By Nna Anulumadu
It was a celebration galore at All Hallows Seminary Onitsha as the seminary staged a colourful event to mark the feast of All saints.
Dignitaries in attendance include the Chief Shepherd of Onitsha Archdiocese, His Grace Most Rev Valerian Okeke, Bishop Denis of Aguleri Diocese, dozens of priests, the religious men and women and others.
Speaking at the event, Archbishop Okeke extolled the academic prowess the seminary is demonstrating, stating that the recent laurels the seminary won are testimonies that the school is making waves both academically, morally and otherwise. He poured encomiums on the rector of the seminary Rev Fr Paschal Okonkwo for working hard to move the seminary to an enviable height, urging him not to relent.
The rector in his address expressed unalloyed gratitude to the Chief Shepherd for his unflinching support to the seminary that made the academic progress being recorded possible. He stated that the seminary has continued to promote the culture of excellence in adherence to the vision of the Archbishop. He revealed that in the last WAEC, the seminary made a very excellent result by getting 100% success. The rector also stated that in Latin certificate examination, All Hallows Seminary took 1st position among the 9 minor seminaries in Onitsha ecclesiastical province, adding that the school has zero tolerance for examination malpractice. He also recalled that tracing of his students were part of the four students of Anambra state Debate Team that won first position in the 2022 presidential Debate and later participated in the in the international inter school debate competition at Malaysia and won.
He further commended the seminary PTD members, CWO Onitsha Archdiocese, the parish priests, Vicars and vocation supporters for their sacrifices in ensuring that the seminary is lacking in terms of feeding the seminarians.
The former AHOBA president Prof Fidelis Okafor who spoke to Trinitas expressed happiness over the accomplishments of the seminary under the current Rector Fr Okonkwo, adding that he will ever remained grateful to the seminary for the kind of formation he received there when he schooled there many years ago. He urged the current students to be fully committed to their studies.
Also, the director CWO Onitsha Archdiocese Dame Ngozi Nwanosike in her contribution, charged the young seminarians to be obedient all the time and study hard in order to excel in life.
Also, Sir Ben Onyeka and Sir Chris Ikeji ( Otioda Abatete in their similar remarks, advised seminarians to fully utilize every opportunity the seminary is providing, adding that feast of all saints is encouraging us to work hard, persevere and become saints. They also described the seminary as the best in the country in terms of characters formation.
Earlier his Homily, Archbishop Valerian Okeke explained that feast of All Saints is reminding us that mortal men who lived a holy life on earth are now in heaven, adding that such privileges are not limited to them alone, emphasizing that we can as well become saints tomorrow if we persevere all the times and live a holy life.
