd of Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan into the parish for the double blessings of the Church’s Tabernacle and Grotto (the first of its kind in the entire Archdiocese); which is expected to further deepen the faith of the parishioners in no small measure after over a decade as a parish.

The Parish Priest, who has been shepherding the parish for the past thirteen years of its creation, Rev. Fr. Stephen Adedayo Balogun alongside Rev. Frs: Esau Enger and Vitalis Ikechuckwu, of Josephite’s Congregation joined the Archbishop at the ceremony. Also present were Josephite’s Seminarians and the Sisters of Jesus the Saviour, Ogbere Community, led by Rev. Sr. Emmanuella Ibeawuchi, SJS.

Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun, on behalf of all welcomed the Archbishop to the parish for the blessing of the two great projects, which were conceived few months back and were successfully executed by the Grace of God and the assistance of some Benefactors and Benefactresses. He expressed the joy of the entire parishioners at seeing the Archbishop in the parish, in spite of his tight schedule, for the official blessing of the Tabernacle and the Grotto.

Fr. Balogun also used the occasion to express the parish’s gratitude to the Josephite’s priests and seminarians as well as the Sisters of Jesus the Saviour for all their efforts at uplifting the parishioners spiritually and prayed that God continues to strengthen them. He equally prayed for those that have been assisting the parish that God should continue to bless them and their families.

The Archbishop commended the Parish priest, the Josephite’s priests, seminarians, religious and the parishioners for the two projects, which will ensure that Christ permanently dwells in the parish for the faithful to approach and pray to and also enjoined the parishioners to visit the Grotto of Our Lady of Grace often to pray for her intercession. His Grace recalled how the parish priest had stayed in a rented apartment some years back before the building of a rectory, which now makes the parish priest to be available all the time and remarked that the parish is really growing. His Grace thanked all the lay organizations in the parish as well as the Josephite’s Congregation and Sisters of Jesus the Saviour for their collaboration with the parish priest.

The blessing of the Tabernacle took place first, followed by that of the Grotto and the unveiling of a plague by the Grotto by His Grace.

The Archbishop thereafter took photographs with the priests, seminarians, religious and parishioners in groups, individuals and families.