The Epiphany celebration is a customary program in Bigard Memorial Seminary. It is an official and special date set aside in the month of January every year when the newly ordained deacons are presented to the seminary family. The deacons include both the resident deacons in the seminary and those of other congregations and religious houses who are studying in Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu.
This year’s celebration kicked off in the evening of Saturday, 18th January 2020 with a novelty football match between the deacons and non deacons in Theology IV class. The match was played in the seminary’s main football field. It ended 2: 1 in favor of the non deacons.
Sunday 19th January 2020 was the grand finale of the celebration. It started with Holy Mass at 7:45am inside the seminary’s main chapel. The mass was presided over by Rev. Fr Damian Udechukwu. Other concelebrating priests included Rev. Frs. Justin Eke and Anthony Okoye.
In the homily, Fr Damian reflecting on the character of John in the gospel, says, “John had done his job by presenting Jesus to the Israelites, not just as a suffering Messiah but as a Messiah of peace. Thus the descent of the dove on Jesus at baptism is the descent of peace on mankind through Jesus.” He went further to say that the mission of Christ is summed up in the statement, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world “for he came to deal with sin and save humanity from the consequences of sin. He went ahead to admonish the deacons and seminarians to imitate the characters of the lamb, for the lamb is gentle, innocent, harmless, humble, and obedient.
The mass ended around 9:30am.
There were other packages of celebration at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The social aspect of the celebration took place in the students’ refectory where there the seminarians celebrated with the deacon at meals with special recipes and drinks. There was exchange of gifts too. It was indeed a day made by the Lord and we were glad.