Kingsland Nigerian Community
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The monthly Nigerian Chaplaincy Mass takes place at 2pm on 27th May.
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About the Nigerian Community
Our Motto: Unity, Love and Trust in God
Spiritual Patrons: Our Lady, St Joseph and Blessed Cyprian Tansi
Aims: 1. To support the parish community of Our Lady and St Joseph’s Parish, Kingsland, in its activities.
2. To enrich the life of the parish by sharing some aspects of our culture and heritage with the entire parish community.
3. To strengthen the faith and spiritual development of members.
4. To bear witness to the love of Christ by service to others.
5. To assist by prayer and in practical ways those members who need help of various kinds
6. To encourage the participation of our children in the life of the church.
7. To encourage social interaction and friendship among members.
8. To give practical support, where possible, to Nigerian Catholic churches in need.
Membership is open to all Nigerians who live in the parish or who worship regularly in the parish. The community meets on the last Sunday of each month at 4.30 pm in the parish hall. Each member pays a monthly subscription of £5.
The community plays an active role in the life of the parish and has the full support of our parish priest, Father Christopher Colven, who is our spiritual director.
Our most important contribution to the parish to date was to present a portrait of our patron, Blessed Cyprian Tansi, to the church on his feast day, 20 January 2002, at a special Mass said by Bishop Arthur Roche. The Mass was very crowded and colourful with worshippers from all parts of Nigeria dressed in their Blessed Cyrpian Tansi aso-ebi (uniform) or their traditional dress. Hymns were sung in various Nigerian languages as well as English and Latin, and the whole Mass was a blend of lively Nigerian style worship combined with deep reverence. The portrait is now prominently displayed in the church.
We continue to participate fully in the life of the church and provide Nigerian dishes at various social activities.
A most important aspect of the community’s activities is to support Nigerian parishioners in different ways and to encourage friendship and social interaction among our members. When Nigerians who are new to the parish start attending our church, members of our community make a point of welcoming them and making them feel at home in the parish. We visit members who are sick or bereaved at home and when our members or their children take steps in their spiritual life, marry or simply celebrate their birthday, we share their joy and rejoice with them. We know how to enjoy a good party!
Our members also try to serve the wider community. At Christmas time, we take gifts of food and clothing to the Passage, the Westminster Diocese shelter for the homeless. We also donate food items to the local churches’ winter night shelter. We have made a substantial monetary donation to the church in Warri Diocese, Nigeria, of a visiting Nigerian priest. Most recently, we donated a substantial amount of money to CAFOD for the purchase of food and medicine for the starving in Niger, which shares a common border with Nigeria.
A warm invitation is extended to all our Nigerian parishioners to join the Nigerian Community of Our Lady and St Joseph’s Church. By joining the community, you will enjoy the fellowship and support of your compatriots and at the same time serve our parish more effectively as part of a parish group.
We meet on the last Sunday of the month at 4.30 pm in the parish hall. A notice of the meeting is always put in the parish newsletter. We look forward to seeing you.
Further information, including a copy of the constitution, can be obtained from the Chairman of the Community, Mr Abraham Willoughby, the Social Secretary, Mr Olaoke or the Hon Secretary, Mrs Una Oligbo.
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