By Dennis Agbo
The Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni in the Vatican City of Rome, Francis Cardinal Arinze, with the Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Providence, the Formators and Seminarians will on Sunday perform the flag-off Centenary ceremony of the Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu.
Irish Bishop, Joseph Shanaham, had in 1924 established Saint Paul’s Seminary in Igboariam, Anambra State which after many relocations, finally metamorphosed into Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, in 1951 and has produced four Cardinals, 14 Archbishops, 37 Bishops and thousands of Reverend Fathers working in all parts of the world.
The 10 days Centenary event starting from November 10th to 21st will feature inauguration Mass for the grand finale, Alumni get-together and entertainments, different symposium sections/quiz competitions, cultural theatre, music, festival display, football novelty matches, blessing and opening of the new Centenary hostel, Jubilee Mass and Ordination of Deacons.
Special Guests expected at the ceremony include Cardinals, Bishops, Sen. Jim Nwobodo, Mr. Peter Obi, Chief Willie Obiano, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governors Peter Mbah, Chukwuma Soludo and Francis Nwifuru of Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi States, respectively.
According to the Rector of the Seminary, Very Rev. Fr. Albert Ikpenwa, the Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Providence, Most Rev Valerian Okeke and other Bishops in Ecclesiastical Providence are the Chief hosts of the Centenary ceremony. Fr. Ikpenwa disclosed that Pope Francis will send a delegate from Rome, noting that at a point in time, the Seminary serviced Cameroon and West Africa countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia. He added that not all the alumni of the institution could make it as priests, but became successful men in the society.
