Galilee & Harvest Celebration 2025

It was a day filled with so much joy and happiness as the parishioners of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Iba came out in their mass to celebrate Galilee and also their harvest of 2024 which was slated to be celebrated same day. It was an awesome experience and we welcome you to take a tour of the beautiful and colourful event filled with cultural displays and parishioners representing their regions and state.

It was a day like no other at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Iba, in Ojo, Lagos, as parishioners gathered in unity and joy for a dual celebration of the Galilee and Harvest Festival. Held on the same day, this year’s event was a spectacular fusion of spirituality, culture, and community spirit, reflecting the vibrant diversity that defines both Nigeria and the Catholic faith.

The day began in the most solemn and sacred of ways—with the Holy Mass. Parishioners, dressed in colorful traditional attire, filled the church to give thanks to God, celebrating the journey from the Lenten season into the joyful spirit of Easter. The Mass was followed by a thanksgiving session, where various groups came forward in joyful dance and offering, expressing their gratitude for God’s faithfulness and abundant blessings throughout the year.

As the spiritual segment concluded, the church premises transformed into a lively festival ground. Canopies representing different geopolitical zones of Nigeria—the South West, South East, South South, North, and Arewa—lined the church grounds, each uniquely decorated and brimming with pride. There was also a special ECOWAS canopy representing our brothers and sisters from neighboring West African countries, showcasing their unity in diversity.

Each region brought their cultural identity to life through music, dance, attire, and cuisine. From the pulsating beats of the South South’s traditional drums to the energetic Yoruba dances of the South West, the Igbo cultural steps from the South East, and the rich, colorful expressions from the Northern groups—every performance told a story and brought the celebration alive. The ECOWAS group was not left out, adding a pan-African flair with their elegant garments and flavorful delicacies from across West Africa.

After the exhilarating cultural displays, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived—the grand buffet. Food stands representing the various regions opened up, offering a wide variety of traditional meals: jollof rice, pounded yam and egusi, tuwo shinkafa, ofe nsala, banga soup, suya, efo riro, and more. Attendees moved from one stand to another, choosing delicacies that piqued their interest, savoring the tastes of different cultures and fellowshipping over full plates and joyful conversations.

Laughter echoed, cameras clicked, children danced, and hearts were full—not just with food, but with a deep sense of community and celebration. It was a true reflection of what the Church stands for: unity in diversity, love in abundance, and gratitude in every season.

Indeed, the 2025 Galilee and Harvest Celebration at St. Augustine Catholic Church was more than just an event—it was a spiritual and cultural feast that brought people together as one big family under God.