A Shepherd’s journey at 27: The life and vision of Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins
lagosarchdiocese
In a life dedicated to the service, most of the Reverend (DR) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan View was a lighthouse of faith and leadership. His journey from a Catholic family devout to become the spiritual leader of one of the most dynamic dioceses of Nigeria is marked by humility, dedication and a deep sense of objective. In this functionality, we immerse ourselves in the life, the reflections and aspirations of the Archbishop Martins while he shares his history with the editor, Neta Nwosu.
Humble Beginnings and Early Vocation
The call of the Archbishop Martins to the priesthood was neither dramatic nor extraordinary. Born into a firmly Catholic family, his youth was deeply linked to the church. “We had the obligation to be part of the life of the Church,” he recalls. The boys became altar servers, the girls joined the choir and the seeds of her vocation were sown early. His stay at the minor seminar of St. Theresa, Oke-Are, nourished this vocation, leading him to the SS. Pierre and Paul Seminary. In 1983, he was ordered, entering a lifetime commitment to serve.
Seminar days: foundations of a service life
Thinking about its seminar years, the Archbishop Martins describes a process of rigorous and intimate training. “At that time, you could not hide as a seminarian,” he noted, highlighting the very united community and mutual support among classmates. This camaraderie, associated with academic and spiritual growth, threw a solid base for its future ministry.
A young priest in Lagos
Archbishop Martins began his priesthood at the Saint Cross of Lagos cathedral. This period was essential, offering it the opportunity to learn experienced missionaries and senior priests. “We were very committed,” he recalls, citing the strong requirements of the masses, hospital visits and robust interactions with schools. This immersion in pastoral life has prepared him for the challenges and joys of his vocation.
Bishop of Abeokuta: a new start
In 1997, the diocese of Abeokuta was created and the Archbishop Martins was appointed his first bishop. This marked a new chapter, because he directed the young diocese in the establishment of his pastoral and administrative structures. “It was a great moment,” he thought, crediting the priests, religious and faithful to their sacrifices and good will. Together, they threw a solid base for the growth of the diocese.
Lagos archbishop: leadership and vision
In 2012, Archbishop Martins was raised to the status of the archbishop when he became the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos. The news was a surprise, but he kissed her like the will of God. Lagos, a diversified and dynamic metropolis, has presented unique challenges and opportunities. “The diversity of its population and the size of its Catholic community are peculiarities,” he observes. With these high expectations, which he encountered an accent on unity, commitment and growth.
Leadership milestones
Over the past 13 years, Archbishop Martins has led transformative initiatives in the archdiocese. One of his important achievements is the reform of parish councils, emphasizing clear directives and roles. “We want associations of secular faithful who help people develop in holiness,” he explains. His commitment to leadership training for priests and laity has also strengthened the administrative and spiritual fabric of the Church. Under its surveillance, the archdiocese experienced physical and institutional growth.
The creation of St. Kizito College and the advances of Augustine University, including the flagship engineering faculty, are wills for its vision. The archbishop also supervised the development of the priests’ retirement home, ensuring worthy care for those who served the church. His mandate as chief shepherd of the archdiocese is also marked by many other laudable achievements, such as the ordination of 83 priests for the archdiocese of Lagos, providing the number of priests embodied in 187. Before his installation, he There were only 7 the danger in Lagos, but thanks to its organizational sense and its initiative, the number of daisers in the archdiocese climbed 20 in the four regions.
This development in particular, considerably facilitated the fluid administration of an ecclesiastical constituency populated and socio-culturally complex as the archdiocese of Lagos with a total number of 229 parishes and more than four million Catholics. Archbishop Martins also launched the construction and dedication of at least 48 parishes through the archdiocese. Thanks to its exemplary leadership, Augustine University, Ilaa-Epe, a project envisaged and launched by its eminence, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, is now a full-fledged diploma which has already received a diploma in its own right.
Other current projects such as the St. John Mary Vianney house for priests and the Archidiocean pastoral center are more the testaments of the incessant engagement of the Archbishop Martins to the growth of the Archdiocese. His grace also assembled, for the first time in the history of the Archdiocese of Lagos, a melodious and inspiring anthem, which stands out as a symbol of unity, of commitment to faith and devotion to the cross and the mission of evangelizing the world.
Challenges and resilience
Directing the Archdiocese of Lagos is not without challenges. The demand for more priests and the financial pressure of large -scale projects are permanent concerns. “People think Lagos has a lot of money, but the responsibilities here are immense,” he said. However, it remains unattained, relying on the Yoruba adage, “Owo Eko, Eko Lo Ngbe” (Lagos money is spent for Lagos), to highlight the balance of blessings and obligations.
A vision for the future
The Archbishop Martins plans a dynamic church where each member takes possession of evangelization and spiritual growth. “I look forward to a moment when everyone feels a sense of responsibility for the growth of the Church,” he shares. Its objective extends to the commitment of young people, with policies and programs aimed at promoting their participation in the mission of the Church. On the institutional level, the archbishop engages in the development of Augustine University, St. Raphael Divine Mercy Specialist Hospital and a proposed nursing school. These projects aim to meet the needs of education and health care while contributing to the wider mission of the Church.
A personal trip of faith
For the Archbishop Martins, personal growth remains at the heart of the mission of his life. “I want to better fill the goal for which God created me,” he thinks. This understands, deepen his relationship with God, promote significant ties and guide archdiocese towards his spiritual and pastoral objectives.
Final notes
The journey of Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins testifies to faith, leadership and service. Since his beginnings as an altar server in his current role as a spiritual leader of the Archdiocese of Lagos, he has remained firm in his commitment to God and his people. While looking towards the future, his vision of a united, committed and spiritually dynamic Church continues to inspire. According to his words: “With the grace of God, we will achieve the objectives that we have set for the archdiocese.”
Ad Multos Annos!
On this day of his 27th episcopal anniversary, we thank the good Lord who supported him so far and allowed him to accomplish them and many other exploits not mentioned, and let us pray for him to always have grace to continue to serve in love.
(Tagstotranslate) Archdiocese Catholic of Lagos (T) Nigeria (T) Catholic Church in Lagos
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