By Nna Anulumadu
The Archbishop of Onitsha of Onitsha and metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical province, His Grace Most Rev Valerian Okeke last Saturday praised the principal, staff and management of Queen of Rosary College ( QRC) Onitsha for excellence performance the out going SS 33 students of college recorded in their WEAC examination.
The prelate poured the accolades during his pastoral visit to the college.
In his homily during a Holy Mass that commenced the event, Archbishop Okeke reflected on the feast of Queen of Rosary, reminding Christians to say their rosary daily.
He stated that the rosary, a prayer devotion to Mary, has been a cornerstone of Catholic spirituality for centuries.
According to him , reciting the Rosary daily brings numerous benefits such as deepening devotion to Mary and Jesus, fostering contemplation and meditation, bringing peace, comfort, and solace and offering protection from evil.
“The Rosary is a prayer of great efficacy. It is a powerful means of obtaining from God the graces we need.”
Shortly after the Mass, the college in a welcome address formerly congratulated the prelate on his 71st birthday, describing him as a loving Chief Shepherd who never relented in giving the college huge support. They also eulogized the local ordinary over his unwavering commitment and transformative leadership style that has taken the Archdiocese to an unprecedented height.
Responding, Archbishop Okeke eulogized the college over academic prowess, expressing joy over the excellent performances of the 2024 graduates who came out with flying colours . He praised the school principal Rev Sr Maria Chijioke and her management team for the top-notch training/ education they are impacting on students, urging them not to relent. His words: “QRC has made us proud and we can not thank enough the management and the staff for this fame. Please keep it up. It is good to note that every former and current student of QRC is a definition of success embedded in sound morals.”
The Archbishop in his usual magnanimity rewarded the senior prefect of the college who delivered the address in a very captivating and interesting way, with a one year scholarship. He also pledged to reward the best teacher whose students made more ‘A’s in his or her subject in the last WEAC examination with the sum of one hundred thousand naira. He also reminded the students of his promise of awarding full university scholarship to any student in Onitsha Archdiocesan schools who gets 9 ‘A’s in his or her senior school certificate examination.
The prelate further called on students to continue to embrace the culture of excellence Onitsha Archdiocesan schools are known for. He advised them to begin now to plan their tomorrow by having a dream, planning it, practicalizing it, persevering in it and backing it up with prayers.
The school principal Rev. Sr.Maria Chijioke Nwankwo in her speech rained accolades on the Archbishop for his visit, stating that the college will ever remain grateful over his large heart towards the development and the growth of the college. She made it clear that QRC will stop at nothing in producing intellectuals who are sound both in morals and academics and who will be equiped with the capacity to transform our society .
She thanked her staff for their commitment in making QRC mission a reality. The principal also congratulated the outgoing students for the loyalty and cooperation they exhibited while during their study that eventually translated into excellent results. She also hailed the winners of the inter house sports competition held same day.
Activities making the event includes: celebration of Archbishop Valerian Okeke at 71, commemoration of the patroness feast of the college, inter house sports competition and official send fort party staged for the latest graduates of the prestigious college.
