The parish of Our Lady of Fatima, Eleta in the ancient city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Nigeria, used to cover a vast area, extending from the popular Mapo Hill to Kajola area, on the border of Ogun State, a distance of about twenty five miles away.
The parish includes the densely populated part of the old city around Mapo and Bere and the fast expanding part of the city, which extends for miles beyond the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It also includes hundreds of villages in the rural area.
The first effort to plant the Catholic faith in the area was in 1930 when Fr Galvin, SMA who was based in Ijebu-Ode opened a small outstation in Araromi-Aperin but this did not survive for long.
In 1956, Fr Galvin again came from Ijebu-Ode to build a church in Inu-Odi Okiti, a village where many families in Eleta originated from.
These parishioners still maintain close link with their village.
In 1954, Msgr Richard Finn, SMA, who became the first Bishop of Ibadan, started St John's Teacher Training College whose temporary site was in Oke Ofa before it was transferred to Eleta area where the Novitiate of the Medical Missionaries of Mary now stands in 1955. The college's first principal was Fr John McElgunn.
The college contributed in various ways to the building of the parish. The principal's house is now the parish house and the classrooms are now used by Our Lady of Fatima Nursery/Primary School.
But above all the first students became active members of the parish, among whom were Late Messrs Matthew Ogunnaya, Ignatius Omotosho, F. Onanuga and F. Biala.
Fr. McElegunn said Mass in one of the classrooms and gradually some people from the area joined them, one of whom was Mr M. Olatunji. This was the beginning of the parish, which was formally recognized as a parish in 1957.
In 1959, Fr McElgunn was transferred to Bashorun to become the first principal of St Patrick's college and was replaced by Fr McCabe.
Another very important event in the history of the parish was the arrival of the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM) sisters in 1963 and the opening of St Mary's Hospital. This has been a real blessing to the parish and to Ibadan because not only did Rev. Sisters and the hospital staff bring Christ's healing love and care to thousands of people, but the hospital has also helped the area economically, providing employment not only to hospital staff but to builders and a wide variety of suppliers and traders.
Another important milestone in the history of the parish was the installation of Late Mr. John Adeniyi as Baba-Ijo in 1969 and the Iya-ijo Late Mrs Alice Olatunji was installed in 1988.
Another facility of importance within the jurisdiction of the parish was the Diocesan Community Pharmacy (D.C.P) which was opened by Archbishop Felix Alaba Job in 1984.
Its aim was to provide genuine drugs and medicaments at affordable prices.
For 16 years Rev Sr. Zita worked energetically to keep the D.C.P going, before the MMM appointed her to a new mission in Tanzania.
In 1994 the PRO-LIFE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (PLAN) opened an office at the D.C.P building. This was also a blessing to the Parish and for Ibadan as a whole. Its director, Rev Sr. Dr Leonie McSweeny, MMM trained many couples in the Billings method of family planning and through her "TRUE LOVE WINS CAMPAIGN" did much to create an awareness of the dangers of AIDS and to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
The Parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, so it was fitting that Eleta was chosen as the site for the DIOCESAN MARIAN SHRINE. The grotto was started by the CWO during the Marian year of 1988 and was handed to the diocese and was officially dedicated on 27th May 1989. Since then it has been a place of quiet prayers and reflection for a constant stream of individuals, who go there seeking help from our dear Mother Mary. It is also a favoured place of prayer for some non- Catholics and even non christians who believe Mary can help them.
The prigrimages to the shrine then for youth (CYON) in March, and for all at Pentecost and Advent are very important events for the Archdiocese of Ibadan.
But when we think of a Parish, we think especially of a church or churches and in this Parish,Our Lady of Fatima Church is the central church. The new church building was dedicated on May 12, 2001 while V. Rev. Fr Fintan Daly, SMA was parish priest.
There are many churches under Eleta parish, two of which have become parishes, namely St Anne's, Ogbere and St Eunan's Odo Oba. St. Anne's ogbere was established in 1992 and became a Parish in 2010.
St. Eunan's Odo Oba started by Oke-Ado in 1969 and became a quasi Parish in 2015.
Here are names of the remaining churches under Eleta and the dates they were established:
St. Patrick Inu-Odi Okiti - 1946
St. John Idi Ahun Mosfala - 1994
Holy Cross Ayegun - 1997
St. Francis Agbamu - 1999
St. Paul, Falansa - 2000
Many of these outstations are very small, and some have only temporary sites. They are like the proverbial mustard seed, hopefully each one of these little communities shall flourish into big shrubs by God's grace.
When we think of churches we think of priests. Over the years, efforts were made to encourage vocations but it was not till 1992 that the first priest from the Parish, Rev Fr Gregory Oyelami now the Vicar General of Ibadan Archdiocese, was ordained. Also, on 23rd of September 2000, Rev Fr Patrick Ojedeji was ordained.
Again, in 2001, Rev Fr Joseph Akanbi was ordained.
Rev Fr Samson Babalola was ordained in 2004 and was followed by Rev Fr Christopher Ojikutu in 2007. Not long after these, in year 2009 Rev Fr Bernard Azeez was ordained.
Rev Fr Christopher Jolaoso was ordained in 2010. Following him, the parish had had Rev Fr Thaddeus Falade 2018 and Rev Fr Peter Ibimiluyi in 2019.
With regard to religious vocation, in 2012 Rev Sr. Elizabeth Kudaisi had her final profession and in 2013 Rev Sr. Regina Akanbi had hers.
The year 2000 was also a year of jubilee blessing and one special blessing for this Parish was the arrival of the Capuchin community and the opening of their Formation House. They have been awesome in their numerous contributions to the activities of the Parish.
Another significant facility within the jurisdiction of the parish is the Eleta Eye Institute, which started in 2008 and under the leadership of Dr BGK Ajayi, has been catering for the needs of people from everywhere in the country and beyond.
It is a known fact that 99.9% of any parish is made of the laity. The laity of Eleta are organized into societies and lay apostolate groups and are represented in the Pastoral, Laity and Finance councils.
Priests who have worked at Eleta include:
Fr. John McElgunn - 1955-1959
Fr. Frank McCabe - 1959-1964; 1980-1986
Fr. John Travers1964- 1971
Fr. Frank Coltsmann - 1966-1971
Fr. Thomas Lindon - 1971-1972
Fr. Alphonsus Flatley - 1972
Fr. Gerard Hackett - 1972-1976
Fr. James O'Kane - 1976-1977
Fr. Lawrence Dolan - 1977-1978
Fr. Michael Ajuruchi - 1982
Fr. William Sheehan - 1986-1990
Fr. Fintan Daly - 1990-2001
Fr. John Adio - 2001-2003
Fr. Francis Omolade - 2001-2003
Fr. Daniel Izebuno - 2003-2005
Fr. Gabriel Anekwe - 2003-2015
Fr. John Pinhero - 2004-2005
Fr. Matthew Olarinde - 2004-2008
Fr. Paul Omotosho - 2007-2009
Msgr. Theophilus Fadeyi - 2009-2015
Fr. Gasper Oladosu - 2009-2013
Fr. Fedrick Samuel - 2013-2015
Fr. Sylvester Odugbemi - 2015 - Sept 8 2019
Fr. Matthew Onisetan - 2015
Fr. Michael Adebola 2015- 2017
Fr Christopher Areoye 2017-2019
Fr Victor Ugbor 2018-2019
The parish is currently being served by Rev. Frs Felix Adedigba (parish priest), Charles Onyema (assistant parish priest) and Matthew Olarinde (hospital chaplain)
They were posted to the parish on Sept 8, 2019 and have been responsible for the care and development of the parish.