Like the mustard seed however, the small church has grown in to a sprawling church and indeed, one of the biggest in the country. This phenomenal growth is of course attributed to the hardworking Archbishop Taylor.

When the Dominicans took over St. Patrick’s, the “complex” had within it, a school and a two-story building for the priests. The building, recalls chief Chukelu, was like the type usually found in Ikoyi then-fenced with white painted sticks.

The process of establishing the Dominican Community (physically) at Yaba began on April 2, 1953, when Archbishop Taylor requested The Holy See to let “the Parish (St. Patrick’s) be joined to the religious house and committed to the Dominicans”, a request that was granted and documented in the Second Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. That was on August 18, 1953.

The first St. Dominic’s Church was built from July 31, to August 5, 1956 when it was completed and dedicated by Archbishop Taylor. (The original reason for the invitation of the Dominicans to Nigeria was to set up the Thomistic Institute. Though the idea was later shelved, the coming into life of the Dominican Institute, D.I. seems to be fulfilling that original intention).

The newly established St. Dominic’s served Faithfuls in and around the Yaba area like the St. Robert’s Church at the Base (Military) Hospital, The Our Lady of Apostles, O.L.A. The Sisters’ Chapel at St. Agnes Maryland was an out-station. It equally served St. Mary’s Ajegunle, St. Michael’s Primary School any St. Thomas Aquinas Primary Boys School, Surulere which later became St. Anthony’s, Gbaia, uncle the S.M.A. Fathers.

Saint Dominic’s out-reach (out-Station) activities today extends to the Queen’s College of Technology, St. Andre du Lac, Makoko all in the Yaba area. It also extends to Tarkwa Bay, while new stations are being prepared at Iwayi and Abule Oja areas of Yaba.

The present St. Dominic’s Church building, constructed under the tenure of Rev. Fr. Tom McDermott as Pastor, is the third St. Dominic’s building to be put up at the premises. The second was started in 1962 and occupied in 1963.

The new building of St. Dominic’s was first launched on September 5, 1987, the sod was turned April 16, 1989, last Mass was celebrated in the old church on Sunday May 27, 1990 and its destruction began the next day.

Foundation for the new Church was laid by the Archbishop of Lagos, Dr, Anthony Olubunmi Okogie on September 15, 1990, the Cornerstone was laid September 7, 1992, the first Mass was celebrated for the Harvest on November 7, 1993.

Confessions are heard at St. Dominic’s on a daily basis at 6 p.m. before the daily evening Mass at 6.30 p.m. The morning mass is at 6.15 a.m. On Saturdays, confessions are heard at 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. Six Masses are celebrated every Sunday at St. Dominic’s which has a total of six priests and four Brothers.

Counseling and consultations are held daily by the Priests and Brothers. St Dominic’s draws worshippers from as far away as Lekki, Oshodi, Ikeja and Egbeda all on the outskirt of Lagos

Truly, the story of St. Dominic’s Church is like that of the Mustard seed and it has been able to scatter and grow under the influence of the Holy Spirit and physically piloted by the late Bishop Dempsey as first pastor, Frs. Giles Klapperich (1965) Ambrose Windbacher (1972), Colum Daley (1957), Richard Farmer (1981) Tom McDermott (1990), Paul ‘Bola Oye (1997-2001),Mary-vin Ubili (2001 – 2009), Felix Onemighie(2010 – 2018), Charles Onwordi (2018-2024), Alexius Agba (2024-date)
(Excerpt from https://dhspriory.org)

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