History of Parish
History of Iyara Parish! Story telling by Chief Mesaiyete Justin, the only surviving foundation member.
In the year (CC 1961) a Canadian priest of the Holy Ghost congregation Rev. Fr. St. Louis from Kabba paid the first visit to Iyara with the view of starting the Catholic Church.
He spoke to a few Anglican members from St. Paul Anglican Church, Iyara about His mission to start a Catholic Church.
He paid weekly visit for about three weeks to about 9 members of the Anglican Church who accepted to become the foundation members of the Catholic Church.
They are
- Late Chief Mesaiyete Justin – Ona Quarters
- Mr. Paul Elebiyo
- Mr. Raphael Olorunleke – Otun
- Mr. Joshua Obagunle – Ona
- Mr. Justus Maliki – Otun
- Mr. Obadum Otun
- Mr. Rowland Ibinaiye – araromi
- Mr. Owonuwa Gbelura – araromi
- Mr. George Ilupa
Daily morning prayers were held from then in the house of Chief Mesaiyete Justine about 6 months at OnaQuarters, as the number steadily increased, his house became too small to accommodate them. So, they moved to the house of Raphael Olorunleke.
Again, the number of the morning prayer devotees grew larger than the space in the house of Raphael Olorunleke.
This growth in population gave birth to the idea of erecting achurch.
They were out in search of land.
Two options, either for Ilupe or Ona.
Rev. Fr. St. Louis on inspection of the two lands decided to choose Ona as the new site of the church building.
It was in the house of Raphael Olorunleke that the first mass was celebrated in the year (CC 1961) by Rev. Fr. St. Louis who came in the company of catechist Atoluse.
Mr. Rowland Ibinaiye, Chief Mesaiyete Justine and Raphael Olorunleke were instrumental to the building of the R.C.M school Iyara.
For about two years they made steady journeys to Kabba Education Authority for permission to build a school which was eventually granted.
The school was built; The Church began the creation of the walls, and Rev. Fr. St. Louis provided the roofing sheets , planks and Nails.
The first maternity was embarked upon by R.C.M Iyara, it was built and completed by R.C.M Iyara before the Local Government Authority took it over.
The Church was under Kabba parish.
It later came under Ogidi Parish from which it received its parish status in 1991.