Bigard Celebrates her 45th Convocation Ceremony
The 45th convocation ceremony of Bigard Memorial Seminary held on Saturday, 19th day of March, 2016 was welcomed with a 3-2 win by the Bigard Football team over the football team of the Spiritan International School of Theology Attakwu, Enugu on the eve of the ceremony, Friday, 18th March 2016. The friendly match was organized to welcome the officiating prelate for the convocation, Most Rev. Dennis Chidi Isizoh, the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha Archdiocese.
After the friendly match, came the Eucharistic celebration presided over by one of the graduating priests Rev. Fr. Gabriel Chukwu. The evening of Friday, 18th March also saw a warm reception of the officiating Prelate and the graduates at the seminary Auditorium. The reception was coloured with some events such as cultural dance by Abakaliki Diocesan Seminarians, comedy displays and Saxophone performance.
Also the words of admonition from the Bishop, where he stressed the necessity of preserving values and keeping documentaries, and the delightful words of the graduates sustained alltill the end of the ceremony that continued the next day.
The convocation activities which took place on Saturday 19th March 2016, the day of the convocation ceremony began with the Eucharistic celebration of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, presided over by, Most Rev. Dennis Chidi Isizoh, whose homily centered on the simplicity of St. Joseph, and his roles in the salvation of mankind.
After the Eucharistic celebration, the convocation ceremony started with a procession of the graduands, lecturers, and the officiating Prelate, Most Rev. Dennis Isiuzo, into the Bigard Auditorium, at about 9:30 am. The ceremony kicked off with an opening prayer said by Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmas Uzowulu.
In his opening speech,the Rector of Bigard Memorial seminary, Enugu, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Albert Ikpenwa, welcomed all who were present, especially the officiating prelate for the convocation and the 2015 graduands. He admonished the graduands to remain noble ambassadors of the seminary, by living out the excellence that Bigard stands for. Read the full welcome speech.
In his keynote Address, the officiating prelate, Most Rev. Denis Isizoh stressed the necessity of putting theology and other values acquired in the Seminary into practice. He also decried the issue of importing Pentecostal methods into the solemn and organized Catholic rites and now frequent among some priests who desire to stand out. At the request of the Rector, the convocation prelate declared the ceremony open,following the routine ritual
Rev. Fr. Dr. Ohajuobodo Oko delivered the Convocation Lecture titled “The Lord’s Prayer and Human Relationship”. In his lecture, he gave an exegetical approach to the historical reality of the Lord’s Prayer, and also the theological interpretations of every statement of the prayer.
The Dean of Philosophy Faculty, Rev. Fr. Vitalis Ukwuaba, presented the 2015 philosophy graduands of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu in affiliation with Urban Pontifical University, Rome. He gave the analyses of the results of the philosophers thus: Read the full presentation.
Grades | Candidates |
Probatus, Pass | 0 |
BeneProbatus/3rd Class | 10 |
Cum Laude Probatus/2nd Class Lower Division | 72 |
Magna cum Laude Probatus/2nd Class Upper Division | 42 |
Summa Cum Laude Probatus/1st Class | 4 |
Furthermore, the Dean of Theology Faculty, Rev. Fr. Dr. Clement Obasi, presented the 2015 Theology Graduands of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu in affiliation with Urban Pontifical University, Rome. He gave the analyses of the results of the Theologians thus: Read the full presentation.
Grades | Candidates |
Probatus, Pass | 0 |
BeneProbatus/3rd Class | 7 |
Cum Laude Probatus/2nd Class Lower Division | 22 |
Magna cum Laude Probatus/2nd Class Upper Division | 51 |
Summa Cum Laude Probatus/1st Class | 3 |
Another exciting moment of the occasion came when the best graduating student from the department of Theology, Mr. Anthony Aneke presented a trilling valedictory Speech, which he entitled, this he dedicated to the six Vincentian Seminarians who lost their lives in a car accident on 22nd February, 2016. Read the full Valedictory speech.
The Vice Rector I of Bigard memorial Seminary, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Dr. Cajetan Iyidobi briefly rendered the vote of thanks, and the occasion was brought to a successful end with a closing prayer said by Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Eze, and an Episcopal blessing from the officiating Prelate.