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 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 other entertainments, different symposium sections/quiz Competitions, cultural theatre, music festal 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, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Mr. Peter Obi, Chief Will Obiano, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governors Peter Mbah, Chukwuma Soludo and Francis Nwifuru of Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi States, respectively.
Accordingly 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 host and hosts of the Centenary ceremony.
Ikpenwa disclosed that Pope Francis will send a delegate from Rome, noting that at a point in time, the Seminary serviced Cameron and West Africa countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia; adding that not all the alumni of the institution made it as priests but became successful men in their societies.
