His Excellency, Most Reverend Thomas Ifeanyi Obiatuegwu, Auxiliary Bishop of Orlu
The Vice Rector, Rev Fr Felix Bornwin
The Heads of Philosophy and Theology Departments
The Deans of Students’ Affairs
Beloved Colleagues in the Formation Team
Distinguished Guests
My Beloved Seminarians,
It is with a heartwarming disposition that I welcome you to this second part of the Inauguration of the 2024/ 2025 Academic/ Formative year of St. Joseph Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
I am particularly grateful to His Excellency, Most Reverend Thomas Ifeanyi Obiatuegwu, Auxiliary Bishop of Orlu diocese, for honoring our invitation to preside over the activities for the formal inauguration of the 2024/ 2025 Academic/ Formative Year. The event marking the inauguration of an academic year is an important function in any academic institution and Seminary. This significant function you have to come perform offers legitimacy and encouragement to the session already begun.
Your Excellency, there is an indescribable sense of excitement and gratitude flooding our hearts at this moment knowing that you are an alumnus of our Seminary. Your elevation to the episcopacy for greater service in the Church gives us immense joy. It is our prayer for the good Lord to keep you daily in his gracious love and equip you with the needed good health, wisdom and inspiration to continue to tend the flock placed in your charge.
To you my beloved brothers and sisters on the Formation team, my gratitude to you know no bounds, for your remarkable collaboration and commitment to the task of formation given to us on trust. The Seminary is a home of prayer and study. Here, the integral formation necessary for the priestly ministry remains the objective and the inspiration of our apostolate. Your honest efforts and sacrifices borne during the 2023/ 2024 year are truly appreciated. For the times we have had to forfeit our comforts and bear some pains for the sake of the task before us and the hope inspired by our faith, we shall continue to say: “hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). Let us continue to keep on keeping on in hope of better days ahead.
May I also introduce and welcome to the formation team our brothers who have just joined us this academic year: Rev. Fr. Luther Raymond from the diocese of Port Harcourt and Rev. Fr. Augustine Ekemini of Uyo diocese, who both take courses in Dogma and Ecclesiology. We are grateful to their Bishops for responding positively to our request to release them to us for service as resident formators and teachers.
And to you my promising Seminarians and future leaders of the Church, I acknowledge with sincere gratitude your cooperation in the discernment of your vocation and your understanding in the face of scorching economic situation bedeviling our times. The power of prayer can turn the tide against our nation and that is why we must not take for granted our disposition towards spiritual exercises. I urge you not to be discouraged by the difficult times we face or allow such to strangulate our efforts in formation but remain resolute to see better days ahead.
To our Freshers in both Philosophy and Theology Departments, we lovingly welcome you to our beloved St. Joseph Family The Natural Home. Take care not to waste this opportunity God has given you to be formed to work in his vineyard. As you embark on your studies and formation, you must make yourself available and docile to the grace of God to locate you. In St. Joseph, we are a family and integrity of character is our trademark. Watch and learn. Be ready to improve everyday by building bonds of friendship with God and colleagues.
Finally, I entrust this 2024/2025 Academic/Formative session to maternal intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Virgin of Virgins. At the end of the day’s event, I implore the grand intercession of the Archangel for travelling mercies, in favour of His Excellency and our distinguished guests as they return to their respective destinations.
Once again, Your excellency, my dear friends, thanks for your presence and do enjoy the warmth of The Natural Home.
REV FR PATRICK ABEM
Agt. Rector.
