By Jude Ossai
All is now set for centenary celebration of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu slated for November 10, this year.
Addressing a press conference in Enugu on Tuesday ahead of the celebration, the Rector of the Bigard seminary, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Albert Ikpenwa disclosed that Guest Speakers expected at the event included: Francis Cardinal Arinze; Mr. Peter Obi; Professor Bart Nnaji; Bishop Godfrey Onah; Papal Nuncio, His Excellency Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty while the Chief Host is the Metropolitan Most Rev Valerian Okeke.
Ikpenwa said that Bigard as a foremost seminary in Africa and the Catholic world, the celebration would be unique and significant in many dimensions, stressing, “From 1924 to date, Bigard Memorial Seminary is proud to have nurtured great men in all walks of life among whom are 4 Cardinals, 14 Archbishops, 35 bishops and thousands of priests and lay professionals in all spheres of life.
The Cleric told journalists that the celebration of the grand finale will begin on November 10 and end on November 21, at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu.
“Highlights include: Cultural events: 11 and 18th Nov., Quiz competitions amongst Catholic schools: 12 Nov; Symposium 13-15 Nov; Music Festival: 17th Nov; Alumni Day and blessing of the new centenary hostel 19th -20th Nov; Grand Finale and Ordination of Deacons: 21st Nov. Events start each day at 9am. Your support will be highly appreciated, he stated.
Rector Ikpenwa who was flanked by the Chairman, Planning Committee, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Udenwagu, Dean, students affairs, auxiliary and lay staff, went down memory lane, recalling, “Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu started at St. Paul’s Seminary, Onitsha in 1922, at the initiative of Rt. Rev. Joseph Shanahan, the then Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Southern Nigeria. The seminary was, however, officially opened in 1924.
“The seminary which was moved to Igbariam began with six junior seminarians—Charles Nweze, William Obelagu, John Aghanti, Simon Okoye, Frederick Anughere, and William Hinzpeter—and three philosophy students, John Cross Anyogu, Charles O’Donoghue (Irish), and Patrick Doyle (Irish). William O’Donnel served as the sole formator, teacher, and lecturer for the entire seminary.
“The plan to open a seminary in the region was initially proposed by Fr. Alexander Lejeune in 1904. However, its actualization was delayed by his untimely death in 1905 at the age of 44. His successor, Fr. Joseph Shanahan, temporarily suspended the idea, believing it was not yet time to begin training natives for the priesthood. To address the shortage of priests, Shanahan increased the number of local catechists and imported more Irish priests.
“The eventual opening of the seminary in 1924 by Bishop Joseph Shanahan was influenced by Pope Benedict XV’s 1919 encyclical, Maximum Illud, which emphasized the need and urgency of establishing indigenous clergy in mission lands. Despite the delay, the seminary was opened without serious plans: the environment was unsuitable for learning or formation, there were no adequate structures, and the teaching staff was insufficient. Seminarians had to be both students and teachers.
“Despite these challenges, the Igbariam seminary became the mother of virtually all junior and senior seminaries in the Vicariate of Southern Nigeria and Cameroon, producing cardinals, bishops, priests, and professionals. One of the pioneer seminarians, C. Donoghue, described Igbariam Seminary as neither “beautiful to look at nor comfortable to live in.”
“In 1928, the seminary was moved to Onitsha. A senior seminary was opened at Eke in 1934 to separate it from the junior seminary. The senior seminary was later transferred to Enugu in 1939, then to Okpala in 1942, and finally back to Enugu in 1951, where it has remained as Bigard Memorial Seminary. The Bigard Seminary survived the civil war of 1967-1970”
“The seminary was named Bigard to honour Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, the mother and daughter foundresses of the Opus Sancti Petri Apostoli society, which funded the building of the seminary.
