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SAINT AGNES, VIRGIN, MARTYR
Agnes, a daughter of the noblest families of Rome goes to meet the spouse (Gospel) and consecrates herself to Him at the age of ten. Jesus in return “works through her wonderful prodigies” (Gradual). At the age of thirteen (about 304), asked her in marriage by the son of the prefect of Rome , she replies: “the one whom I am betrothed is Christ whom the angels serve. Then they attempted to dishonour her by violence but “God delivered her body from perdition,” (Epistle). She was thrown on a burning pile but “the flames did her no harm”. When condemned to be beheaded, she thus encouraged the hesitating executioner: “Strike without fear, for the bride does her spouse an injury if she makes him wait.” Click here to Read More |
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Sweet Agnes, holy child all purity, O may we underfiled. Be pure as thee; Ready our blood to shed;
Forth as the martyrs led;
The path of pain to tread;
And die like thee. O gentle patroness, of holy youth, Ask God all those to bless who love truth;
O guide us on our way;
Unto the eternal day;
With hearts all pure and gay;
Dear Saint like thine. Look down and hear our prayer from realms above;
Show us thy tender care;
And guiding love;
O keep us into thy sight;
Till in the unclouded light,
O heaven's pure vision bright,
We dwell with thee!
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On Sunday, 18th September, 1977 , the Maryland chaplain, Fr. Frank McGovern informed the congregation that he has been appointed by the Archbishop as Reverend Father in charge of a new parish based in Maryland . The new parish naturally became known as St. Agnes as the college chapel continued to be the parish church until Christmas eve of 1984 when weekend Holy Masses were moved to the new Parish Hall. The new parish priest stated that his motto was to be: “make haste slowly”. There was no ready accommodation for Fr. McGovern. As a result, the staff quarters for some tutors at St. Agnes Teachers Training College was released by the principal, Mr. Amenechi, for Father's lodging. Rev. Fr. McGovern moved into the bungalow with Rev. Father Ford as his assistant. The two pioneer priests of the Parish toiled fruitfully to retain the expanse of land which today makes up St. Agnes Church complex. They took the Lagos State Government to court when following the latter's take over of schools, the government under Alhaji Lateef Jakande forcibly acquired most of the original Mary's Land. But for Fr. McGovern, the present Marian Shrine would not have survived.
The tussle for St. Agnes' land complex was facilitated by devout parishioners including a few who were then within the government establishment of the State.
On what originally was Mary's Land existed or still stands the church complex, St. Agnes TTC, Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School which was started by the OLA sisters in 1969, the Immaculate Heart Secondary School carved from the Comprehensive School around 1980, St. Agnes Primary School which was College Demonstration School from 1950, Maryland Convent Primary School founded by OLA Sisters in 1968, Maryland Primary School and St. Francis Primary School both belonging to the universal primary education generation schools. The state primary education board took over the modern school (three years post-primary school) buildings and compound in the late 1970s.
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