The joy of the Christmas celebrations came alive on Sunday 11th of December 2016 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Asipa, Ibadan, as the Priests and the entire Christ faithful of the parish came out in numbers to celebrate the festivals of the popular Nine lessons and Carols tagged: Nine Lessons in Songs and Drama. The event, which was slated for 1:00pm later started about 1:30 pm with an opening prayer by the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. John Idio OMV,  followed by the Parish Anthem. 

The occasion which featured lessons about the Birth of Jesus from the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, Carols with musical concerts, drama presentation and fun-fare with Santa Clause (Father Christmas) for the children was organized in such a way that apart from the various groups in the parish, choirs from other parishes equally participated in the event.

The high-point of the occasion was the delivery of the Christmas message by the Assistant Priest of the Parish, Rev Fr Cosmas Amede OMV. The message echoed the Yuletide season and pictured Christ as the reason for the season.

The dramatic group of the Parish Choir encapsulated the event in the drama presentation which make everyone present to understand adequately the reason for the celebration. Omvnigeria gathered that the occasion was equally used to officially launch the Parish Anthem.

Apart from the three different choirs of the parish, the Catholic Women Organization (CWO), Catholic Men Organization (CMO), and the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON) representing the different organs in the parish equally made their presentations. Others who were invited to make the occasion a blissful one were choirs from Seat of Wisdom, University of Ibadan and St. Leo’s Parish, Challenge, Ibadan. African Independent Television (AIT) of the Daar Communications LTD of Nigeria was the official media partner of the ceremony.

Our reporters shared in the excitements and happiness of those present at the event as they expressed the yearning for more of such wonderful celebration. We congratulate the entire Clergy and laity of St Anthony's parish Asipa for such magnificent celebrations. On behalf of the Delegation, the Directorate of Communications wishes you all Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New .year.

Miss Dupe Odunmorayo (Reporter)