Dear Friends,

Kindly be informed that our Director and Founder of the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus in St. Dominic's Catholic Church, Yaba and St. Jude Apostolate in the Province of St. Joseph the Worker (Nigeria & Ghana) will be returning to the U.S.A. for good.

Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP came on Mission to Nigeria Fifty-Seven (57) years ago. He has worked tirelessly and fruitfully in Nigeria since then. He has just celebrated his Eighty-Fourth (84) Birthday on 6th July.

Brother was sent by St. Albert the Great Province, Chicago U.S.A. to Nigeria. Presently, he is on transfer back to his home Province, St. Albert the Great in Chicago to begin his new assignment. We thank him immensely for his meritorious and selfless service to God and Humanity in the Province of St. Joseph the Worker, Nigeria and Ghana.

We pray that our Good Lord will continue to care, guide and bless him...Amen. Please, remember him in your prayers.

BROTHER STEPHEN LUCAS, OP FAREWELL MESSAGE DELIVERED ON 26TH JULY, 2016 AT THE JULY CLOSING NOVENA TO ST. JUDE THADDEUS IN HONOUR OF 
STs. JOACHIM AND ANNE.

Dear Friends of St. Jude,

Our July Novena of Masses honouring St. Jude ends today. We were blessed with the homilies of Father Samuel Onyiba, OP. thank you for sharing this novena with us. Father Samuel was ordained two years ago today, 26th July 2014 on the Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin. Father Samuel, today we all wish you a Happy Anniversary of ordination.

Speaking of sharing, I would like to share something about my own life with you. While I was on home leave in Chicago, just a few months ago, our Dominican Provincial in Chicago and I had coffee together after one of our morning Mass. He told me then that he would like me to return to the States and work with our Brothers there. My being resigned to Chicago was a topic on the table for a long time, so I was not too surprised.

Obedience in the religious life is one of our greatest joys. In fact, if I was not obedient 57 years ago when I was assigned to Nigeria I would have never had the opportunity to know you and also I would have never “founded” the Shrine of St. Jude and the St. Jude Apostolate in our parish of St. Dominic’s. Therefore, I have accepted with joy my new assignment, but somehow, there is sorrow too because I will miss you all. Let’s pray for each other as I begin my new assignment. We will pass out a card with my name on it, please put it in your prayer book, and when you see it, say a Hail Mary for me.

Please remember our candles at the Shrine. Presently we have over 120 white candles burning. You are welcome to join our clients and benefactors in lighting a candle for your intentions, a plaque displaying your name or the name of your loved one or special intention will be mounted below your candle. St. Francis of Assisi once said, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle”. Visit the Shrine before you leave the church this morning / afternoon / evening and collect your application form for a memorable candle, to burn for a whole year. Our St. Jude Staff are waiting for you at the Shrine right now ready to answer any question you have for them. REMEMBER, As long as a candle burns in your name, it represents you in prayer.

Father Samuel will bless us with the first class relic of St. Jude at the final blessing of this Mass.

Once again Father Samuel, we wish you a Happy, Holy anniversary of your ordination.

The Boxes in the front of the Church will accept your offering for supporting, and spreading devotion to St. Jude, and our endless love and support for the poor. If the choir would assist us with a song the collection will begin.

May the Giver of all good things bless and keep you now and always … Amen



Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas, OP
Director