By Ononye VC
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,most Rev Valerian Okeke has explained the reason behind sending Onitsha Archdiocesan priests and seminarians for further studies abroad under his episcopacy.
The Archbishop in a statement at the conclusion of his reunion with the priests and seminarians based in the United States,Canada,Rome and other parts of Europe,said that sending the priests and seminarians to different parts of the world would make them “uncommon assets” to the church and inject them back home to Nigerian church to effect the change the society has been yearning for.
According to the Archbishop,the priests and seminarians will also become a source of hope and progress for the people of God in Onitsha Archdiocese,the state, country and the world.
According to him,”It has always been our vision to uphold the culture of excellence in our Archdiocese and to maintain our glorious heritage”.
The Archbishop described his meeting with the priests and seminarians as “A glorious and joyful reunion and expressed gratitude to God for what he called “Unmerited privilege and favour”.
“I thank God for this unmerited privilege and favour granted us,that the pastoral experience gathered from the global world will assist in the growth and betterment of the church in Onitsha Archdiocese,help to better the lives of the people of God and aid in the salvation of souls of the good people of our Great Archdiocese”,the Archbishop said.
Some of the countries visited by the Archbishop are,United States of America,Canada and Europe.