By GMTNewsng Desk
The Rector of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Albert Ikpenwa, on Thursday, January 29, 2026, marked his birthday with a thanksgiving Mass and a reflective gathering that combined gratitude, personal reflection, and a renewed call for shared responsibility in sustaining Bigard Seminary.
The event, held within the seminary community, brought together priests, formators, professionals, and lay collaborators whom Fr. Ikpenwa described as critical partners in the life and future of Bigard Seminary, Nigeria’s foremost institution for priestly formation.
Speaking during the gathering, the Rector reflected soberly on two deeply personal losses that have continued to shape his birthday celebrations in recent years. He recalled that Dr. Evaristus Udorah, founder of St. Luke’s Bigard Clinic and a close associate, passed away on the same date some years ago. He also spoke emotionally about the death of his mother, who died just days after attending his birthday celebration at Bigard Seminary for the first time.
“I will always remember Dr. Udorah who died on my birthday. As I pray that his soul rests in peace, I also ask him to pray for us because, having served humanity so selflessly, I believe he is in Heaven,” he said. Reflecting on his mother’s final visit, Fr. Ikpenwa added, “The last image of her is still buried in my mind-how she waved goodbye, entered my brother’s car, and drove off that night. That was the last time I saw her.”
Despite the solemn reflections, the Rector said the occasion remained one of thanksgiving and renewed commitment to the mission of Bigard Seminary. He noted that what began as a quiet, internal observance has evolved into a wider platform for strengthening the Friends of Bigard initiative, which connects clergy and laity committed to the seminary’s growth.
“There is nobody here who has nothing to do with Bigard Seminary,” he said. “Either you are helping us in one way or another, or supporting us in a great way.”
Fr. Ikpenwa stressed that sustainable development must go beyond financial donations, urging stakeholders to contribute ideas, professional expertise, and enduring personal relationships to the institution. “We don’t need only people who contribute money. We need people who contribute ideas. Money is not everything. A personal relationship is worth more than money,” he said.
Highlighting the results of unity among priests and formators, the Rector listed several completed and ongoing projects at Bigard Seminary, including the installation of solar lighting to guarantee stable power supply, reconstruction of lay workers’ residences, construction of a new Fathers’ residence and a new students’ hostel, as well as the comprehensive reconstruction of the seminary library, now at its finishing stage.
He described the upgraded library as central to academic formation at Bigard Seminary, noting that it serves as a critical hub for theological scholarship, research, and priestly training. He also cited the ongoing construction of a new primary school and improved accommodation for seminary workers as part of deliberate efforts to strengthen the learning environment and welfare system.
“No one says, ‘he is the Rector, let him do it alone,’” Fr. Ikpenwa said. “Unity is strength.”
The Rector also commended seminarians who supported the organisation of the birthday event despite being in the middle of their examinations, describing their commitment as a sign of shared responsibility within the Bigard Seminary community.
In a broader appeal, Fr. Ikpenwa called on the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province and other stakeholders to take greater responsibility for the care of Bigard Seminary, which has produced thousands of priests serving in parishes and institutions within and outside Nigeria. He reminded stakeholders that collective ownership most times degenerate into neglect.
He explained that while government-owned institutions receive grants and private universities charge high tuition fees, Bigard Seminary receives no government funding, and students’ fees are merely token contributions. As a result, the institution relies heavily on the support of dioceses, individuals, and organisations within and outside Nigeria.
“In such situations, there is always the tendency of everyone thinking that the other person will take care of it. At the end of the day, no one takes care of it,” he cautioned.
He concluded by thanking all those present for their continued support and prayed that God would reward them abundantly.
