On Saturday 13th January, 2024 the entire seminary family joined our 2024 Deacon class to kick off their Epiphany celebration which started with a friendly football match between the Deacons of the class and their yet to be ordained classmates. The official ceremonial kick off was performed by the Rector Very Rev Fr. Dr. Albert Okechukwu Ikpenwa at exactly 3:45PM at the seminary FIFA field. It was quite an entertaining game that ended with a 1:0 scoreline in favor of the yet to be ordained Deacons. At supper same evening, the Theology 4 seminarians treated the entire students to various sumptuous dishes at the seminary refectory.
Day 2: Sunday 14th January, 2024.
The event of the day began with a Holy Mass of thanksgiving officiated by the Rector, Very Rev Fr. Dr. Albert Okechukwu Ikpenwa, with Rev. Fr. Kelvin Asogwa the Dean of Student’s Affairs and Rev. Fr. Sebastian Nwude the school Financial Administrator as concelebrants. In his mind blowing homily during the Mass, the Rector reminded the Deacons that as recorded in the first reading of the day taken from 1 Samuel 3:3-10, it is God who calls men to the clerical state and he uses human agents to guide them towards answering this call just as Eli helped Samuel discern the voice of God, hence all deacons and seminarians must listen to their formators as the agents through whom God will help them discern their vocation. Furthermore, he stressed the need to answer God’s call and do his will without reservation in line with the words of the responsorial Psalm “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will” (Heb. 10:9). Finally, taking the lessons from the second reading he reminded the Deacons that the clerical life calls for purity and chastity, noting the words of St. Paul “The body is not meant for fornication: it is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body” (1 Corinthians 6:13). During offertory the Theology 4 students danced up to the altar in thanksgiving to God. After the Mass the S.U.C president, Ochiagha Henry on behalf of the class appreciated the seminary community and the formators ably led by the Rector Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Albert Okechukwu Ikpenwa for their constant support and mentorship all these years. The Holy Mass was followed by a group photograph in front of the chapel.
In the evening the Vespers began with a solemn Procession and solemn Vespers. After the prayers at the sacristy the class president Rev. Ugwunwa Clement thanked the Rector Very Rev Fr. Dr. Albert Okechukwu Ikpenwa for being a father to the class, he equally appreciated the First Dean Rev. Fr. Kelvin Asogwa and Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Iloafor for their support as well. Afterwards the Rector gave the final blessing and all dispersed for supper. At supper the Deacon class entertained the seminarians at their various tables in the refectory with different sumptuous meals. We thank God for a successful 2024 Epiphany celebration.