“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3)
It was a glorious home coming as the 2014 graduands of Bigard returned for their convocation ceremony to reap what they had sown throughout their years in the Seminary.
The 44th convocation ceremony of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, an affiliate of the Pontifical Urban University, Rome, kicked off on the eve of Wednesday March 18, 2015 with a friendly football match between Bigard team and the Altar knights of Abakiliki. The match which ended goalless was in honour of the officiating prelate, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga, Bishop of Enugu Diocese and the 2014 graduands of Bigard.
The football match was followed by a Mass of thanksgiving by the Bigard family, presided over by Rev Fr. Chika Okoye one of the 2013/2014 graduands. In his homily, Rev Fr. Christian Okoro, who was also one of the graduands, on the theme “whoever listens to my word and believes in the one who sends me has eternal life” stressed the necessity to listen and to believe in our lives as Christians especially as Catholics and as seminarians. According to him, we have to imitate the fathers of the Church in their faith in this Lenten season and pray like the Apostles for the Lord to increase our faith.
The evening session ended with the reception of the 2014 graduands in the seminary auditorium. This session witnessed different entertaining performances. The Bigard 2013/2014 set in theology faculty also concretely expressed their gratitude to the Bigard family for the formation they received throughout their years in the seminary.
The convocation proper on Thursday March 19, 2015 began with a Eucharistic celebration of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary. It was presided over by the officiating prelate, Most Rev. Dr. Calistus Onaga, Bishop of Enugu Diocese. The Bishop during the homily said that it is not a coincidence that the convocation falls on the day when the Church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Reflecting on the theme “knowledge involves a change of attitude” which he drew from the life of St. Joseph, he admonished all and sundry to bridge our knowledge of philosophy with that of theology, our natural reason, trends and inclinations with Divine illumination most especially in our encounter with the outside world.
The day’s programme continued in the auditorium after the Eucharistic celebration with the majestic procession of the formators and graduands into the hall. This was followed by the National anthem and Bigard anthem by Bigard Fans Club and an opening prayer by Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Eze. In his opening address the Rector, Very Rev. Dr. Ukoro Theophilus Igwe welcomed the officiating prelate. To the graduands, he admonished them to be humble and faithful as these two virtues are very important to their call as priests and seminarians in the world of today shrouded with the selfish attitude of indifference. He went further to exhort us especially the graduands to be at home with the signs of the time by making good use of communication media for proper evangelization. Finally, he congratulated the graduands for the excellent results, thanked the formators and the lecturers for their dedication to duty and welcomed all to the day’s event.
In his keynote address, the officiating prelate, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga reiterating the theme of his homily “knowledge involves a change of attitude” urged us to let our knowledge influence our thoughts everywhere we go especially in the ministry. He also advised all to be sources of hope to the people of God we are ministering to.
Following the keynote address was an academic paper presented by Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmas Uzowulu, OFM, Cap. on the topic “Be in my gang – the temptations of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark: Lesson for the Church in Nigeria”.
The peak of the celebration was the presentation of the BTH and BPHIL results and the graduands of both faculties. Rev. Fr. Vitalis Ukwuaba, dean of philosophy department presented the philosophy graduands while Rev. Fr. Dr. Clement Obasi, dean of theology department presented the theology graduand. The presentation of graduands was accompanied by the conferment of BTH and BPHIL degrees to the theology and philosophy graduands respectively, as well as, the hooding of the summa graduands by the officiating prelate.
PHILOSOPHY FACULTY
| GRADES | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| SUMMA CUM LAUDA PROBATUS (1ST CLASS) | 8 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| MAGNA CUM LAUDA PROBATUS (2ND CLASS UPPER DIVISION) | 59 | 55 | 39 | 43 |
| CUM LAUDA PROBATUS (2ND CLASS LOWER DIVISION) | 85 | 94 | 58 | 60 |
| BENE PROBATUS (3RD CLASS) | 14 | 20 | 18 | 13 |
| PROBATUS (PASS) | 2 | 1 | NIL | NIL |
BEST GRADUATING STUDENT – ASOGWA KELVIN
THEOLOGY FACULTY
| GRADES | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| SUMMA CUM LAUDA PROBATUS (1ST CLASS) | 16 | 25 | 11 | 8 |
| MAGNA CUM LAUDA PROBATUS (2ND CLASS UPPER DIVISION) | 82 | 95 | 51 | 50 |
| CUM LAUDA PROBATUS (2ND CLASS LOWER DIVISION) | 18 | 36 | 22 | 20 |
| BENE PROBATUS (3RD CLASS) | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| PROBATUS (PASS) | NIL | NIL | NIL | NIL |
BEST GRADUATING STUDENT – REV. UKOHA STANISLAUS
The presentation was immediately followed by the valedictory speech by Rev. Ukoha Stanislaus, the 2013/2014 best graduating student in the Theology faculty.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Cletus Umezinwa, Vice Rector 1, gave the vote of thanks. This session was brought to a close with a concluding prayer by Rev. Fr. Dr. Raphael Egwu and the Episcopal blessing by the officiating prelate.
We say congratulations to our brothers for this giant feat.