The history of the Marian Shrine, Maryland or the history of any development within the Maryland heartland cannot be made without first knowing how the compound and eventually the suburb came to be called “Maryland”.

This dates back to the time when St. Agnes Teachers Training College was at Yaba, at the location popularly known now as St. Agnes Bus Stop on Herbert Macauley Street. The college was run by the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles.

St. Agnes Teachers’ Training College was moved from Yaba to Maryland in 1949. The blessing of the college took place on the 20th of January 1950 and it was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On that occasion a group of Our Lady Students prayed their Rosary there on Sunday evenings starting with a procession from the convent chapel to the grotto.

Maryland compound was a victim of schools’ take-over by the government in the late 1970s and early 1980s – as the then Lagos State Government was not only interested in acquisition of the schools but the whole landed property owned by the Church. The government succeeded to some extent in taking over some sizable portion, but thanks to God, the joint ‘fight’ put up by Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Fr. McGovern (the then Parish Priest of St. Agnes, Maryland) and some of the parishioners, eventually yielded positive results.

EPISCOPAL FIAT

The decision to have an Archdiocesan Marian Shrine was taken by the Archbishop Dr. A.O. Okogie in 1984. The purpose was to provide pilgrimage facilities for all the parishes of the Archdiocese of Lagos. Either as individuals or groups they could come to Maryland to pray and give praise to God in union with Mary, our Mother. It was also hoped that those who worship and pray in the Shrine be led to a deeper commitment and renewal of their lives and faith through the sacramental life of the Church, particularly through the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The design of the Marian Shrine was done by Mr. Rudy F. Cemine while the construction was by Messrs Ronika Builders Ltd; George Oye and Ms Selsaabed Construction Company Ltd., under the supervision of Rev. Fr. K. McGarry who was also Co-ordinator of the Shrine. The Shrine which now includes a Grotto of Our Lady, Stations of the Cross and an open-air altar is capable of accommodating about 10,000 people.

The Shrine was opened and blessed on the 8th of December 1985 by the then His Grace the Archbishop, who also said the first Mass on that day. The Shrine is dedicated to Our Lady, Queen of Peace and Queen of Nigeria.

ACTIVITIES IN THE SHRINE

The first ordination ceremony was on 29th November, 1986 when Rev. Fr. Anthony Babatunde Erinle and Rev. Fr. Joseph Chukwumah Nwanua were ordained at the Marian Shrine. The Chief celebrant was His Grace. Also ordained at the shrine were Rev. Fr. Michael N. Umoh and Rev. Michael Onwudiegwu on the 13th of December, 1992 – priestly and daconate respectively.

The first Religious profession at the Marian Shrine took place on Sunday 14th August, 1988. It was part of the closing ceremonies of the Marian Year. Six sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus – Rev. Sr. Mary P. Egbudo, Rev. Sr. Mary M.N. Obi, Rev. Sr. Gloria M. Wilson, Rev. Sr. Consolata M. Nwachukwu, Rev. Sr. Mary G. Osayame and Rev. Sr. Monica M. Obaro made their final profession.

The second Religious profession took place on Saturday 1st, December 1990 at the Church Hall. On that occasion three sisters of the congregation of Our Lady of Apostles – Rev. Sr. Elizabeth O. Erhuhmwusee, Rev. Sr. Patricia O. Oguefojor and Rev. Sr. Gladys N. Chikere took their own final vows.

The celebrations marking the Marian Year decreed by His Holiness Pope John Paul II started on 7th June, 1987. Thereafter various parishes, societies and groups within the Archdiocese organized individual pilgrimages to the Shrine. These pilgrimages mainly consisted of praying the Holy Rosary, Litanies, the Stations of the Cross and the celebration of the Holy Mass.

The closing ceremonies of the Marian Year started with a Novena from 6th August to the Feast of the Assumption on 15th August, 1988. The ceremony on that final day consisted of novena prayers, a candle-light procession and Holy Mass celebrated by His Grace the Archbishop. At the Mass, faithful from the Archdiocese who were sick were anointed.

The Shrine is steadily becoming more and more a pilgrimage centre as various parishes and groups organize retreats and days of recollection at the holy grounds. Meetings of any other kind by any group or society is however not allowed in the Shrine.

NOVENAS

Three Archdiocesan Novenas are organized at the Marian Shrine each year. These are:

Apart from the regular annual Novenas for the three solemnities of Our Lady, a week Novena in honour of Our Lady is celebrated every Wednesday evening (6.00p.m) at the Shrine – this starts with procession and thereafter the celebration of the Holy Mass and concludes with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction, prayers for pregnant mothers and blessing of sacramentas.

The weekly Wednesday novena in honour of Our Lady though a parish event nonetheless attracts Catholic faithful from other parishes within the Archdiocese and visitors from outside Lagos.

"A day with Mary is also organised every 1st Saturday of the Month at the Shrine"

             
Bishop EDMUND FITZGIBBON       Very Rev. Msgr. PHILIP HOTEYIN
(In Residence till 2006)              Marian Shrine Chaplain 2006 till date