..As Pope Francis grants plenary indulgence to the church
Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Enugu Nigeria, an apex institution for formation of priests and Deacons n the Catholic Church, Thursday , held the grand finale of its One hundred years anniversary with ordination of 40 Deacons, admonishing leaders, religious institutions to stop discriminatory practices against one another.
The institution which was established in 1924 through the generosity of a French family of Jeanne Bigard , had produced 4 Cardinals, 14 Archbishops, , 32 Bishops , thousands of priests, lay people from Nigeria, Cameroun and other countries.
Pix: The newly ordained Deacons
In his homily, at a concelebrated Holy Mass held at the Bigard Memorial seminary centenary arena, in Enugu, the Ordaining Prelate and Secretary, Dicastery for Evangelization,Rome , Most Rev. Fortunatus Nwachukwu , charged the newly ordained Deacons to leave behind their olden ways of doing things and embrace a new way, noting that gone were the days priests were selected based on their genealogy or tribe , but according to the teachings of Christ .. He also charged leaders, religious institutions, others to stop discriminating against people, noting that our Lord Jesus Christ was not discriminatory.
Performing the ordination, which attracted people from different walks of life ,including the Governor of Enugu state, Dr. Peter Mbah , who was represented by the Deputy Governor,Ifeanyi Ossai, the former Governor of old Anambra state, Senator Jim Nwobodo and his wife, Dr. Patricia Nwobodo, the former Governor of Anambra state and 2023 elections Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the Ordination Prelate, Most Rev Nwachukwu said the 40 Deacons were drawn from different Dioceses from Onitsha Ecclesiastical province.
He charged people to always be guided by the three codes , Code 1199, code 222 and code 2105.
The Archbishop explained that Codes were biblical . Code 1199 ( 1Kings :19:9)” Everyday say to yourself, what am I doing here?”. Code 222 ( Mark 2:22) ” Jesus told his disciples to wear a new wine. With a Deaconate Ordination, you are the going to be new”Code 2105( Apocalypse 21: 5
He urged the newly ordained Deacons to be spirit- filled , be attached to God and say no to discrimination..
“Stop telling people they were not from where they are ” We are follow members of the same household with Jesus Christ.
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Pix: Rector,Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Enugu,Very Rev Fr Albert Ikpenwa
Pix-;From Left to Right, Deputy Governor , Ifeanyi Ossai, Dr. Mrs Nwobodo, Senator Jim Nwobodo and H of Peter Obi
Your birth moves from being my geographically situated to bring globally elevated.. The son of the soil cannot go together . We have to go beyond gene by and go to Theo, . From birth to hh. In Jesus Christ, we have become a new creation”, he said.
There were goodwill messages from the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria., Papal Nuncio, Archbishops Francis Michael Crotty, and the Governor of Enugu state, Dr Peter Mbah .
Pix: Enugu State Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai representative of Gov. Peter Mbah
Governor Mbah congratulated the Bigard family for their numerous achievements within the 100 years of it’s existence.
He commended the Ordination Prelate for his sermon and urged the clergy and Ministers of God to continue to be praying, talking to leaders ,and guiding them ..
Governor Mbah noted that it was the prayers of the priests of God that had kept them.. He spoke against discrimination, saying ethnicity and discrimination were front liners that divide people
In his remarks, the Rector of Bigard Memorial seminary, Very Rev Fr Albert Ikpenwa said that Bigard had produced great men of God who were serving God in different parts of the world. He thanked all who graced the occasion, appealing for support for the running of the institution.
A message from Pope Francis was read. He granted plenary indulgence to the church to be obtained through receipt of the Holy Eucharist,, prayer and confession.
Pix: The Bigard family
Pope Francis said the indulgence is available from November 21 till February 2, 2025( on the presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ ) He added that the sick and the aged were covered . He urged people to say one our Father, one hail Mary and go for confession so as ø toj attain the divine grace. He urged the should make themselves avaliable for confession.
Highlight of the event was the ordination of 40 Deacons . They will be ordained priest in 2025.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama