Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu, as always, wore an exciting atmosphere as the evening prayer II of Sunday, 13th December, 2015 was graced by the presence of Most Rev. Jude Thaddeus Okolo, the Archbishop of Puerto Rico, and the Apostolic Nuncio to the Dominican Republic.
The Archbishop who is a worthy alumnus of the Seminary, found it essential upon his visit to Nigeria from his place of pastoral assignment, to make a hearty home-coming to his noble Alma mata, Bigard.
In his introduction to the Holy Mass of Monday, 14th December, the third week of Advent, the Archbishop invited all who were present to exhibit the good quality of clear sightedness, as was manifested in the First Reading.
In his homily which he captioned Clear Sightedness, Biblical Clear Sightedness, the Archbishop invited all to a greater awareness of their environment. He explained that Clear sightedness does not merely imply looking up to the sky, rather it entails looking beyond the material and worldly things, and directing one’s thoughts to the spiritual.
Turning to the Formators of Bigard Memorial Seminary, the Archbishop urged them to keep up with the good works they are doing, as the responsibility of forming future priests is never an easy one. He encouraged them always to resort to the Biblical Clear Sightedness for strength and motivation to do the work, in line with the will of Christ and in the mind of the Church.
And to the seminarians, the Archbishop advised to always be ready to internalize the formation values, and be open to be motivated by identifying with the standard. He admonished the seminarians of Bigard to always ask for God’s help in all situations and to constantly seek his countenance so as to develop a clear relationship with the Lord.
Ending his heart trilling homily, the Archbishop warned against the tendency of allowing worldliness take primacy over the spiritual, with the notion that it is a general experience. He concretized this by asserting that Nigeria is a commercially gifted nation, and this gift puts the nation over several other nations, but he advised that this gifts should not be a barrier or distraction to necessary spiritual growth.
On behalf of the Father Rector, the Seminary staff, the Seminarians and the entire Seminary family, Rev. Fr. Sylvanus Nnoruka at the end of the mass, rendered a hearty vote of thanks to all present. To the Archbishop, he gave a very big thanks for deeming it vital to pay a courtesy visit to his Alma mata, and further solicited his prayers for the Seminary. To the Seminarians, Fr. Nnoruka advised to toil the way of greatness in order to attain similar feat as the Archbishop, who never allowed any chance of learning what could be helpful in the futureto slip through his fingers.
Before the mass was finally ended, the Archbishop extended the message of the Holy Father for the year of Mercy, by imparting the Pope’s blessings on the entire Bigard family. Finally, he assured the seminary of his prayers for the whole month of January.
| Brief Information on Most Rev. Jude Thaddeus Okolo | ||
| Date | Event | Title |
| 18 Dec 1956 | Born | Kano, Nigeria |
| 2 Jul 1983 | Ordained Priest | Priest of Onitsha, Nigeria |
| 9 Nov 2001 | Incardinated | Priest of Nnewi, Nigeria |
| 2 Aug 2008 | Appointed | Titular Archbishop of Novica |
| 2 Aug 2008 | Appointed | Apostolic Nuncio to Central African Republic |
| 2 Aug 2008 | Appointed | Apostolic Nuncio to Chad |
| 27 Sep 2008 | Ordained Bishop | Titular Archbishop of Novica |
| 7 Oct 2013 | Appointed | Apostolic Nuncio to Dominican Republic |