History of the Church

The beginning of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Isolo, Lagos dates back to 1963 when priests from Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Mushin – Rev. Frs. Fitzgerald and D. Murphy, SMA began celebrating masses for a handful of the faithful in Pa Famakinwa's sitting-room at 2, Shonibare Street, Isolo, Lagos.

As the number of worshippers increased, and Pa Famakinwa's sitting room could no longer accommodate them; the venue in 1971 was moved to a primary school at Ile-Iwe Meta – very close to the Lagos State Polytechnic and the SOS Village. In April 1975 after the transfer of Rev. Fr. Paul, they relocated to Metropolitan College, Isolo. In that same year, Pa Famakinwa handed over the chairmanship band to Late Pa Rowland Oatah. By late 1979, when the then Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande barred religious groups from using Government Schools in Lagos State as worship centres, the Mass Centre again moved to the nearby Gideon Secondary School with the help of Late Pa Rowland Oatah who was then a teacher at Gideon Secondary school.

As the church made steady progress, it became increasingly difficult for priests from Regina Mundi, Mushin, Lagos to frequent Isolo, some Rev. Sisters, as well as lay faithful like late Pa Olofinkua and Sir Ajayi Joseph took turns to conduct communion services at the new out-station.

Between 1980 and 1981, despite initial challenges, the land on which the present Church is built at Ire-Akari Estate Road was acquired. Within this period, a shed built with plywood and aluminum roofing was constructed, marking the cessation of worship at the Gideon Secondary School, and a new beginning for the budding parish. In 1981, the then Parish Priest of Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Mushin, Late Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Coakley, SMA christened the budding parish: SAINT MARY'S, and by 1982, she held her first harvest and bazaar.

In August of 1985, His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, the then Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos Archdiocese paid a pastoral visit to Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Mushin and seized the opportunity to visit St. Mary's Catholic Church, Isolo. During this visit, on Sunday August 11, 1985, His Eminence assisted by Rev. Fr. Murphy performed the turning of the SOD of the present Church, while the blessing, laying of blocks and relics of saints at the cornerstones and altar plaque was performed by Rev. Fr. Philip Hoteyin on June 1986.

In the second half of 1985, Rev. Fr. now Msgr. Philip Hoteyin became the Parish Priest at Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Mushin, Lagos. He introduced two Masses here on Sundays - 8.00am and 10.00am and built the Church from foundation to window level with the erection of pillars. By late 1988, Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Obi became the Parish Priest and took up the Church building project with gusto under the supervision of an elected and enlarged Church committee headed by Sir Aloysius Onyekwuo following the retirement of late Pa Rowland Oatah.

In the second half of 1991, Rev. Fr. Edmond Akpala who took over from Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Obi introduced the second collection to help fund the completion of the Church building. In 1992, with the Church building completed, Rev. Fr. Akpala laid the foundation stone for the Rev. Fathers' house and built it up to roofing level before Reverend Father now Msgr. Christopher Ajala took over from him, and eventually supervised the completion of the Rev. Fathers' house.

The last steps to becoming a full-fledged Parish were taken by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Amolegbe who covered the entire floor of the Church with terrazzo, and on the evening of 24th April 1996 handed over the newly-created parish to the Oblates of St. Joseph with Rev. Fr. Mario Cueto, OSJ taking charge as her first Parish Priest. With this development, the first Pastoral Council was constituted with late Major S.D. Atayi (rtd) serving as its first Vice-Chairman. Major Atayi passed on before the first half of second tenure. He was succeeded by late Pa P.A. Ogunlowo, and in the year 2000 was succeeded by Sir J.C. Ezike, KSJI, and was succeeded by Sir Bob Dike, KSM. In 2012, Sir Chinedu Akpa, KSM succeeded him till 2020 when Sir Valentine Ezeiru, KSJI took over as PPC Vice-Chairman.

The Oblates of St Joseph takes Charge

On taking over, Rev. Fr. Mario Cueto, OSJ, the first ever parish priest introduced daily morning and evening masses as well as three Masses on Sundays. He was later joined by Rev Fr Jan Pelczarski, OSJ, Rev Fr. Dory Tubesa, OSJ and Late Rev. Fr. John Marchiaro, OSJ (Fr Marchiaro died on active service in Nigeria, and was interred at the OSJ Formation House in Opere, Ibadan). During his tenure, Fr. Cueto supervised and completed the Church building, which was dedicated on September 8th, 2001 - the Feast Day of the Parish, together with the blessing of the Parish Office Complex.

