Centenary of Nigeria’s Bigard Memorial Major Seminary: Catholic Archbishop Urges Dedication to “nurture” Legacy of Faith

Enugu, 13 November, 2024 / 11:21 PM

The centenary celebrations of Nigeria’s Bigard Memorial Major Seminary provide an opportunity to reflect on the mission of the Catholic Church today, Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha has said.

In his homily during Holy Mass to officially launch the centenary celebrations of the Major Seminary that the Catholic Diocese of Enugu in Southeastern Nigeria hosts, Archbishop Okeke said that the Church’s mission today consists in ensuring “a strong” faith legacy in the example of the prophets and the apostles.

“Today, we gather to reflect on peace, gratitude, and the mission we hold as followers of Christ,” he said during the November 10 Eucharistic celebration.

Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha. Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

The Nigerian Catholic Archbishop added, “I am pleased to be with you as we begin this centenary celebration, a time to honour our faith and the legacy of Bigard Memorial Seminary.”

The celebration of the centenary, he went on to say, “is not just about looking back; it’s about living our faith fully today.”

“As we mark this centenary, we recall the meaning of jubilee in the Church (as) a time decreed by God, a holy period for liberation, thanksgiving, and restoration,” Archbishop Okeke said.

Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

Like jubilees, centenary years invite Christians to recommit themselves to God and embrace His gifts of grace and forgiveness, the Nigerian Catholic Archbishop further said.

“Our mission today is clear: to build a strong foundation for future generations. Just as the prophets and apostles passed on the faith to us, we have a duty to nurture this legacy and ensure that it flourishes,” Archbishop Okeke, the alumnus of the 100-year-old Major Seminary, where he previously served as Rector explained. 

Jubilee year celebrations provide “a special invitation to forgiveness, reconciliation, and gratitude,” he further said, adding that as the Nigerian Major Seminary marks 100 years, stakeholders of the Catholic institution “are blessed with sacraments like Reconciliation, which grant us the grace to start anew and deepen our relationship with God and our fellow man.”

Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

“This centenary calls us to recognize our privileges as a community and the blessings God has bestowed upon us,” the Local Ordinary of Onitsha Archdiocese since September 2003 said.

Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Enugu was founded in Onitsha in 1922 and officially opened in 1924. It was moved to the current location in 1951. It was named after benefactors Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, French mother and daughter, foundresses of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle, who donated the funds for the main building.

In 1982, St. Pope John Paul II visited Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, the first Nigerian Seminary to receive such a guest. 

Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

In his homily during the November 10 event, Archbishop Okeke appealed for renewal, saying, “Let us renew our commitment to God, guided by the strength of our faith and the heritage of Bigard Memorial Seminary.”

“This seminary has produced many leaders, Priests, and faithful servants of God, and it is our responsibility to continue this tradition,” the Nigerian Catholic Church leader said, and appealing for dedication, added, “We must dedicate ourselves to forming holy, faithful, and compassionate leaders who will carry forward the Church’s mission in the next century.”

“We cannot rest. Just as the Israelites were called to leave Egypt, we are called to leave behind anything that holds us back from God’s promise. We must resist worldly distractions and dedicate ourselves to the true sacrifice of service to Christ and His Church,” Archbishop Okeke emphasized during the November 10 Eucharistic celebration. 

Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

He challenged Bigard Memorial Major Seminary stakeholders to denounce wrongdoing in society, exercising their prophetic calling. He said, “We cannot become complacent or silent in the face of injustice. Instead, we must act with the courage and integrity that Christ demands of us.”

“This Church has endured for 2,000 years, built on the sacrifices of countless saints, missionaries, and martyrs. It is our duty to ensure that it remains steadfast, a beacon of hope and truth for the world,” the Nigerian Catholic Archdiocese, who started his Episcopal Ministry in February 2002 as Coadjutor Archbishop of his current Metropolitan See said.

He continued, “Let us move forward with gratitude, humility, and a renewed commitment to our faith. May this centenary inspire us to deeper holiness, unity, and service.”

Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

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“May the Lord continue to bless Bigard Memorial Seminary and all who have been part of its journey,” Archbishop Okeke implored.

Among activities lined up for the 12-day centenary celebrations set to conclude on November 21 include the Seminary alumni get-together, entertainment sessions, symposiums, quiz competitions, cultural performances, music festivals, sports, blessing and opening of the new centenary hostel, centenary Eucharistic celebration and Ordination of Deacons, among others.

Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the official inauguration of the centenary celebrations, Bigard Memorial Major Seminary Rector, Fr. Albert Ikpenwa, recalled that in the past, the institution had Seminarians from Cameroon and West Africa countries, including Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Not all the alumni of the Nigerian Major Seminary made it to the ministerial Priesthood, Fr. Albert said on November 8, adding that those, who did not become Priests became successful men and are serving the society in different capacities. 

Credit: Bigard Memorial Major Seminary

He said Bigard Memorial Major Seminary has given to the Church many leaders, including “four Cardinals, 14 Archbishops, 35 Bishops and thousands of Priests as well as prominent Nigerian, Sierra Leonian and Cameroonian citizens.”