Our Mission
TO Build an Active, Vibrant, Spirit-Filled and Caring Parish Community through:
Stimulating an active participation in the sacraments.
Inaugurating Small Christian Communities in the Parish.
Retreats and Seminars.
Study of the Bible and the contents of our faith.
Education of Children and Youths.
Stimulating an active participation in other Church activities.
Showings more concern for the welfare of Parishioners and encouraging Parishioners to do the same.
Pastor`s Word
Dear Brethren, On behalf of the Pastoral Team, I welcome you in a special way to our website, a special medium of communication. This website does not serve as a Church, but has all you need to be in constant touch with the Parish activities. Our interaction will no doubt, help uplift your spirit and make you more committed in our journey of faith. Please feel free to navigate through the website. Lets keep it busy and alive. I would be glad to have you as a registered member of this Parish. I pray God’s blessings on you and your family.
For what shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?
stephen Grace
Our Team
Very Rev. Fr. Francis Ike
Rev. Fr. Joseph Oyekunle
Very Rev. Msgr. Anthony Obanla
History of The Church of The Assumption Falomo
In the Nineteen Forties and fifties, Falomo was a sleepy fishing Village built on swampy land in Ikoyi. Ikoyi at that time was made up mainly of expatriates who came to run the British Colonial administration. They lived in then exclusive area with fellow expatriates who ran colonial companies like UAC, John Holt, Costain, Elder Dempster, etc . There was only one road into Ikoyi, and this went through the cemetery, breaking up into Bank road, Bedwell, First Avenue and Kingsway road, etc. There was no Catholic Church for the expatriates and their servants to worship and so they had to worship at the Chapel of St. Gregory’s College, Obalende which in itself was founded in 1928, under the then Rev. Fr. Leo taylor an American and pioneer Principal of ‘St Gregory’s Grammar School “
However, in early 1957 Archbishop Leo Taylor set up a Building Committee after acquiring land in the Falomo Village and was the Chairman of the Committee. Rev. Fr. Patrick Braniff was asked to design a church. This he did and was approved by the Archbishop in March 1958 same year, the foundation stone of the Church of the Assumption was laid by his Grace. The Church was completed within two years. On 17th May, 1960 i.e before Nigeria’s Independence it was dedicated and named as “Church of the Assumption” in honour of our “Blessed Lady’s Assumption into Heaven”
Rev. Fr. Patrick Braniff became the first Parish Priest. Before the Church was completed, the Community worshiped at St George’s Catholic Primary School in the same premises. The mother Parish was St. Michael Catholic Church Lafiaji, Lagos under late Monsignor John A. Kilbey (Who was popularly known as Pa Kilbey). He played a major role in funding the building to ensure early completion of the Church of Assumption.
At the time of dedication of the Church of the Assumption in May 1960, there were only about 100 worshipers and these were Nigerian and Expatiates. Soon after, the number grew. Nigerians started taking over responsibilities of governance from the Expatriates and moved to residences in Ikoyi. This further swelled the number of parishioners. The area between Falomo Village and what was the Creek Hospital now Military Awolowo Road was being reclaimed, and at the same time a number of plots were allotted which for rapid residential development. The area is today called South West Ikoyi. This further increased the number of worshipers.
At the initial stage St. Michael Catholic Church provided Mass servers and sometime the Choristers who sang at the Church of the Assumption, Falomo especially when the school was under construction.
The first re-deployment was the Gallery which was completed in 1980 under Rev. Fr. O-Keefe. In 1983 another building committee was set up once again to extend the Church. The new extension was dedication on Sunday 29th July 1984 by the then and now Metropolitan Archbishop of lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie. The final extension as we now have was started and completed under the tenure of Rev. Fr. Noel O-leary.
The first outstation that was nurtured by the Church of the Assumption, Falomo was St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Oratory, located in 1004 on Victoria island, Lagos. The Oratory which was funded by the Federal Government to serve the residents of the 1004 was managed by the Church of the Assumption until recently when a resident Priest was deployed to take charge. The second outstation was Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki Phase 1, lagos. The third is the Church of the Transfiguration in Victoria Garden City, Lekki, Lagos.
In 1987 Falomo had its first Papal Knight and this was Dr. Chris Abebe, who was conferred with knight of St Sylvester by the Holy father. Other recipients are, Omoba Priscilla Kuye, Mrs. Joyce Anyaegbunam, Chief Anthony Assaf, Mrs . Bridget Itsueli, Mrs Eugenia Udoh, Chief Festus Marinho, Hon. Justice Silva and Mr Babarinde Da-Silva, Dr. A. B. C. Ojiakor, Mrs Marie Fatai- Williams and Mrs Winifred Akpani
Over the years, the following have served as Vice Chairmen of the Parish Pastoral council (PPC) . Mr. J. O Ogunleye, Mr. Alphonsus A. Olukoya, Dr Madedor, Chief Festus Marinho, Late Air Commodore A. Ikhazoboh, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere and currently Chief Lawrence Omokhodion.
One of the biggest landmarks of the Parish was the placing of the pieces of Bones of St. Cecilia, and St. Vincent de Paul in the altar on 15th August, 1995 by the Archbishop of Lagos . The Current Church Hall was officially opened on 17th August 1995.
In 2010, under the supervision of the current Parish priest, Rev. Father innocent opogah, the Church was fully air-conditioned for the comfort and convenience of the parishioners. The air-conditioned Church was blessed on the 17th May, 2010 by Hie Eminence, Cardinal Okogie as part of activities marking the 50th Anniversary of the Church.