Since its creation, the Parish has birthed two outstations: SS Peter and Paul, Oke-Afa, which became a Parish on July 22, 2007 and St. Joseph's, Agodo-Egbe. It was also at this period that the land on which stands the DOMUS MARIAE was acquired, and currently nursing the out-station of Pope John Paul II Catholic Church, Isolo, Lagos. The team brought a lot of organization, colour and creativity to the Parish, which in turn crystallized into a vibrant worshipping community.

The United and Holy Family of St. Mary's, which Rev. Fr. Dory Tubesa, OSJ took charge of in 2003 has witnessed monumental growth on all fronts. To give the parish a positive sense of direction and purpose, Rev. Fr. Dory Tubesa, OSJ crafted and gave the parish befitting vision and mission statements, as well as the core values for the parish, and the parish anthem.

The tenure of Rev. Fr. Dory Tubesa, OSJ saw the foundation laying ceremony of the Ultra-Modern Social Complex and Parish Clinic in 2003 with the construction formally commencing in May 2006. Thanks to Fr Tubesa for taking the construction to an appreciable stage before his transfer to S.S Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Oke-Afa. With his team; they introduced administration of Holy Communion to the sick and the aged on every first Friday of the month and mid-day masses from Wednesdays to Fridays.

Rev. Fr. Sunil Kallarakal, OSJ served the shortest tenure as parish priest of St. Mary's - from January 5, 2011 to May 15 2012, and coordinated the erection of the beautiful grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was blessed and unveiled on May 1, 2012.

Rev. Fr. Ethelbert Arua, OSJ took over from Fr Kallarakal as Parish Priest on May, 15th 2012, and in his tenure, the Parish Social Centre – DOMUS MARIE was completed and unveiled. Also, the Parish Clinic – Mother Mary Hospital became fully functional with fully equipped laboratory. Under his charge, the parish installed the first ever large screen viewing system in the four corners of the church to enable parishioners who sit outside the church auditorium to actively participate in liturgical celebrations. It's the first of its kind in the Archdiocese of Lagos. He acquired the land that now serves as the parish car park, as well as the land where the outstation of Pope John Paul II is sited.

Fr. Arua and his team introduced the Sunday evening Mass and mid-day Masses Mondays and Tuesdays, thereby bringing the schedule of weekday Masses to three: Mondays to Fridays.

Rev. Fr Remigius Okafor, OSJ in 2018 succeeded Rev. Fr. Ethelbert Arua, OSJ as the Parish Priest, and the current Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Philip Egbuniwe, OSJ took charge in 2019, and the parish is still marching on.

Pioneer Caretaker Committee of St Mary's Catholic Church, Isolo Inaugurated in 1975

• Pa G. A. Famakinwa - Chairman
• Prince Godwin Obasi – Secretary
• Late Mr Frederick Ezike – Treasurer
• Mr Raphael Urasi – Financial Secretary
• Mr Lawrence Oseke – Catechist
• Mr Christian Iwu – Choirmaster
• Mr Lawrence Iwu – Church-warden
• Mr George Uche – Member
• Late Vincent Egwin – Member

The Men that Helped Mid-wife St Mary's Catholic Church, Isolo from her Days an Outstation of Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Mushin

• Late Rev. Fr. Fitzgerald, SMA
• Monsignor Oni
• Rev Fr Joseph Carew
• Rev Fr E. Hartnel, SMA
• Rev Tim Healey
• Rev Fr Jeremiah Coakley, SMA – 1980-1983
• Rev Fr Divine, SMA (Snr) – 1980-1984
• Rev Fr John Burke, SMA – 1984
• Rev Fr Murphy, SMA – 1984-1985
• Rev Fr P. Hoteyin – 1985-1989
• Rev Fr Alphonsus Obi – 1989-1992
• Rev Fr Edmond Akpala – 1992-1994
• Rev Fr Chris Ajala – 1994-1995
• Rev Fr Gabriel Amolegbe – 1995-1996

Today, under the charge of the Oblates of St. Joseph, the parish has made remarkable progress - physically and spiritually thus signaling a sudden upsurge in the membership of the parish from about two thousand in 1996 to its current over fifteen thousand parishioners. It now has eight Masses on Sundays inclusive of evening Mass, three Masses daily from Mondays to Fridays and 6.30a.m on Saturdays to cater for the ever-increasing number of worshippers.

The United and Holy Family of St. Mary's Catholic Church Isolo is placed under the Patronage of Our Lady Mediatrix of all Graces; and the Parish Feast Day is celebrated on September 8th - the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.